Smyrna to Carrollton is 114.8 miles and takes about 2h 15m via Ralph David Abernathy Freeway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface street navigation, making it a manageable one-day excursion. With a duration under three hours, you can easily complete this drive without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.4 miles from Smyrna, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
48 mi
54m
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Carrollton Street
9.5 mi
13m
Madison Bypass
4.2 mi
6m
Greensboro Road
3 mi
4m
North Park Street
1.5 mi
2m
Eatonton Road
0.6 mi
1m
Alabama Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
— 48 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, GA and Carrollton, 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
48 mi·54 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 19Toward GA 113: Temple, CarrolltonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left
134 ft·6 sec
Toward Temple Industrial Park, Carrollton, Georgia Agritourism, Red Land Nursery
10
Turn left onto GA 113
9.5 mi·13 min·Carrollton Street
Use the straight lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 27; GA 1
1.5 mi·2 min·North Park Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Alabama Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Alabama Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn sharp right onto Maple Street
232 ft·9 sec·Maple Street
14
Turn right
117 ft·10 sec
15
Turn right
142 ft·10 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short drive time of 2 hours and 15 minutes, you can afford to leave Smyrna later in the morning. Consider departing around 9 AM to avoid the heaviest rush hour traffic. With no designated stops in the data, you have flexibility to pull over if needed, but the fuel cost is estimated at just $18, suggesting you won't need frequent refueling. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you move from the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway onto surface roads like Carrollton Street, as services might be less frequent.
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 57.4 miles from Smyrna, GA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.4 miles or 1h 5m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carrollton, 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 114.8 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Smyrna, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway for about 48 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 114.6 — 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
103.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward GA 113: Temple, Carrollton
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 19
Toward GA 113: Temple, Carrollton
5
103.6 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Turn left toward Temple Industrial Park, Carrollton, Georgia Agritourism, Red Land Nursery
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Temple Industrial Park, Carrollton, Geor...
6
113.1 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|US 27; GA 1 / North Park Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 27; GA 1 / North Park Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
114.6 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|Alabama Street
Turn left onto Alabama Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.95 one way
$35.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.63
$39.26
premium
$4.70
$21.25
$42.49
diesel
$5.61
$25.35
$50.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.05
$5.51
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.59
EV Truck/SUV
45.9
0
$16.07
$7.35
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Morning
in Smyrna on Tuesday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carrollton, GA
Morning
in Carrollton on Tuesday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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 15m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 42% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on higher-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway is 48 miles. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect a blend of faster travel and more local traffic as you get closer to Carrollton.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48 mi on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 15m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 103.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.6 miles: 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 Carrollton, GA, road signs point toward Temple Industrial Park, Georgia Agritourism and Red Land Nursery.
Temple Industrial Park
103.6 mi in|~1h 58m
Georgia Agritourism
103.6 mi in|~1h 58m
Red Land Nursery
103.6 mi in|~1h 58m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 114.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48 miles on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 103.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 103.6 miles: 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 Carrollton, GA before heading back.
