Origin
Oakwood, GA
Afternoon in Oakwood on Sunday
Local time
12:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakwood, GA to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
33.5 mi
54 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakwood, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Oakwood to Atlanta is a straightforward 33.5-mile journey that typically takes about 44 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is easily managed as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You can expect to spend roughly $5 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly way to navigate between these two Southeast locations. The route relies on a combination of the Purple Heart Highway, the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway, and Salem Road. Whether you are heading into the city for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a practical connection without the need for extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 16.7 mi | 18m |
| Ralph David Abernathy Freeway | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| Salem Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Smith Store Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 16.7 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakwood, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on Smith Store Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Smith Store Road
2
Turn left onto GA 162
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Salem Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 20 West
4
Merge onto I 20; US 278; GA 12
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 20
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 58A
Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
8
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 33.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
GA 162 / Salem Road
Turn left onto GA 162 / Salem Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
6.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 20 West
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
32.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
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 58A
Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
5
33.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.24 one way
$10.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.73 | $11.46 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.20 | $12.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.40 | $14.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
12:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
4 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
44m 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 that keeps you engaged rather than lulling you into a monotonous interstate grind. While about 28% of the route consists of highway driving, the experience is largely defined by its varied local road segments. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 16.7 miles spent on the Purple Heart Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. As you transition between the different road types, the character of the drive shifts from open stretches to more technical, maneuvering-intensive sections. This blend of road styles ensures that you stay attentive throughout the entire 44-minute duration.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near GA 162 / Salem Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 44m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (GA 162 / Salem Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,040 ft
745 ft
Total Climb
500 ft
Total Descent
204 ft
Highest Point
1,040 ft
~33.5 mi in
Elevation Range
296 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Atlanta, GA
Full guide →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.
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 44m. Total distance: 33.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (28%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 miles on Purple Heart Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (GA 162 / Salem Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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