If you are planning a trip from Marietta to Smyrna, you are looking at a 83.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to complete comfortably. You will navigate through the Southeast region using the Purple Heart Highway, the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway, and the Horace E Tate Freeway. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel should cover your travel costs for this distance. Since this is a straightforward, short-haul trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your own schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from Marietta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
45.3 mi
48m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
9.7 mi
11m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.3 mi
8m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
5.2 mi
5m
Downtown Connector
3.2 mi
4m
Greensboro Road
3 mi
4m
South Main Street
2.7 mi
5m
Roswell Street
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 45.3 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marietta, GA and Smyrna, GA.
1
Start on West Park Square
117 ft·11 sec·West Park Square
2
Continue on South Park Square
343 ft·8 sec·South Park Square
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Roswell Street
1.7 mi·3 min·Roswell Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto US 41; GA 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Cobb Parkway South
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto GA 120
0.6 mi·1 min·South Marietta Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·52 sec
Toward I 75 South: AtlantaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 75
5.2 mi·5 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 75
7.3 mi·8 min·Horace E Tate Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 75; I 85
3.2 mi·4 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 247Toward I 20: Augusta, BirminghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: AugustaUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 20
9.7 mi·11 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 20
45 mi·48 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 113Toward GA 83: Madison, MonticelloUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto GA 83
1.5 mi·2 min·Monticello Highway
16
Turn slight right onto GA 83
0.4 mi·37 sec·GA 83
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
18
Turn left onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
157 ft·3 sec·Eatonton Road
19
Turn straight onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
2.2 mi·4 min·South Main Street
20
Continue on US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi·4 min·Greensboro Road
21
Turn right onto Buckhead Road
103 ft·2 sec·Buckhead Road
22
Arrive at destination
Buckhead Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip with zero scheduled stops, your primary focus should be on timing your departure to avoid local traffic congestion. You can easily complete the entire 83.2 miles in one go, so take advantage of the lack of mandatory pauses to keep your pace steady. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $13 estimate is based on standard consumption for this specific route. Since the drive is quite technical with many turns, ensure your GPS is mounted and ready to go before you pull out of Marietta to avoid missing any transitions between the freeway segments.
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 41.6 miles from Marietta, GA, or about 52m 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 52m 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 Smyrna, 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 83.2 miles and 1h 43m.
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 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Park Square
Continue onto South Park Square
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
8
19.2 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 20: Augusta, Birmingham
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 247
Toward I 20: Augusta, Birmingham
7
19.4 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
8
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
$13.01 one way
$26.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.23
$28.45
premium
$4.70
$15.40
$30.80
diesel
$5.61
$18.37
$36.74
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: 29.1 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
0
$8.74
$3.99
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.28
$3.33
EV Truck/SUV
33.3
0
$11.65
$5.32
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
Late night
in Marietta on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Smyrna, GA
Late night
in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Decatur, GA
42 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
5 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 43m 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 that demands your full attention behind the wheel. The route is composed of only 23% highway driving, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads rather than cruising on open interstates. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 45.3 miles you will spend on the Purple Heart Highway. While the transition between the various freeways keeps the trip moving, the overall personality of this drive is dictated by its technical nature rather than a monotonous interstate grind.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 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?
9/10
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 early in the drive near South Park Square.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 (South Park Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Marietta, GA and Smyrna, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham and Monticello.
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 43m. Total distance: 83.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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 (South Park Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
