This straightforward 67.4-mile journey from Manchester to Atlanta, Georgia, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 39 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at around $11, it's an economical option for getting to the city. The route is predominantly highway, making it a quick and efficient drive through the Southeast. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, so expect a direct path without many detours. This drive is ideal if you're looking for a no-fuss way to reach Atlanta from the Manchester area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.7 miles from Manchester, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
GA 85
55 mi
1h 19m
I 75
7.4 mi
9m
Wrightsville Road
1.6 mi
2m
Perry Street
0.6 mi
1m
Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
<1m
Fulton Street Southwest
0.2 mi
<1m
Forest Parkway
0.1 mi
<1m
Johnson Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
GA 85
— 55 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on GA 85 Spur
0.6 mi·1 min·Perry Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Johnson Avenue
48 ft·2 sec·Johnson Avenue
3
Continue on Wrightsville Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Wrightsville Road
4
Turn left onto GA 85
55 mi·1 hr 19 min·GA 85
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto GA 331
0.1 mi·14 sec·Forest Parkway
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 75Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 North: AtlantaUse the slight left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 North: Downtown AtlantaUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 75
7.4 mi·9 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 246Toward Fulton Street, Central Avenue, Georgia State UniversityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward Fulton Street, Zoo AtlantaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Fulton Street Southwest
0.2 mi·27 sec·Fulton Street Southwest
Use the left / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi·56 sec·Capitol Avenue Southeast
14
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, you have the flexibility to leave Manchester at your convenience. Consider an early morning departure to bypass potential Atlanta traffic as you get closer to the city. With 0 planned stops, you can choose to take breaks as needed. The longest stretch of 55 miles on GA 85 means you won't need to refuel unless your tank is already low, but it's always wise to check your gauge before heading out. This quick trip allows for spontaneity, so you can easily adjust your schedule on the go.
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 33.7 miles from Manchester, GA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.7 miles or 49m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlanta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manchester, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manchester, GA
This is one driving day of about 67.4 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Manchester, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on GA 85 for about 55 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 57.3 and 66.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
57.3 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the ramp toward I 75
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 75
7
57.5 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta
7
58.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Downtown Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 North: Downtown Atlanta
8
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Fulton Street, Central Avenue, Georgia State University
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 246
Toward Fulton Street, Central Avenue, Georgia S...
8
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Fulton Street, Zoo Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Fulton Street, Zoo Atlanta
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.54 one way
$21.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$11.52
$23.05
premium
$4.70
$12.47
$24.95
diesel
$5.61
$14.88
$29.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.2
0
$7.08
$3.24
Efficient EV
16.9
0
$5.90
$2.70
EV Truck/SUV
27
0
$9.44
$4.31
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 20, 2026
Origin
Manchester, GA
Morning
in Manchester on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atlanta, GA
Morning
in Atlanta on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Shannon, GA
34 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
1 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 39m 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 highway-focused experience for 93% of this 67.4-mile drive. The primary roads you'll navigate include GA 85 and I-75, leading you towards Atlanta. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a solid 55 miles on GA 85, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is highway, the final approach into Atlanta via Wrightsville Road may present more varied traffic conditions. Overall, the drive is designed for efficiency, prioritizing speed over winding country lanes.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55 mi on GA 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on GA 85 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 57.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.4 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: at 57.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 57.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Georgia State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Georgia
•Virginia-Highland — human settlement in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
•Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park — heritage site in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 67.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55 miles on GA 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 57.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 57.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
