Origin
Doraville, GA
Late night in Doraville on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Doraville, GA to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
14.3 mi
23 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Doraville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Doraville, GA to Atlanta, GA is 14.3 miles and takes about 21 minutes via Northeast Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in Georgia. The route offers a mixed driving experience, meaning you'll encounter both highway speeds and potentially some slower sections. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for when you need to get from point A to point B without a significant time commitment. Consider this a quick hop rather than an extensive journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Expressway | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Downtown Connector | 3 mi | 4m |
| Buford Highway | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Clairmont Road Northeast | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Shallowford Road Northeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I-85 Access Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Expressway
— 5.9 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Doraville, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on this road
55 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
47 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto Shallowford Road Northeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Shallowford Road Northeast
4
Turn slight right onto US 23; GA 13
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Buford Highway
5
Turn left onto US 23; GA 155
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Clairmont Road Northeast
6
Turn slight right
199 ft
·
7 sec
Use the right lane.
7
Turn right onto I-85 Access Road
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
I-85 Access Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 85 South: Atlanta
9
Merge onto I 85
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 75; I 85
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 85 / Northeast Expressway
Merge onto I 85 / Northeast Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
13.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State C...
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Capitol Square Southwest
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
14.2 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.24 one way
$4.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.45 | $4.89 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.65 | $5.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.16 | $6.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.69 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.7 | 0 | $2.00 | $0.92 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Atlanta, GA
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
21m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 42% highway share, indicating a blend of faster travel and more local road segments. You'll experience stretches of the Northeast Expressway, with the longest uninterrupted section covering 5.9 miles. As you transition from the expressway towards Atlanta, expect the character of the drive to change, likely incorporating more city traffic and intersections. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests you'll be navigating a variety of road types, from open highway to more urban thoroughfares.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.9 mi on Northeast Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Atlanta, GA
Full guide →Atlanta is the vanguard of the New South, with the charm and elegance of the Old. It's a city that balances southern traditions with sleek modernism, and southern hospitality with three skylines and the world’s busiest airport. It's a city that has been burnt to the ground and built back up; seen the horrors of war; felt the pain of droughts and floods; and given birth to Martin Luther King, Jr., the greatest figure of the civil rights movement. Atlanta is the capital of the state of Georgia.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 14.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.9 miles on Northeast Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Atlanta, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atlanta, GA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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