Origin
Smyrna, GA
Morning in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smyrna, GA to Dunwoody, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
73.9 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smyrna, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Dunwoody, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Smyrna to Dunwoody is 73.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 28 minutes via Purple Heart Highway / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter / Madison Bypass, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and navigating local roads, rather than a straight shot on highways. It's a manageable trip for a single day, perfect if you're looking for a straightforward drive with minimal highway time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 46.6 mi | 50m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 15.3 mi | 17m |
| Madison Bypass | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Greensboro Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Chamblee Dunwoody Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Shallowford Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Eatonton Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Cotillion Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 46.6 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, GA and Dunwoody, 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
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 67B
Toward I 285 Bypass North: Greenville, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 285
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 30
Toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford Road, Chamblee-Dunwoody Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Cotillion Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cotillion Drive
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto North Shallowford Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Shallowford Road
12
Continue on Chamblee Dunwoody Way
404 ft
·
11 sec
·
Chamblee Dunwoody Way
13
Continue on Chamblee Dunwoody Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Chamblee Dunwoody Road
14
Turn left
90 ft
·
2 sec
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right
79 ft
·
5 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from Smyrna, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 73.8 — 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
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 285 Bypass North: Greenville, Chattanooga
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 67B
Toward I 285 Bypass North: Greenville, Chattano...
5
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Merge onto I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford Road, Chamblee-Dunwoody Road
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 30
Toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford...
5
73.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.56 one way
$23.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.64 | $25.27 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.68 | $27.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.32 | $32.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.35 | $4.73 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Dunwoody, GA
Morning in Dunwoody on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
E 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
53°F
Oxford, GA
37 mi in
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
17 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
1h 28m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, with a 0% highway share. You'll experience a continuous journey through local streets and roadways, so be prepared for a dynamic driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 46.6 miles on Purple Heart Highway, offering a decent segment of consistent travel before further changes. As you progress, the road will likely shift between different local arteries and bypasses, requiring your attention to navigation.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.6 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 54.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.3 miles (I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Smyrna, GA to Dunwoody, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Chattanooga along the way.
Chattanooga
54.9 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m 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 46.6 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 Dunwoody, 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 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 54.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.3 miles (I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Dunwoody, 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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