If you are planning a trip from Smyrna to Canton, Georgia, expect a straightforward journey covering 104.9 miles. You should budget approximately two hours and three minutes of drive time, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. With fuel costs estimated at around $17, the trip is quite economical for a regional Southeast drive. While the route is manageable in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the roads means you should stay focused behind the wheel. Use this route if you prefer a direct, local-focused connection between these two Georgia hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.5 miles from Smyrna, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
16.7 mi
17m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
10.5 mi
12m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
9.1 mi
10m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.2 mi
8m
Madison Bypass
4.2 mi
6m
Downtown Connector
3.1 mi
4m
Greensboro Road
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 46.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, GA and Canton, GA.
1
Start on Buckhead Road
103 ft·6 sec·Buckhead Road
2
Turn left onto US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi·4 min·Greensboro Road
3
Turn left onto US 129 Bypass; US 441 Bypass; GA 24 Bypass
4.2 mi·6 min·Madison Bypass
4
Continue on US 129; US 441; GA 24
0.6 mi·1 min·Eatonton Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·25 sec
Toward I 20 West: Atlanta
6
Continue on I 20
47 mi·50 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 20
9.1 mi·10 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 58BToward Hill Street, Turner FieldUse the slight right lane.
9
At end of road, turn right onto Hill Street Southeast
0.2 mi·41 sec·Hill Street Southeast
10
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
0.3 mi·29 sec·Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
12
Merge onto I 75; I 85
3.1 mi·4 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
7.2 mi·8 min·Horace E Tate Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 75
11 mi·12 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 575; GA 5
17 mi·17 min·Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Exit 268Toward I 575 North, GA 5 North: CantonUse the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit onto GA 5 Business
0.3 mi·43 sec·GA 5 Business
Exit 16Toward GA 5 North, GA 20 West: CantonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward GA 140 East: Canton
18
Turn left onto GA 140
0.6 mi·1 min·Hickory Flat Highway
Use the left lane.
19
At end of road, turn right onto Marietta Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·Marietta Road
20
Continue on West Marietta Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Marietta Street
21
Turn right onto East Main Street
36 ft·0 sec·East Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 104.9-mile trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid peak traffic. Keep in mind that the route's reliance on local roads means your pace will fluctuate based on local conditions, so build in a little extra cushion beyond the two-hour estimated duration. Because the drive is quite efficient, you can easily complete the round trip in one day without needing an overnight stay. Prioritize checking your tire pressure and fluid levels before heading out, as the frequent turns on this specific route can be more demanding on your vehicle than a standard interstate commute.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.5 miles from Smyrna, GA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.5 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Canton, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smyrna, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Smyrna, GA
This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Smyrna, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Highway for about 46.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 102.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.8 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 20 West: Atlanta
8
64.3 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Hill Street, 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 58B
Toward Hill Street, Turner Field
8
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway 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
9
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway toward I 575 North, GA 5 North: Canton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 268
Toward I 575 North, GA 5 North: Canton
8
102.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|GA 5 Business
Take the exit onto GA 5 Business toward GA 5 North, GA 20 West: Canton
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 16
Toward GA 5 North, GA 20 West: Canton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.40 one way
$32.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.94
$35.87
premium
$4.70
$19.41
$38.83
diesel
$5.61
$23.16
$46.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.69
$6.71
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Smyrna, GA
Late night
in Smyrna on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Canton, GA
Late night
in Canton on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Decatur, GA
52 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
19 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
2h 3m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a drive that favors local roads over high-speed interstate cruising, as only 16% of this journey is spent on highways. Your route relies heavily on the Purple Heart Highway, the Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway, and the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway to navigate the region. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 46.9-mile segment along the Purple Heart Highway, which provides the most consistent rhythm of the trip. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you will find yourself navigating frequent transitions rather than long, monotonous stretches of pavement.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.9 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 7.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 104.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 64.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.3 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): 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.
Between Smyrna, GA and Canton, GA, road signs point toward Turner Field and Chattanooga.
Turner Field
64.3 mi in|~1h 13m
Chattanooga
68.3 mi in|~1h 20m|via I 75
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 104.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.9 miles on Purple Heart 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 Canton, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 64.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.3 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Canton, GA before heading back.
