Origin
Sugar Hill, GA
Late night in Sugar Hill on Sunday
Local time
3:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sugar Hill, GA to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
37.4 mi
60 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sugar Hill, GA
Joshua Brown
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 37.4-mile drive from Sugar Hill, GA, to Atlanta, GA, is easily manageable in about 47 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is largely highway-focused, with 80% of it utilizing major interstates and boulevards. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $6 for this short journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical divides. This is a practical drive designed for efficient travel, with no overnight stays recommended.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 29.8 mi | 34m |
| Peachtree Industrial Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Lawrenceville Suwanee Road Northwest | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Suwanee Buford Dam Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Suwanee Dam Road Northwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Alton Tucker Boulevard Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 29.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sugar Hill, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on West Broad Street
116 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Broad Street
2
Continue on Alton Tucker Boulevard Northeast
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Alton Tucker Boulevard Northeast
3
Turn right onto Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Suwanee Buford Dam Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Suwanee Buford Dam Road
5
Continue on Suwanee Dam Road Northwest
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Suwanee Dam Road Northwest
6
Continue on 317
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Lawrenceville Suwanee Road Northwest
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 85 South
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 85
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.7 miles from Sugar Hill, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 6.9 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 85 South
6
12.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
36.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, 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 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State C...
6
37.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Capitol Square Southwest
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.85 one way
$11.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.39 | $12.79 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.92 | $13.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.26 | $16.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.27 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.39 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Atlanta, GA
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
3:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
W 0 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
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
14 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
47m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this trip, with 80% of the drive on major roads like I-85 and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. You'll encounter one significant uninterrupted stretch of 29.8 miles on I-85, offering a consistent pace. The road character is primarily that of a busy interstate, designed for efficient transit rather than scenic exploration. While the majority is highway, the approach to Atlanta may involve more local road transitions as you get closer to the city.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.8 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 37.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Atlanta, GA
Full guide →Atlanta is the vanguard of the New South, with the charm and elegance of the Old. It's a city that balances southern traditions with sleek modernism, and southern hospitality with three skylines and the world’s busiest airport. It's a city that has been burnt to the ground and built back up; seen the horrors of war; felt the pain of droughts and floods; and given birth to Martin Luther King, Jr., the greatest figure of the civil rights movement. Atlanta is the capital of the state of Georgia.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 37.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.8 miles on I 85. 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 Atlanta, 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 6.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Atlanta, 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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