Origin
Suwanee, GA
Evening in Suwanee on Friday
Local time
5:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Suwanee, GA to Brookhaven, GA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
26.2 mi
42 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Suwanee, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Brookhaven, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Suwanee to Brookhaven is 26.2 miles and takes about 34 minutes via I-85, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Georgia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its brevity, it's a straightforward drive suitable for a quick commute or an easy leg of a longer journey. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a predictable and efficient route.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 20.3 mi | 22m |
| Lawrenceville Suwanee Road Northwest | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Briarwood Road Northeast | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Buford Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I-85 Access Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Druid Hills Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Peachtree Road Northeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 20.3 mi, about 22m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 148 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~7,550 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~948 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Suwanee, GA and Brookhaven, GA.
1
Start on US 23; GA 13
153 ft
·
2 sec
·
Buford Highway
2
Enter roundabout onto US 23; GA 13
310 ft
·
5 sec
·
Buford Highway
3
Continue on US 23; GA 13
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Buford Highway
4
Turn right onto 317
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Lawrenceville Suwanee Road Northwest
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 85 South
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 85
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 91
Toward US 23, GA 155: Clairmont Road, Decatur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto I-85 Access Road
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I-85 Access Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Continue on I-85 Access Road
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
I-85 Access Road
11
Turn right onto Briarwood Road Northeast
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Briarwood Road Northeast
12
At end of road, turn right onto North Druid Hills Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Druid Hills Road
13
Turn slight right onto GA 141
427 ft
·
12 sec
·
Peachtree Road Northeast
14
Turn right
139 ft
·
12 sec
15
Turn right
63 ft
·
9 sec
16
Turn left
347 ft
·
25 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 85 South
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
8.3 mi into trip
|
~11m 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
23.4 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward US 23, GA 155: Clairmont Road, Decatur
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 91
Toward US 23, GA 155: Clairmont Road, Decatur
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.01 one way
$8.03 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $4.41 | $8.81 |
| premium | $4.64 | $4.78 | $9.57 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $5.78 | $11.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
Brookhaven, GA
Evening in Brookhaven on Friday
Local time
5:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
34m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 80% of the 26.2 miles spent on I-85. You'll experience a longest stretch of 20.3 miles on I-85 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic typical of an interstate leading into a metropolitan area.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Lawrenceville Suwanee Road Northwest. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway.
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 26.2 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 85): 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 Suwanee, GA to Brookhaven, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Decatur along the way.
Decatur
23.4 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Arriving in Brookhaven, GA
Full guide →Founded 2012
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 34m. Total distance: 26.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m 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 20.3 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 Brookhaven, 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: near the start (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brookhaven, 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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