Origin
Madison, GA
Late night in Madison on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, 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
1h 8m
Distance
59.1 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 59.1-mile drive from Madison, GA to Atlanta, GA takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll navigate primarily via local roads like Purple Heart Highway and Monticello Highway, with a short stint on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. The estimated fuel cost is around $9 for this trip within the Southeast region. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to focus on your destination rather than needing an overnight stay. It offers a straightforward journey connecting two points in Georgia.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 45.4 mi | 48m |
| Ralph David Abernathy Freeway | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| Monticello Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Atlanta Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 45.4 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Atlanta Highway
4
Turn left onto GA 83
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Monticello Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I-20 West: Atlanta
6
Merge onto I 20
45 mi
·
48 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 20
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 58A
Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
10
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Madison, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 58.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 278; GA 12; GA 83 / South Main Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83 / South Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 West: Atlanta
Navigation decision point
Toward I-20 West: Atlanta
5
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
58.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
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 58A
Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
5
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.24 one way
$18.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.11 | $20.21 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.94 | $21.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.05 | $26.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.21 | $2.84 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Oxford, GA
30 mi in
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
4 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
1h 8m 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?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for the majority of this 59.1-mile journey. While only 16% of the route involves highway travel, you'll experience a significant stretch of 45.4 miles primarily on Purple Heart Highway. This means you'll be navigating more local roads and intersections rather than sustained high-speed driving. The character of the road will shift as you approach Atlanta, likely becoming more urbanized. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; be prepared for a more engaged driving experience with frequent adjustments.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.4 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 278; GA 12; GA 83 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 278; GA 12; GA 83 / South Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (I 20 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Madison, GA
Full guide →Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
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 1h 8m. Total distance: 59.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.4 miles on Purple Heart Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 (US 278; GA 12; GA 83 / South Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (I 20 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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