Origin
Hephzibah, GA
Morning in Hephzibah on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 22m
Distance
177.8 mi
286 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hephzibah, GA
Joshua Brown
Alpharetta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
This 177.8-mile drive from Hephzibah, GA to Alpharetta, GA is a manageable 3-hour and 22-minute journey, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the Carl Sanders Highway and Purple Heart Highway, with a portion on the Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, this route offers an economical way to travel within the Southeast region. The drive is characterized by its frequent turns, suggesting a more local feel rather than a constant interstate cruise. Given its duration and profile, it's perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.9 miles from Hephzibah, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Carl Sanders Highway | 82.2 mi | 1h 28m |
| Purple Heart Highway | 46.6 mi | 50m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| Turner McDonald Parkway | 9.1 mi | 11m |
| Bobby Jones Expressway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Peach Orchard Road | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Georgia 88 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Haynes Bridge Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hephzibah, GA and Alpharetta, GA.
Start on GA 88
Turn left onto US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT
Continue on US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT
Continue on US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT
Turn left
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 520
Keep slight right at fork onto I 520
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 20
Continue on I 20
Take the exit
Merge onto I 285
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 19; GA 400
Take the exit
Turn left onto Haynes Bridge Road
Turn left onto GA 120
Turn right onto GA 9
Turn right onto Academy Street
Arrive at destination
For this 3-hour and 22-minute drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic, especially as you approach Alpharetta. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the 177.8 miles. Consider a brief pause around the 82.2-mile mark on the Carl Sanders Highway for a stretch. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is quite reasonable, so plan to fuel up before you leave Hephzibah to ensure you have a full tank for the entire trip. Keep an eye out for the transitions between the main roads like the Carl Sanders Highway and Purple Heart Highway, as these often signal changes in the driving environment.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.9 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alpharetta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hephzibah, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hephzibah, GA
This is one driving day of about 177.8 miles and 3h 22m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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.
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 88.9 miles from Hephzibah, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Carl Sanders Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.3 and 175.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 520 / Bobby Jones Expressway toward I 20: Atlanta, Lexington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 West: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 285 Bypass North: Greenville, Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 19 North, GA 400 North: Cumming, Dahlonega
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$27.80 one way
$55.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $30.40 | $60.80 |
| premium | $4.70 | $32.91 | $65.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.26 | $78.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.3 | 0 | $18.67 | $8.53 |
| Efficient EV | 44.5 | 0 | $15.56 | $7.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.1 | 0 | $24.89 | $11.38 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Morning in Hephzibah on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Alpharetta on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
82°F
Madison, GA
89 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
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.
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 177.8-mile trip, as indicated by the route's profile. While 9% of your journey will be on highways, the majority involves navigating local roads and managing frequent turns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 82.2 miles on the Carl Sanders Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before transitioning back to more varied road conditions. This isn't a monotonous interstate grind; rather, it's a route that requires your attention as you transition between different road types and manage more frequent directional changes.
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 15.3 miles in near I 520 / Bobby Jones Expressway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 177.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.3 miles (I 520 / Bobby Jones Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hephzibah, GA and Alpharetta, GA, road signs point toward Lexington, Chattanooga, Dahlonega and Atlanta.
Lexington
Chattanooga
Dahlonega
Atlanta
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 22m. Total distance: 177.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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