Origin
Johns Creek, GA
Morning in Johns Creek on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johns Creek, GA to Athens, 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
1h 18m
Distance
55 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johns Creek, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Athens, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 55-mile drive from Johns Creek, GA to Athens, GA takes about 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, it's an economical journey. The route primarily utilizes University Parkway, Duluth Highway, and GA Inner Loop 10, offering a direct path between these two Georgia locations. Given its short duration and focus on main roads, this trip is ideal for a quick getaway without the need for an overnight stay. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entire trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Parkway | 33.5 mi | 40m |
| Duluth Highway | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| GA Inner Loop 10 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Prince Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Inner Loop 10 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Pleasant Hill Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| State Bridge Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Oconee Connector | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
University Parkway
— 33.5 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johns Creek, GA and Athens, GA.
1
Start on Morgan Hill Court
270 ft
·
17 sec
·
Morgan Hill Court
2
Turn left onto Groomsbridge Road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Groomsbridge Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto Grove Point Road
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Grove Point Road
4
Turn right onto GA 141
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Medlock Bridge Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto State Bridge Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on Pleasant Hill Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Pleasant Hill Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto Howell Ferry Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Howell Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on McClure Bridge Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
McClure Bridge Road
9
Enter roundabout onto West Lawrenceville Street
129 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Lawrenceville Street
10
Continue on West Lawrenceville Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lawrenceville Street
11
Continue on GA 120
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Duluth Highway
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp onto US 29; GA 8
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 29; GA 8
Toward GA 316 East, US 29 North, GA 8 North: Winder
Use the left lane.
13
Merge onto GA 316; US 29; GA 8
33 mi
·
40 min
·
University Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
380 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Oconee Connector
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Oconee Connector
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Use the left lane.
17
Merge onto GA 10 Loop
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Inner Loop 10
18
Continue on GA 10 Loop
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
GA Inner Loop 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on GA 10 Loop
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Inner Loop 10
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 14
Toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 129
195 ft
·
12 sec
·
US 129
22
Turn left onto GA 15 Alternate
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Prince Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on West Dougherty Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Dougherty Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Turn left onto North Lumpkin Street
101 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Lumpkin Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
North Lumpkin Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from Johns Creek, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 55 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
GA 141 / Medlock Bridge Road
Turn right onto GA 141 / Medlock Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
12.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
US 29; GA 8
Take the ramp onto US 29; GA 8 toward GA 316 East, US 29 North, GA 8 North: Winder
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward GA 316 East, US 29 North, GA 8 North: Wi...
8
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson
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 14
Toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson
6
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
GA 15 Alternate / Prince Avenue
Turn left onto GA 15 Alternate / Prince Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
North Lumpkin Street
Turn left onto North Lumpkin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.60 one way
$17.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.40 | $18.81 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.14 | $24.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 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 | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
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.
Destination
Athens, GA
Morning in Athens on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
21 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 61% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 33.5 miles on University Parkway, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While not a winding scenic route, the road provides a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. Expect a mix of well-traveled main roads that keep you moving efficiently toward your destination.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.5 mi on University Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on University Parkway and Duluth Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near GA 141 / Medlock Bridge Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.8 miles (GA 141 / Medlock Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles (US 29; GA 8): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Johns Creek, GA
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Athens, GA
Full guide →Athens is a vibrant college town of 127,000 people (2020) in the Classic Heartland region of Georgia. Athens is most popular in the late summer and fall when students, families of students or college football fans visit the University of Georgia.
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 1h 18m. Total distance: 55 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 (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.5 miles on University Parkway. 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 Athens, 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 0.8 miles (GA 141 / Medlock Bridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles (US 29; GA 8): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. 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 Athens, 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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