Origin
Lawrenceville, GA
Late night in Lawrenceville on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lawrenceville, 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
43m
Distance
32.3 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good 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.
Lawrenceville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Lawrenceville to Atlanta, expect a straightforward 32.3-mile trip that typically takes about 43 minutes. Since this is a short, localized route within the Southeast, you can easily complete the entire journey as a simple day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-85, University Parkway, and East Pike Street, making it a highly efficient commute between these two Georgia cities. Budgeting just $5 for fuel makes this a very economical drive for your weekend plans or business travel. Because there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to reach your destination quickly and get straight to your itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 23.8 mi | 28m |
| University Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| East Pike Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Duluth Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Crogan Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Buford Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 23.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawrenceville, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on GA 20
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Crogan Street
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto GA 20; GA 124
368 ft
·
16 sec
·
Buford Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto GA 20
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Pike Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on GA 120
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Duluth Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward GA 316: Atlanta
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto GA 316
4.5 mi
·
6 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
24 mi
·
28 min
·
I 85
Use the straight lane.
9
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.
10
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 32.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
GA 20; GA 124 / Buford Drive
Turn left onto GA 20; GA 124 / Buford Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
GA 20 / East Pike Street
Turn left onto GA 20 / East Pike Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward GA 316: Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward GA 316: Atlanta
8
31.8 mi into trip
|
~41m 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...
7
32.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.05 one way
$10.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.52 | $11.05 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.98 | $11.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 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 | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
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
Atlanta, GA
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 12:59PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 15 at 8:01PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
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
36 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
43m 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 32.3-mile route is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will find yourself settling into a steady pace for the majority of the trip, highlighted by a 23.8-mile stretch on I-85. While local roads like East Pike Street and University Parkway get you out of Lawrenceville, the drive quickly transitions into a standard interstate experience. It is not a winding scenic byway, but rather a functional, high-speed connection that prioritizes efficiency over leisure. Expect a consistent, fast-paced environment that requires your full attention as you merge into the heavier traffic patterns approaching the Atlanta metro area.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.8 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and University Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near GA 20; GA 124 / Buford Drive.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 32.3 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 0.1 miles (GA 20; GA 124 / Buford Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (GA 20 / East Pike Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Lawrenceville, GA
Full guide →Lawrenceville is a city in Georgia, on the outskirts of Metro Atlanta.
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 43m. Total distance: 32.3 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 (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.8 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 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 0.1 miles (GA 20; GA 124 / Buford Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (GA 20 / East Pike Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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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