If you are planning to travel from Union Point to Atlanta, you are looking at a 83.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single day, meaning you can easily head out and return without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Because there are zero scheduled stops on this route, it functions best as a straightforward transit rather than a multi-day excursion. By focusing on local roads rather than high-speed corridors, you can expect a steady, manageable drive that connects rural Georgia to the state capital.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Union Point, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Carl Sanders Highway
15.9 mi
17m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
9.3 mi
11m
Lamb Avenue
5.1 mi
7m
South Main Street
2.6 mi
4m
East Broad Street
2.1 mi
3m
Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Scott Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 46.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union Point, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on Carlton Avenue
319 ft·17 sec·Carlton Avenue
2
Turn right onto Veazey Street
135 ft·6 sec·Veazey Street
3
Continue on Scott Street
472 ft·23 sec·Scott Street
4
Turn right onto US 278; GA 12; GA 77
5.1 mi·7 min·Lamb Avenue
5
Continue on US 278; GA 12; GA 44
2.1 mi·3 min·East Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto GA 44
2.6 mi·4 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward I-20 West: AtlantaUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 20
16 mi·17 min·Carl Sanders Highway
9
Continue on I 20
47 mi·50 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 20
9.3 mi·11 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 58AToward Capital Avenue, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi·32 sec·Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Trip Plan
Since this 1 hour and 22 minute trek involves local roads exclusively, flexibility is your greatest asset. Try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic, as turn-heavy routes can slow down significantly when navigating through residential or town areas. You will not find designated rest stops on this path, so make sure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave; with a $13 fuel budget, it is wise to fill your tank in Union Point to avoid searching for stations along the way. Because there are no major highways to lean on, keep a close eye on your navigation to ensure you do not miss a turn on Veazey, Scott, or Lamb. Taking this trip in one go is efficient, provided you stay alert for the frequent road transitions.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.7 miles from Union Point, GA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.9 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlanta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union Point, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union Point, GA
This is one driving day of about 83.4 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Union Point, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Highway for about 46.9 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Veazey Street
Turn right onto Veazey Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.3 mi into trip|~11m in|GA 44 / South Main Street
Turn left onto GA 44 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
9.9 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 West: Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I-20 West: Atlanta
8
82.5 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
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 58A
Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
5
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.04 one way
$26.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.26
$28.52
premium
$4.70
$15.44
$30.87
diesel
$5.61
$18.41
$36.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.76
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.9
0
$7.30
$3.34
EV Truck/SUV
33.4
0
$11.68
$5.34
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Union Point, GA
Morning
in Union Point on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atlanta, GA
Morning
in Atlanta on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Covington, GA
42 mi in
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
22 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 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies entirely on local roads like Veazey Street, Scott Street, and Lamb Avenue, resulting in a 0% highway share. Because the path is composed of smaller roads, you will experience a more intimate feel as you navigate the transition from Union Point toward the city. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway here, so plan for a route that requires your full attention on turns and local intersections. It is a practical, hands-on driving experience that avoids the typical high-speed, multi-lane congestion found on major thoroughfares.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.9 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Veazey Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 38m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Veazey Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.3 miles (GA 44 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Georgia State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Georgia
•Virginia-Highland — human settlement in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
•Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park — heritage site in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
The longest stretch is about 46.9 miles on Purple Heart Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Veazey Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.3 miles (GA 44 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atlanta, GA before heading back.
