Origin
North Atlanta, GA
Late night in North Atlanta on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Atlanta, GA to Gainesville, 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
54m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Atlanta, GA
Kelly
Gainesville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from North Atlanta to Gainesville, this 45.7-mile trek is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 54 minutes. Because of the quick transit time, it works perfectly as a simple day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, specifically utilizing the Northeast Expressway, Interstate Highway 85, and Lanier Parkway. Budgeting roughly $7 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Georgia, you can expect a familiar driving environment throughout the entire route.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lanier Parkway | 19.7 mi | 21m |
| Interstate Highway 85 | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| Northeast Expressway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Chamblee Tucker Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Queen City Parkway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Peachtree Road Northeast | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Peachtree Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 85 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lanier Parkway
— 19.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Atlanta, GA and Gainesville, GA.
1
Start on GA 141
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Peachtree Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
2
Continue on Peachtree Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Peachtree Road
3
Turn right onto Chamblee Tucker Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Chamblee Tucker Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 85 North: Greenville
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 85
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 85
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Interstate Highway 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 85
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 985
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Lanier Parkway
Exit 113
Toward I 985 North: Gainesville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 20
Toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Use the slight right lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto GA 60
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Queen City Parkway
11
Turn right onto GA 60; GA 369
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest
12
Turn right onto Green Street
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
Green Street
13
Arrive at destination
Green Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from North Atlanta, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 42.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Chamblee Tucker Road
Turn right onto Chamblee Tucker Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 North: Greenville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 North: Greenville
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 85 / Northeast Expressway
Merge onto I 85 / Northeast Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
23.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 985 / Lanier Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 985 / Lanier Parkway toward I 985 North: Gainesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 113
Toward I 985 North: Gainesville
8
42.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
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 20
Toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.15 one way
$14.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.81 | $15.63 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.46 | $16.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Gainesville, GA
Late night in Gainesville on Tuesday
Local time
5:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°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
2 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
54m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 89% of your time spent on high-speed roads. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a winding backroads tour. You will find yourself cruising along for a significant portion of the trip, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.7 miles on Lanier Parkway. The transition between these major arteries keeps the drive efficient and direct, though it lacks the slower, technical turns of local surface streets. It is a functional, no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and connectivity over scenic detours.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.7 mi on Lanier Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lanier Parkway and Interstate Highway 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near Chamblee Tucker Road.
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 9 decision points packed into just 45.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (Chamblee Tucker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.7 miles on Lanier Parkway. 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 Gainesville, 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 2.3 miles (Chamblee Tucker Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): 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 Gainesville, 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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