Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
26.3 mi
42 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Duluth, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick transition from the suburbs to the city center, the 26.3-mile trip from Duluth to Atlanta is an efficient choice. You can expect to reach your destination in about 36 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Navigating through the Southeast, your route primarily utilizes the Northeast Expressway, Buford Highway, and the Downtown Connector. With a fuel budget of just $4, this is a highly economical commute or short excursion. Because the distance is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around local traffic patterns. It is a straightforward drive that serves as a practical link between these two Georgia hubs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Expressway | 12.6 mi | 15m |
| Buford Highway | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Downtown Connector | 3 mi | 4m |
| Jimmy Carter Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Interstate Highway 85 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Lawrenceville Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Duluth, GA and Atlanta, GA.
Start on Main Street
Turn right onto 120
Turn right onto US 23; GA 13
Turn left onto GA 140
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 85
Continue on I 85
Continue on I 75; I 85
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 26.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 85 South
Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.11 one way
$8.23 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.50 | $8.99 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.87 | $9.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.81 | $11.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Duluth on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from suburban roads into the heart of the city. Roughly 53% of your journey takes place on highways, providing a blend of fast-paced transit and local navigation. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 12.6 miles on the Northeast Expressway, which offers the most consistent driving conditions of the trip. As you move from Duluth toward Atlanta, the road personality shifts from wide, multi-lane expressways to the more complex environment of the Downtown Connector. Keep in mind that the character of this drive is functional rather than scenic, focusing on getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway.
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 26.3 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: at 0.1 miles (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 26.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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