This 368.5-mile drive from St. Marys, GA, to Alpharetta, GA, is a straightforward journey through the Southeast. Expect to spend about 6 hours and 52 minutes on the road, making it a manageable one-day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 97% of the drive on major interstates like I-95 and I-75. With an estimated fuel cost of $58, it's an economical option for getting from the coast to the Atlanta area. One stop is recommended to break up the drive. Consider departing early to maximize daylight and arrive with ample time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
184.3 miles from St. Marys, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
155.9 mi
2h 47m
I 95
94.9 mi
1h 42m
I 75
84.9 mi
1h 35m
Turner McDonald Parkway
11 mi
13m
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
7.1 mi
8m
Osborne Street
3 mi
4m
Kingsland Saint Marys Road
3 mi
4m
Northeast Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 155.9 mi, about 2h 47m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 139 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,725 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,618
Quietest
2 AM
~939 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Marys, GA and Alpharetta, GA.
1
Start on 41703
77 ft·8 sec·West Hall Street
2
Turn left onto GA 40
3.0 mi·4 min·Osborne Street
3
Continue on GA 40
3.0 mi·4 min·Kingsland Saint Marys Road
4
Continue on GA 40
2.2 mi·3 min·East King Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: I 95 North
6
Merge onto I 95
94 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 95
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
0.6 mi·47 sec·I 95
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·50 sec
Exit 99BToward I 16 West: MaconUse the slight right lane.
Toward I 75 North: AtlantaUse the straight / left lanes.
12
Merge onto I 75
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
23 mi·28 min·I 75
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta, BirminghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
2.7 mi·3 min·Northeast Expressway
Exit 251BToward I 85 North: Greenville
15
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 400
7.1 mi·8 min·T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Exit 87Toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, CummingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on GA 400
11 mi·13 min·Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 9Toward Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Haynes Bridge Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Haynes Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto GA 120
0.2 mi·21 sec·Old Milton Parkway
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto GA 9
0.3 mi·52 sec·South Main Street
21
Turn right onto Academy Street
139 ft·3 sec·Academy Street
22
Arrive at destination
Academy Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour and 52-minute drive, an early morning departure from St. Marys is your best bet to reach Alpharetta comfortably within a single day. Since it's a relatively short drive with minimal stops recommended, you have flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing on the longest stretch of 155.9 miles. While the $58 fuel cost is an estimate, budgeting a little extra is always wise. Plan for one brief stop to stretch your legs and refuel if needed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.3 miles from St. Marys, GA, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.9 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 81 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.3 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alpharetta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving St. Marys, 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 St. Marys, GA
This is one driving day of about 368.5 miles and 6h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from St. Marys, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway for about 155.9 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 103.7 and 366.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
103.7 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward I 16 West: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward I 16 West: Macon
7
260.3 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta
8
322.9 mi into trip|~5h 53m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 North: Atlanta, Birmingham
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: Atlanta, Birmingham
9
348.4 mi into trip|~6h 25m in|GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 87
Toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming
8
366.4 mi into trip|~6h 48m in
Take the exit toward Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge 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 9
Toward Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.61 one way
$117.22 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$63.91
$127.81
premium
$4.78
$69.33
$138.67
diesel
$5.35
$77.62
$155.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.6
1
$38.69
$17.69
Efficient EV
92.1
1
$32.24
$14.74
EV Truck/SUV
147.4
1
$51.59
$23.58
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
St. Marys, GA
Afternoon
in St. Marys on Wednesday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Alpharetta, GA
Afternoon
in Alpharetta on Wednesday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph12% chanceLive 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
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 343.1
Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 254.1
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,...
War was imminent as James Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica in 1736, to help protect the British colonies from the Spanish in Florida. Fort Frederica illustrates the story of the War of Jenkins Ea...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 38.1
St Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island. Here pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both man an...
For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States’ main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new technology proved its superiority over these fort...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
$10
near mile 101.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, designed for efficient travel. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates, making for a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 155.9 miles on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway before transitioning to I-95 and then I-75. While not particularly scenic, this highway-centric profile means fewer turns and a predictable journey, allowing you to cover ground quickly.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 155.9 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 103.7 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 368.5 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 103.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 322.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,134 ft10 ft
Total Climb
1,237 ft
Total Descent
113 ft
Highest Point
1,134 ft
~368.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,124 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between St. Marys, GA and Alpharetta, GA, road signs point toward Savannah, Birmingham and Cumming.
Savannah
103.9 mi in|~1h 57m|via I 16
Birmingham
322.9 mi in|~5h 53m|via I 75
Cumming
348.4 mi in|~6h 25m|via GA 400
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 52m. Total distance: 368.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 155.9 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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.
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 Alpharetta, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 103.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 322.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alpharetta, GA before the return drive.
