Spanning 77.9 miles, this route between Mableton and Smyrna, Georgia, serves as a focused local trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes to complete. Because the travel time is relatively short, you can easily handle this as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel, making this a budget-friendly option for your regional travels. Navigating this path requires you to stick to local thoroughfares rather than major interstates, as the route is comprised entirely of surface streets. Both your starting point and destination are located within the Southeast, keeping the environment consistent throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.9 miles from Mableton, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
45.3 mi
48m
Tom Murphy Freeway
18.2 mi
22m
Mableton Parkway
4.8 mi
8m
Greensboro Road
3 mi
4m
South Main Street
2.7 mi
5m
Monticello Highway
1.5 mi
2m
Fulton Industrial Boulevard Southwest
0.5 mi
<1m
GA 83
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 45.3 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mableton, GA and Smyrna, GA.
Exit 113Toward GA 83: Madison, MonticelloUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto GA 83
1.5 mi·2 min·Monticello Highway
11
Turn slight right onto GA 83
0.4 mi·37 sec·GA 83
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
13
Turn left onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
157 ft·3 sec·Eatonton Road
14
Turn straight onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
2.2 mi·4 min·South Main Street
15
Continue on US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi·4 min·Greensboro Road
16
Turn right onto Buckhead Road
103 ft·2 sec·Buckhead Road
17
Arrive at destination
Buckhead Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 1-day trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. You should account for the stop-and-go nature of local roads when planning your arrival, as there are no highway segments to help you make up for lost time. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind before you head out, as local road driving can sometimes be less fuel-efficient than consistent highway cruising. A practical tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the specific sequence of turns on Mableton Parkway and Fulton Industrial Boulevard Southwest ahead of time. Staying alert at these junctions will help you navigate the turn-heavy profile of the drive with ease.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.9 miles from Mableton, GA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.3 miles.
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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.9 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smyrna, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mableton, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mableton, GA
This is one driving day of about 77.7 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Mableton, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Highway for about 45.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 69.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|Mableton Parkway
Turn right onto Mableton Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
5.7 mi into trip|~9m in
Turn sharp left toward I 20 East
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 20 East
5
6.2 mi into trip|~11m in|I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
69.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
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 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.15 one way
$24.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.29
$26.57
premium
$4.70
$14.38
$28.76
diesel
$5.61
$17.16
$34.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.16
$3.73
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.80
$3.11
EV Truck/SUV
31.1
0
$10.88
$4.97
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Mableton, GA
Late night
in Mableton on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Smyrna, GA
Late night
in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Decatur, GA
39 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
8 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 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way through the Southeast, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will rely on roads like Veterans Memorial Highway Southwest, Mableton Parkway, and Fulton Industrial Boulevard Southwest to reach your destination. Because the path avoids interstates entirely, the pace remains steady and demands your full attention at intersections and turns. This is strictly a local driving experience, lacking the long, monotonous stretches found on major freeways. Prepare for a hands-on experience behind the wheel where the road conditions reflect a typical suburban and industrial corridor.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.3 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 77.7 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Mableton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mableton, GA to Smyrna, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
Monticello
69.7 mi in|~1h 22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 77.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.3 miles on Purple Heart Highway. 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 Smyrna, 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Mableton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. 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 Smyrna, GA before heading back.
