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Trip from Griffin, GA to Sandy Springs, 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 18m

Distance

53 mi

85 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

county seat of Spalding County, Georgia, United States

Griffin, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 53-mile drive from Griffin, GA to Sandy Springs, GA takes about 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 86% of it on major roads like US 19 and I-75. You'll be staying within Georgia for this journey, traversing the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of just $8, this is an economical option for a quick getaway or a convenient transfer. No overnight stays are recommended for this short distance; you can easily complete it in a single day.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 19 15.8 mi 23m
I 75 14.8 mi 18m
North Expressway 6.4 mi 9m
T Harvey Mathis Parkway 5.8 mi 7m
Northeast Expressway 2.7 mi 3m
Experiment Street 1.8 mi 3m
Roswell Road 0.8 mi 1m
Tara Boulevard 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 19 — 15.8 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Griffin, GA and Sandy Springs, GA.

1

Start on US 19 Business; US 41 Business; GA 155

381 ft · 16 sec · State Street
2

Turn right onto West Poplar Street

516 ft · 16 sec · West Poplar Street
3

Turn right onto South 8th Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · South 8th Street
4

At end of road, turn left onto West Broad Street

0.2 mi · 36 sec · West Broad Street
5

Continue on Experiment Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Experiment Street
6

Keep slight right at fork onto Experiment Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Experiment Street
7

Continue on McIntosh Road

0.4 mi · 40 sec · McIntosh Road
8

Turn right onto US 19; US 41; GA 3

6.4 mi · 9 min · North Expressway
Use the right lane.
9

Continue on US 19; US 41; GA 3

3.1 mi · 4 min · US 19; US 41; GA 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 19; US 41; GA 3

13 mi · 19 min · US 19; US 41; GA 3
Use the straight lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto Tara Boulevard

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Tara Boulevard
12

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 75 North Use the straight lane.
13

Merge onto I 75

15 mi · 18 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85

2.7 mi · 3 min · Northeast Expressway
Exit 251B Toward I 85 North: Greenville
15

Keep slight right at fork onto GA 400

5.8 mi · 7 min · T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Exit 87 Toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 4A Toward I 285 East: Greenville, Augusta, Glenridge Connector Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 4A-B Toward I 285: Chattanooga, Greenville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Exit 4 Toward I 285 West, I 285 East: Chattanooga, Birmingham, Greenville, Augusta
19

Keep slight left at fork

1.5 mi · 3 min
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham Use the slight left lane.
20

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.
21

Turn right onto GA 9

0.8 mi · 1 min · Roswell Road
Use the right lane.
22

Turn right onto Mount Vernon Highway

180 ft · 3 sec · Mount Vernon Highway
23

Arrive at destination

Mount Vernon Highway

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Morrow, GA

27 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

Hampton, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Morrow, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Griffin, 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 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 43.5 and 52 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
43.5 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 87 Toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming
8
49.4 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Take the exit toward I 285 East: Greenville, Augusta, Glenridge Connector

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 4A Toward I 285 East: Greenville, Augusta, Glenrid...
9
49.7 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 285: Chattanooga, Greenville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 4A-B Toward I 285: Chattanooga, Greenville
8
50.5 mi into trip | ~1h 13m 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 slight left lane. Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
8
52 mi into trip | ~1h 16m 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

$8.29 one way

$16.58 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $9.06 $18.12
premium $4.70 $9.81 $19.62
diesel $5.61 $11.70 $23.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.9 0 $5.56 $2.54
Efficient EV 13.3 0 $4.64 $2.12
EV Truck/SUV 21.2 0 $7.42 $3.39

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Griffin, GA

Late night in Griffin on Sunday

Local time

3:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sandy Springs, GA

Late night in Sandy Springs on Sunday

Local time

3:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°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

22 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 18m 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 predominantly highway-focused drive for this 53-mile trip, with 86% of your journey on major routes. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-75 and US 19, which are designed for efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.8 miles along US 19, offering a consistent pace. While this route prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours, it provides a reliable and predictable driving experience as you make your way north.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.8 mi on US 19.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 19 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.5 miles in near GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53 miles you will encounter 17 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 43.5 miles (GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Griffin, GA and Sandy Springs, GA, road signs point toward Cumming, Augusta and Greenville.

Cumming

43.5 mi in | ~1h 3m | via GA 400

Augusta

49.4 mi in | ~1h 11m

Greenville

49.7 mi in | ~1h 11m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 53 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 15.8 miles on US 19. 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 43.5 miles (GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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