If you are looking to travel from Smyrna to Cartersville, you are in for a 108.6-mile journey through the Southeast. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 9 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable trip to complete in a single day. Since the route avoids highways entirely, you will spend your time navigating local roads like Greensboro Road, the Madison Bypass, and Eatonton Road. Budgeting around $17 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the drive. Because this route is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, allowing you to easily return home or reach your final destination on your own schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.3 miles from Smyrna, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
29.9 mi
33m
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
East Main Street
2.3 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 Cartersville, 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 left at fork onto I 75
19 mi·21 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, KennesawUse the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 288Toward GA 113: CartersvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn sharp left onto GA 113
2.3 mi·4 min·East Main Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto North Gilmer Street
331 ft·16 sec·North Gilmer Street
19
Turn left onto East Cherokee Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East Cherokee Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
GA 293
Trip Plan
Because this route is non-stop with zero designated stops included in the data, it is wise to handle any personal errands or refueling needs before you depart. Leaving during daylight hours is highly recommended, as the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can be more challenging to navigate after dark. Since you aren't tied to a rigid interstate schedule, feel free to enjoy the flexibility of a shorter drive that doesn't require complex pacing or overnight planning. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between Greensboro Road and the Madison Bypass to ensure you stay on track. By planning your fuel stop ahead of time, you can easily stay within your $17 budget and focus on the road ahead.
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 54.3 miles from Smyrna, GA, or about 1h 1m 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cartersville, 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 108.6 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 105.4 — 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
8
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 41m 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...
7
105.4 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward GA 113: Cartersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 288
Toward GA 113: Cartersville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.98 one way
$33.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$18.57
$37.14
premium
$4.70
$20.10
$40.20
diesel
$5.61
$23.98
$47.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.6
0
$11.40
$5.21
Efficient EV
27.2
0
$9.50
$4.34
EV Truck/SUV
43.4
0
$15.20
$6.95
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Smyrna, GA
Late night
in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cartersville, GA
Late night
in Cartersville on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Decatur, GA
54 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
6 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 9m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to a standard interstate cruise. With a highway share of 0%, this route swaps high-speed lanes for a more intimate, technical experience on local thoroughfares. The path is characterized by constant transitions, requiring you to stay alert through every turn and intersection along the way. Because there are no major highway stretches, you will experience a consistent, winding pace from start to finish. You should anticipate a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography throughout the entire 108.6-mile trek.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 108.6 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 Cartersville, GA, road signs point toward Turner Field, Chattanooga and Kennesaw.
Turner Field
64.3 mi in|~1h 13m
Chattanooga
68.3 mi in|~1h 20m|via I 75
Kennesaw
86.1 mi in|~1h 41m|via I 75
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 108.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 Cartersville, 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 — 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 Cartersville, GA before heading back.
