Origin
Kennesaw, GA
Late night in Kennesaw on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kennesaw, GA to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
26.8 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kennesaw, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Kennesaw to Atlanta is a quick, straightforward 26.8-mile journey that typically takes about 35 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is easily completed in a single day, making it ideal for a quick commute or a spontaneous afternoon excursion. You will primarily navigate via I-75, supplemented by local access roads like Big Shanty Drive Northwest and Chastain Road. With a fuel budget of roughly $4, this drive is as economical as it is efficient. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will remain in familiar territory throughout the entire trip. It is a highly practical route that requires no overnight stay, allowing you maximum flexibility for your plans in the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 23.3 mi | 28m |
| Big Shanty Drive Northwest | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Chastain Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| McCollum Parkway Northwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cherokee Street Northwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 23.3 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kennesaw, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on J. O. Stephenson Avenue Northwest
65 ft
·
4 sec
·
J. O. Stephenson Avenue Northwest
2
Continue on Cherokee Street Northwest
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Cherokee Street Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Big Shanty Drive Northwest
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Big Shanty Drive Northwest
4
Turn left onto McCollum Parkway Northwest
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
McCollum Parkway Northwest
5
Continue on Chastain Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Chastain Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
23 mi
·
28 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 26.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
6
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
8
26.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State C...
6
26.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Capitol Square Southwest
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
26.8 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.19 one way
$8.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.58 | $9.16 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.96 | $9.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 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 | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Atlanta, GA
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
35m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly find yourself on the main artery of the trip, covering a longest stretch of 23.3 miles on I-75. The experience is defined by high-speed interstate travel, providing a direct connection between the two points. While local roads like Chastain Road and Big Shanty Drive Northwest handle the initial transition, the vast majority of your time behind the wheel is spent at highway speeds. Expect a consistent, fast-paced environment that prioritizes speed and efficiency over secondary road exploration.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.3 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Big Shanty Drive Northwest. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 26.8 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 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Atlanta, 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.
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 35m. Total distance: 26.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.3 miles on I 75. 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 Atlanta, 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 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Atlanta, 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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