Origin
Russell, GA
Late night in Russell on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Russell, GA to Sandy Springs, 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
59m
Distance
46.2 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Russell, GA
Piotr Kowalonek
Trip Overview
This straightforward 46.2-mile drive from Russell, GA to Sandy Springs, GA takes approximately 59 minutes to complete. It's an easy one-day trip, perfect for a quick commute or a short excursion within the Southeast region. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this route is quite budget-friendly. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a predominantly fast-paced journey. There are no planned stops, so you can either drive straight through or add your own points of interest along the way.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Parkway | 22.6 mi | 28m |
| I 85 | 9 mi | 9m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Monroe Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Roswell Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Atlanta Highway Southeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Christmas Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Midland Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
University Parkway
— 22.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russell, GA and Sandy Springs, 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
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 85
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 95B
Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 285
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
518 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 25; 27B
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on this road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
Exit 25
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 19
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto GA 9
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Roswell Road
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Mount Vernon Highway
180 ft
·
3 sec
·
Mount Vernon Highway
20
Arrive at destination
Mount Vernon Highway
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 23.1 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 45.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
36.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 95B
Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingh...
8
37.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
8
43.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
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 25; 27B
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road,...
8
45.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
US 19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19 toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.22 one way
$14.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.90 | $15.80 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.55 | $17.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.20 | $20.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 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 | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
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
Sandy Springs, GA
Late night in Sandy Springs on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
59m 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 drive for this 46.2-mile trip, with 69% of it on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.6 miles along University Parkway, offering a consistent pace. You'll transition onto I-85 and then the Atlanta Bypass (The Perimeter), indicating a shift to faster, multi-lane traffic typical of urban approaches. This route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing getting you to your destination quickly over scenic detours.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.6 mi on University Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on University Parkway and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near GA 11 / Monroe Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 46.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (GA 11 / Monroe Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Russell, GA to Sandy Springs, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Birmingham along the way.
Birmingham
36.9 mi in
|
~46m
About the Cities
Arriving in Sandy Springs, GA
Full guide →Founded 2005
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 59m. Total distance: 46.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.6 miles on University 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 Sandy Springs, 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 0.8 miles (GA 11 / Monroe Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Sandy Springs, 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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