Origin
Nelson, GA
Morning in Nelson on Tuesday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nelson, GA to Roswell, GA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
31.2 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nelson, GA
Gian Tripodoro
Roswell, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 31.2-mile drive from Nelson, GA, to Roswell, GA, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 50 minutes to complete. With a low estimated fuel cost of $5, it's an economical option for a quick trip. The route primarily utilizes Hickory Flat Highway and Arnold Mill Road, offering a local driving experience. As both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll remain within familiar territory. This journey is ideal for a leisurely half-day excursion, allowing plenty of time for activities at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory Flat Highway | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| A P D Highway | 6 mi | 6m |
| Arnold Mill Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Houze Road | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| Ball Ground Highway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Alpharetta Highway | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Northside-Cherokee Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Hickory Flat Highway
— 8.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nelson, GA and Roswell, GA.
1
Start on Dogwood Pass
17 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dogwood Pass
2
Turn left onto Blue Ridge Avenue
517 ft
·
23 sec
·
Blue Ridge Avenue
3
Turn left onto Kennesaw Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Kennesaw Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto Canton Road
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Canton Road
5
Continue on Ball Ground Highway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Ball Ground Highway
6
Continue on GA 372; GA 5 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Canton Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on GA 5 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Ball Ground Highway
8
Turn right onto GA 5 Business
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Howell Bridge Road
9
Take the ramp onto GA 5 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
GA 5 Business
10
Merge onto I 575; GA 5
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
A P D Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 575; GA 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19
Toward GA 20 East: Downtown Canton, Cumming
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on East Main Street
307 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Main Street
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Cumming Highway
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Cumming Highway
15
Turn right onto Northside-Cherokee Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Northside-Cherokee Boulevard
16
Turn left onto GA 140
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Hickory Flat Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on GA 140
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Arnold Mill Road
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on GA 140
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Houze Road
19
Enter roundabout onto GA 140
96 ft
·
1 sec
·
Houze Road
20
Continue on GA 140
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Houze Road
21
Merge onto GA 9; GA 120; GA 140
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Alpharetta Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Arrive at destination
GA 9; GA 120
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from Nelson, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.5 — 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
|
Blue Ridge Avenue
Turn left onto Blue Ridge Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Canton Road
At end of road, turn left onto Canton Road
Navigation decision point
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 575; GA 5 / A P D Highway
Merge onto I 575; GA 5 / A P D Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward GA 20 East: Downtown Canton, Cumming
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 19
Toward GA 20 East: Downtown Canton, Cumming
6
14.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
GA 140 / Hickory Flat Highway
Turn left onto GA 140 / Hickory Flat Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.88 one way
$9.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.33 | $10.67 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.77 | $11.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Roswell, GA
Morning in Roswell on Tuesday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Canton, GA
16 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
23 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
50m 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 this 31.2-mile stretch. The highway share is 100%, meaning you'll be on local roads for the entire journey, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 8.8 miles on Hickory Flat Highway. This profile suggests a route that winds through communities rather than a direct, high-speed transit. The numerous turns mean you'll be actively navigating, so staying focused is key throughout the 50-minute drive.
Only 1% 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: 8.8 mi on Hickory Flat Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Blue Ridge Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 31.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Blue Ridge Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Canton Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (I 575; GA 5 / A P D Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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 Nelson, GA to Roswell, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Cumming along the way.
Cumming
12.1 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 31.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.8 miles on Hickory Flat 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 Roswell, 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 (Blue Ridge Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Canton Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (I 575; GA 5 / A P D Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. 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 Roswell, 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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