Origin
Druid Hills, GA
Morning in Druid Hills on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Druid Hills, 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 19m
Distance
64.1 mi
103 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Druid Hills, GA
Enam Sape
Smyrna, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Druid Hills, GA to Smyrna, GA is 64.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 19 minutes via Purple Heart Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and the state of Georgia, offering a local drive rather than a cross-country adventure. Expect a route with many turns, making it feel more like navigating through neighborhoods than cruising on an open highway. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 45.3 mi | 48m |
| Ralph David Abernathy Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Greensboro Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Monticello Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Moreland Avenue Northeast | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Moreland Avenue Southeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Oakdale Road Northeast | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 45.3 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Druid Hills, GA and Smyrna, GA.
1
Start on The By Way Northeast
91 ft
·
10 sec
·
The By Way Northeast
2
Turn left onto Oakdale Road Northeast
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Oakdale Road Northeast
3
Turn right onto US 23; US 29; US 78; US 278; GA 8; GA 10
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ponce de Leon Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left onto US 23; GA 42
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Moreland Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 23; GA 42
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Moreland Avenue Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 20
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
45 mi
·
48 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto GA 83
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Monticello Highway
11
Turn slight right onto GA 83
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
GA 83
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
13
Turn left onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
157 ft
·
3 sec
·
Eatonton Road
14
Turn straight onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
15
Continue on US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Greensboro Road
16
Turn right onto Buckhead Road
103 ft
·
2 sec
·
Buckhead Road
17
Arrive at destination
Buckhead Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Druid Hills, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 56.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Oakdale Road Northeast
Turn left onto Oakdale Road Northeast
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 23; GA 42 / Moreland Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto US 23; GA 42 / Moreland Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
$10.02 one way
$20.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.96 | $21.92 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.86 | $23.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.15 | $28.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.97 | $4.10 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Morning in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Oxford, GA
32 mi in
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
6 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 19m 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 is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent adjustments to your course. With only 12% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on surface streets, navigating through urban and suburban landscapes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 45.3 miles on the Purple Heart Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before you're back to city navigation. The profile suggests a dynamic driving experience, where you'll be constantly engaged with the road as it winds through various communities.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.3 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Oakdale Road Northeast.
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 64.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 (Oakdale Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 23; GA 42 / Moreland Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Druid Hills, GA to Smyrna, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
Monticello
56.1 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 64.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m 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 45.3 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: near the start (Oakdale Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 23; GA 42 / Moreland Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 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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