This 146.5-mile journey from Unadilla, GA to Alpharetta, GA is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 48 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-75, with portions of Larry Justice Highway and Turner McDonald Parkway also incorporated. With an estimated fuel cost of $23, this route is budget-friendly for a day trip. The highway-focused profile suggests a consistent pace, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently within the Southeast region. You'll likely find this trip offers a comfortable and uncomplicated travel experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.2 miles from Unadilla, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
106.8 mi
1h 58m
Larry Justice Highway
15.9 mi
17m
Turner McDonald Parkway
11 mi
13m
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
7.1 mi
8m
Northeast Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Haynes Bridge Road
1.3 mi
2m
2nd Street
0.7 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 106.8 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Unadilla, GA and Alpharetta, GA.
1
Start on US 41; GA 7; GA 230
413 ft·12 sec·Pine Street
2
Turn right onto GA 230
0.7 mi·1 min·2nd Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Macon
4
Merge onto I 75
35 mi·36 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 475
16 mi·17 min·Larry Justice Highway
Exit 156Toward I 475 North: AtlantaUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 75
49 mi·53 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
2.7 mi·3 min·Northeast Expressway
Exit 251BToward I 85 North: Greenville
9
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.
10
Continue on GA 400
11 mi·13 min·Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 9Toward Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Haynes Bridge Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Haynes Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto GA 120
0.2 mi·21 sec·Old Milton Parkway
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto GA 9
0.3 mi·52 sec·South Main Street
15
Turn right onto Academy Street
139 ft·3 sec·Academy Street
16
Arrive at destination
Academy Street
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2 hour and 48 minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion from Unadilla to Alpharetta. You'll want to plan for just one stop to break up the 146.5 miles. Leaving in the morning will allow you ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. The $23 fuel cost is quite reasonable, so ensure your tank is full before you depart to maximize your time on the road. A helpful tip for this route: pay close attention to the transition points onto Larry Justice Highway and Turner McDonald Parkway, as these are the only deviations from the interstate and require your focus.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.2 miles from Unadilla, GA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.8 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 32 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.2 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
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 Unadilla, 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 Unadilla, GA
This is one driving day of about 146.5 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Unadilla, 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 I 75 for about 106.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.5 and 144.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
35.5 mi into trip|~38m in|I 475 / Larry Justice Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 475 / Larry Justice Highway toward I 475 North: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 156
Toward I 475 North: Atlanta
8
100.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
6
123.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 85 / Northeast Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 / Northeast Expressway toward I 85 North: Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 251B
Toward I 85 North: Greenville
9
126.3 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
144.4 mi into trip|~2h 44m 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
$22.91 one way
$45.82 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.05
$50.10
premium
$4.70
$27.11
$54.23
diesel
$5.61
$32.35
$64.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.9
0
$15.38
$7.03
Efficient EV
36.6
0
$12.82
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.51
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Unadilla, GA
Morning
in Unadilla on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alpharetta, GA
Morning
in Alpharetta on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
W 10 mph0% 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
25 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 48m 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.
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 121.2
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,...
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 40.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the journey utilizing major roadways. The character of the drive is largely defined by I-75, which will be your main companion for the longest stretch of 106.8 miles. Expect a consistent and efficient pace for the majority of your travel, punctuated by brief transitions onto Larry Justice Highway and Turner McDonald Parkway. This setup means you'll spend most of your time on faster roads, minimizing slower, winding sections and maximizing your forward momentum towards Alpharetta.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Larry Justice Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.5 miles in near I 475 / Larry Justice Highway.
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 12 significant decision points across 146.5 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 35.5 miles (I 475 / Larry Justice Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.8 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123.6 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Unadilla, GA and Alpharetta, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham and Cumming.
Birmingham
100.8 mi in|~1h 49m|via I 75
Cumming
126.3 mi in|~2h 21m|via GA 400
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 146.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.8 miles on I 75. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.5 miles (I 475 / Larry Justice Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.8 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123.6 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Ocmulgee Mounds 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 Alpharetta, GA before heading back.
