Origin
Grayson, GA
Late night in Grayson on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grayson, GA to Sandy Springs, GA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
30.2 mi
49 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grayson, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Grayson to Sandy Springs covers 30.3 miles, making for a quick and manageable journey that typically takes about 40 minutes. Because of the short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via Grayson Highway, Sugarloaf Parkway, and GA 316 West to reach your destination within the Southeast region. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly economical commute between these two Georgia communities. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, the simplicity of this short drive makes it a straightforward transition between cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 9 mi | 9m |
| Sugarloaf Parkway | 6.8 mi | 12m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Grayson Highway | 2 mi | 3m |
| University Parkway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Roswell Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 19 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mount Vernon Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 9 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grayson, GA and Sandy Springs, GA.
1
Start on GA 20
16 ft
·
4 sec
·
Grayson Highway
2
Continue on GA 20
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Grayson Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Sugarloaf Parkway
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Sugarloaf Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on Sugarloaf Parkway
207 ft
·
10 sec
·
Sugarloaf Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward GA 316 West
6
Merge onto GA 316
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
University Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 85 South: Atlanta
8
Merge onto I 85
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 85
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 95B
Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 285
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
518 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 25; 27B
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on this road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
Exit 25
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 19
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto GA 9
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Roswell Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Mount Vernon Highway
180 ft
·
3 sec
·
Mount Vernon Highway
17
Arrive at destination
Mount Vernon Highway
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 29.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
GA 316 / University Parkway
Merge onto GA 316 / University Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
20.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham
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 95B
Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingh...
8
21.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
8
27.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
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 25; 27B
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road,...
8
29.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19 toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.72 one way
$9.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.16 | $10.33 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.59 | $11.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.67 | $13.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Sandy Springs, GA
Late night in Sandy Springs on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
43m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will find yourself navigating local roads for the entirety of the 30.3-mile trip, meaning you should stay alert for frequent turns. Because the longest stretch of road is essentially non-existent on Grayson Highway, the path requires constant attention to changing directions and intersections. This is not a route defined by long, uninterrupted cruising but rather a series of local connectors that link Grayson to Sandy Springs. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with local traffic patterns throughout the journey.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near GA 316 / University Parkway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 30.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles (GA 316 / University Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,092 ft
921 ft
Total Climb
337 ft
Total Descent
339 ft
Highest Point
1,092 ft
Elevation Range
171 ft
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 Grayson, GA to Sandy Springs, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Birmingham along the way.
Birmingham
20.9 mi in
|
~29m
About the Cities
Arriving in Sandy Springs, GA
Full guide →Founded 2005
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 43m. Total distance: 30.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9 miles on I 85. 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 Sandy Springs, 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 9.3 miles (GA 316 / University Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sandy Springs, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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