Origin
Russell, GA
Late night in Russell on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Russell, 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
1h 6m
Distance
52.2 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Russell, GA
Piotr Kowalonek
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 52.2-mile drive from Russell, Georgia, to Atlanta, Georgia, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 6 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-85, University Parkway, and Monroe Highway, this route is heavily highway-focused, making it ideal as a day trip with no need for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is around $8, reflecting the efficiency of the primarily interstate travel. Given that both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout the journey. This drive is a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 23.8 mi | 28m |
| University Parkway | 22.6 mi | 28m |
| Monroe Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Atlanta Highway Southeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Christmas Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Midland Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| May Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 23.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russell, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on this road
236 ft
·
19 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto East Midland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Midland Avenue
3
Turn left onto Russell Cemetery Road
414 ft
·
20 sec
·
Russell Cemetery Road
4
Turn right onto GA 8; GA 53
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Atlanta Highway Southeast
5
Continue on GA 8; GA 53
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
May Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn sharp left onto GA 11
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Monroe Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on GA 11
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Christmas Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
9
Merge onto US 29; GA 316
23 mi
·
28 min
·
University Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 85 South: Atlanta
11
Merge onto I 85
24 mi
·
28 min
·
I 85
Use the straight lane.
12
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.
13
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Russell, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 52.1 — 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
|
East Midland Avenue
Turn right onto East Midland Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
GA 11 / Monroe Highway
Turn sharp left onto GA 11 / Monroe Highway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
52 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Capitol Square Southwest
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.16 one way
$16.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.93 | $17.85 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.66 | $19.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.53 | $23.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph
1% chance
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
1h 6m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 the majority of this 52.2-mile journey, with 89% of the drive being on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.8 miles on I-85, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the profile is predominantly highway, the inclusion of University Parkway and Monroe Highway suggests brief transitions away from the interstate system. This mix means you'll primarily be dealing with faster speeds and higher traffic volumes on the interstate, with potentially more local road characteristics appearing on the other main roads as you approach your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.8 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and University Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Midland Avenue.
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 52.2 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 (East Midland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (GA 11 / Monroe Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.7 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 →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 1h 6m. Total distance: 52.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m 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 23.8 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: near the start (East Midland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (GA 11 / Monroe Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.7 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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