Walthourville, GA to Alpharetta, GA is 265.5 miles and takes about 5h 20m via Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and I-75, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. Expect a fairly efficient trip with most of your mileage on major roads.
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
132.8 miles from Walthourville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
87.6 mi
1h 33m
I 75
84.9 mi
1h 35m
GA Hwy 196
20.1 mi
27m
Earl Kemp Road
19.2 mi
26m
Romie Waters Highway
12.1 mi
17m
Turner McDonald Parkway
11 mi
13m
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
7.1 mi
8m
West Brazell Street
6.5 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 87.6 mi, about 1h 33m
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 Walthourville, GA and Alpharetta, GA.
Toward I 75 North: AtlantaUse the straight / left lanes.
18
Merge onto I 75
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
2.7 mi·3 min·Northeast Expressway
Exit 251BToward I 85 North: Greenville
21
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.
22
Continue on GA 400
11 mi·13 min·Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the right lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 9Toward Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn left onto Haynes Bridge Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Haynes Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
25
Turn left onto GA 120
0.2 mi·21 sec·Old Milton Parkway
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto GA 9
0.3 mi·52 sec·South Main Street
27
Turn right onto Academy Street
139 ft·3 sec·Academy Street
28
Arrive at destination
Academy Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 20m estimated duration, leaving Walthourville in the morning should allow you to reach Alpharetta comfortably before evening. With only one recommended stop and 81% of the drive on highways, you can maintain a steady pace. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $42, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially during the longer 87.6-mile stretch on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. This drive is well within the capabilities of a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 132.8 miles from Walthourville, GA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.6 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 58 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.8 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 19m
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 Walthourville, 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 Walthourville, GA
This is one driving day of about 265.5 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Walthourville, 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 87.6 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 263.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
157.3 mi into trip|~3h 13m 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
219.9 mi into trip|~4h 21m 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
245.4 mi into trip|~4h 53m 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
263.4 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
$39.20 one way
$78.40 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$43.08
$86.15
premium
$4.49
$46.95
$93.91
diesel
$4.80
$50.13
$100.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.7
0
$27.88
$12.74
Efficient EV
66.4
0
$23.23
$10.62
EV Truck/SUV
106.2
1
$37.17
$16.99
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Walthourville, GA
Late night
in Walthourville on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
S 1 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:16AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:14AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC
Destination
Alpharetta, GA
Late night
in Alpharetta on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:16AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 2:14AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 155.6
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
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...
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,...
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 81% of your journey on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 87.6 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, offering a substantial portion of uninterrupted driving. The progression will likely feel like a gradual shift from more localized roads onto the interstate system. Prepare for consistent highway speeds for the majority of this 265.5-mile trip.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.6 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 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 18 significant decision points across 265.5 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 157.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.9 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 ft92 ft
Total Climb
1,264 ft
Total Descent
222 ft
Highest Point
1,134 ft
~265.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,042 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Walthourville, GA and Alpharetta, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham and Cumming.
Birmingham
219.9 mi in|~4h 21m|via I 75
Cumming
245.4 mi in|~4h 53m|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 5h 20m. Total distance: 265.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.6 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 157.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 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.
