Origin
Nicholson, GA
Morning in Nicholson on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nicholson, GA to Atlanta, 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
1h 28m
Distance
70.4 mi
113 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nicholson, GA
Joshua Brown
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 70.4-mile drive from Nicholson to Atlanta, Georgia, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 28 minutes. It's an ideal day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, making it an economical option. The route primarily utilizes major highways, offering a consistent pace for your travel. As you journey from the Southeast region to the same region, you'll experience a familiar landscape. This drive is all about getting you to your destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 54.9 mi | 1h 1m |
| Brockton Road | 7.3 mi | 12m |
| Major Damon J. Gause Bypass | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Old Pendergrass Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Danielsville Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Sycamore Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 54.9 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nicholson, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on Church Street
34 ft
·
8 sec
·
Church Street
2
Turn left onto Sanford Drive
77 ft
·
5 sec
·
Sanford Drive
3
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Broad Street
4
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
393 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mulberry Street
5
Continue on GA 335
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Jefferson Drive
6
Continue on GA 335
7.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Brockton Road
7
Continue on GA 335
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Danielsville Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto GA 82
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Sycamore Street
9
Turn left onto Kissam Street
285 ft
·
7 sec
·
Kissam Street
10
Continue on Kissam Street
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Kissam Street
11
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 82
190 ft
·
3 sec
·
Storey Street
12
Turn straight onto GA 82
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Sycamore Street
13
Turn right onto US 129 Business; GA 11 Business
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Washington Street
14
Turn slight left onto Old Pendergrass Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Pendergrass Road
15
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Major Damon J. Gause Bypass
16
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I-85 South: Atlanta
Use the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 85
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.2 miles from Nicholson, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 14.7 and 70.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
14.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Turn left toward I-85 South: Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-85 South: Atlanta
6
45.3 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
69.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
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 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State C...
6
70.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
Capitol Square Southwest
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.01 one way
$22.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.04 | $24.07 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.03 | $26.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.54 | $31.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.39 | $3.38 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.16 | $2.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Morning in Atlanta on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 28m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this trip, with 78% of the journey on major roadways like I-85. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 54.9 miles on I-85, offering a chance to settle into a steady rhythm. While the core of the route is highway, you will also navigate sections on Brockton Road and the Major Damon J. எனவே Bypass, which may offer slight variations in pace and surroundings before you merge back onto faster roads. The character remains predominantly highway-centric, designed for efficient travel.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.9 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Brockton Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 14.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Atlanta, GA
Full guide →“The Big Peach” · Founded 1845
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
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 28m. Total distance: 70.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.9 miles on I 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 14.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.9 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 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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