Marietta to Ringgold is 83.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 36 minutes via Larry McDonald Memorial Highway and US 41, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traversing Georgia from the Atlanta metro area toward the Chattanooga area. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns rather than a long, straight highway haul. With its relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.9 miles from Marietta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
76.9 mi
1h 23m
US 41
2.4 mi
4m
Cherokee Street
1.2 mi
2m
GA 5
1.1 mi
1m
Chattanooga Road
0.8 mi
1m
Canton Road Connector
0.3 mi
<1m
Church Street Northwest
0.2 mi
<1m
South Park Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
— 76.9 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marietta, GA and Ringgold, GA.
1
Start on West Park Square
117 ft·11 sec·West Park Square
2
Continue on South Park Square
343 ft·14 sec·South Park Square
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on East Park Square
334 ft·11 sec·East Park Square
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on Cherokee Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Cherokee Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn straight onto Church Street Northwest
0.2 mi·26 sec·Church Street Northwest
6
Continue on Canton Road Connector
0.3 mi·30 sec·Canton Road Connector
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·27 sec
Toward I 75, GA 5: Atlanta, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 5
0.2 mi·17 sec·GA 5
Toward I 75, GA 5: Atlanta, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 5
0.9 mi·1 min·GA 5
Toward I 75 North: ChattanoogaUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 75; GA 5
0.6 mi·43 sec·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
76 mi·1 hr 22 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, KennesawUse the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 345Toward US 41, US 76: RinggoldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto US 41; US 76; GA 3
0.8 mi·1 min·Chattanooga Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 41; US 76; GA 2; GA 3
2.4 mi·4 min·US 41; US 76; GA 2; GA 3
15
Turn right onto GA 151; US 41
166 ft·5 sec·Tennessee Street
16
Turn right onto Claiborne Street
79 ft·3 sec·Claiborne Street
17
Arrive at destination
Claiborne Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 36 minute drive time, leaving Marietta in the morning or early afternoon will comfortably get you to Ringgold with plenty of daylight. Since this is a shorter trip, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops if needed. Keep an eye on your navigation as you'll be making turns frequently, especially on the local road segments. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you should have no concerns about finding stations along US 41, which is a primary artery for this route.
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 41.9 miles from Marietta, GA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.9 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.9 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ringgold, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marietta, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marietta, GA
This is one driving day of about 83.9 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Marietta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway for about 76.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 80.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 75, GA 5: Atlanta, Chattanooga
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.
Toward I 75, GA 5: Atlanta, Chattanooga
8
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|GA 5
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 5 toward I 75, GA 5: Atlanta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75, GA 5: Atlanta, Chattanooga
7
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in|GA 5
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 5 toward I 75 North: Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga
8
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in|I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway...
8
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward US 41, US 76: Ringgold
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 345
Toward US 41, US 76: Ringgold
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.12 one way
$26.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.35
$28.69
premium
$4.70
$15.53
$31.06
diesel
$5.61
$18.52
$37.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.81
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.34
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Marietta, GA
Night
in Marietta on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ringgold, GA
Night
in Ringgold on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll navigate through towns and junctions more than cruising on open highways. While the highway share is around 4, the longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 76.9 miles on the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. This implies a dynamic driving experience, transitioning between faster sections and more intricate local road segments as you progress toward Ringgold.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.9 mi on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 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 83.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.2 miles (GA 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (GA 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Marietta is a city of 61,000 people (2019) in Metro Atlanta. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Dobbins Air Reserve Base on the south side of town and a Lockheed Martin manufacturing plant are among the major industries in the city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 83.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.9 miles on Larry McDonald Memorial 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 Ringgold, 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 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.2 miles (GA 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (GA 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ringgold, GA before heading back.
