Origin
Doraville, GA
Late night in Doraville on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Doraville, GA to Smyrna, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
67.6 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Doraville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Smyrna, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 67.6-mile drive from Doraville, GA to Smyrna, GA is estimated to take about 1 hour and 24 minutes, making it a manageable day trip within the Southeast region. You'll primarily be on the Purple Heart Highway and the Atlanta Bypass, also known as The Perimeter, with a brief section on Greensboro Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, this route is an economical option. The profile suggests a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent adjustments rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. Given its short distance and duration, this trip offers flexibility for when you want to depart and how you structure your time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 43.7 mi | 46m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| Greensboro Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Covington Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Wesley Chapel Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Monticello Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| GA 83 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 43.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Doraville, GA and Smyrna, GA.
1
Start on this road
55 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
47 ft
·
5 sec
3
Turn right onto New Peachtree Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
New Peachtree Road
4
Turn right onto Park Avenue
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Park Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 23; GA 13
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Buford Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn slight right
191 ft
·
7 sec
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 285 South
8
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft
·
3 sec
Toward I 85 South, I 285 South: Atlanta, Chamblee-Tucker Road
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 285 South: Chamblee-Tucker Road
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 285 South: Augusta, Macon
11
Merge onto I 285
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 43
Toward US 278: Covington Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 278; GA 12
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Covington Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Wesley Chapel Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Wesley Chapel Road
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 20 East
Use the left lane.
16
Merge onto I 20
44 mi
·
46 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto GA 83
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Monticello Highway
19
Turn slight right onto GA 83
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
GA 83
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
21
Turn left onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
157 ft
·
3 sec
·
Eatonton Road
22
Turn straight onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
23
Continue on US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Greensboro Road
24
Turn right onto Buckhead Road
103 ft
·
2 sec
·
Buckhead Road
25
Arrive at destination
Buckhead Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.8 miles from Doraville, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 59.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
Turn left onto US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 South, I 285 South: Atlanta, Chamblee-Tucker Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 85 South, I 285 South: Atlanta, Chambl...
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 285 South: Chamblee-Tucker Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 285 South: Chamblee-Tucker Road
7
11.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward US 278: Covington Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 43
Toward US 278: Covington Highway
8
59.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.57 one way
$21.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.56 | $23.12 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.51 | $25.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.93 | $29.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
| Efficient EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27 | 0 | $9.46 | $4.33 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Smyrna, GA
Late night in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
30 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
1h 24m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a highway share of 100% indicating continuous road use, though not necessarily high-speed interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43.7 miles on the Purple Heart Highway. As you transition between the Purple Heart Highway, the Atlanta Bypass, and Greensboro Road, the character of the drive will likely shift, moving from potentially more open highway to busier local thoroughfares. This route demands your attention with frequent directional changes.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.7 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.6 miles you will encounter 18 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: at 0.5 miles (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Doraville, GA to Smyrna, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
Monticello
59.6 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 67.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.7 miles on Purple Heart Highway. 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 Smyrna, 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: at 0.5 miles (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. 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 Smyrna, 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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