Origin
Sandy Springs, GA
Night in Sandy Springs on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sandy Springs, GA to Rydal, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
48 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rydal, GA
Barnabas Davoti
Trip Overview
This 48-mile drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Rydal, GA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 59 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway and US 411, with a brief stint on the Atlanta Bypass/The Perimeter. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $8, this route is budget-friendly. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it more of a local exploration than a high-speed transit. Since both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region of Georgia, you won't be crossing state lines, keeping the travel context consistent. Consider this a straightforward, short excursion perfect for a quick getaway.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | 33.4 mi | 37m |
| US 411 | 7 mi | 10m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Roswell Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Hilderbrand Drive Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Boylston Drive Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Mount Vernon Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
— 33.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandy Springs, GA and Rydal, GA.
1
Start on Mount Vernon Highway
374 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mount Vernon Highway
2
Turn right onto Boylston Drive Northeast
506 ft
·
24 sec
·
Boylston Drive Northeast
3
Turn right onto Hilderbrand Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Hilderbrand Drive Northeast
4
Turn left onto GA 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Roswell Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 285 West: Dorothy Felton Interchange
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 285
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 20
Toward I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, Chattanooga
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 75
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 293
Toward US 411: Chatsworth, White
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
289 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 411 North: Chatsworth
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto US 411; GA 61
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 411; GA 61
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 411; GA 61
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 411; GA 61
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 411; GA 61
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
US 411; GA 61
Use the straight lane.
17
Arrive at destination
US 411; GA 61
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 24 miles from Sandy Springs, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 5.5 and 40.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, Chattanooga
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 I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, Chattanooga
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
15.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway...
8
40.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward US 411: Chatsworth, White
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 293
Toward US 411: Chatsworth, White
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.51 one way
$15.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.21 | $16.41 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.88 | $17.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.60 | $21.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Rydal, GA
Night in Rydal on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
3 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
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 turn-heavy local drive for the most part on this 48-mile journey. While 15% of the route involves highway driving, the majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads and potentially dealing with traffic signals. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.4 miles along the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before you dive back into more varied road conditions. This drive is less about open highway cruising and more about engaging with the local road network as you transition from the city outskirts towards your destination.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.4 mi on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in.
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 14 decision points packed into just 48 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 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 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.
Between Sandy Springs, GA and Rydal, GA, road signs point toward Marietta, Chattanooga, Kennesaw and White.
Marietta
5.5 mi in
|
~8m
Chattanooga
5.5 mi in
|
~8m
Kennesaw
15.4 mi in
|
~20m
|
via I 75
White
40.5 mi in
|
~48m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 48 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.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.4 miles on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. 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 Rydal, 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 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 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 Rydal, 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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