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Trip from Winder, GA to Sandy Springs, GA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

57m

Distance

42.7 mi

69 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 53m ★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Barrow County, Georgia, United States of America

Winder, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Winder to Sandy Springs, expect a straightforward 42.7-mile journey that typically takes about 57 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it connects two points within the Southeast region of Georgia without requiring an overnight stay. You can anticipate a fuel budget of roughly $7, making this an economical commute or visit. Because the drive is relatively short and efficient, you won't need to worry about complex logistics. It is a practical, no-nonsense path designed for those who need to get from point A to point B quickly and reliably.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
University Parkway 18.1 mi 23m
I 85 9 mi 9m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter 5.7 mi 6m
Bill Rutledge Road 3.7 mi 6m
Patrick Mill Road 0.8 mi 1m
Roswell Road 0.8 mi 1m
Broad Street 0.6 mi 1m
West Winder Bypass 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: University Parkway — 18.1 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Winder, GA and Sandy Springs, GA.

1

Start on GA 11; GA 53; GA 211

0.6 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Turn right onto Patrick Mill Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Patrick Mill Road
3

Continue on Bill Rutledge Road

3.7 mi · 6 min · Bill Rutledge Road
4

Turn left onto West Winder Bypass

0.2 mi · 19 sec · West Winder Bypass
5

Continue on Patrick Mill Road

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Patrick Mill Road
6

Turn right onto US 29; GA 316

18 mi · 23 min · University Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward I 85 South: Atlanta
8

Merge onto I 85

9.0 mi · 9 min · I 85
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 95B Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 285

5.7 mi · 6 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

518 ft · 12 sec
Exit 25; 27B Toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs Use the slight right lane.
13

Continue on this road

1.4 mi · 2 min · this road
Exit 25 Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road
14

Keep slight right at fork onto US 19

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US 19
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn right onto GA 9

0.8 mi · 1 min · Roswell Road
Use the right lane.
16

Turn right onto Mount Vernon Highway

180 ft · 3 sec · Mount Vernon Highway
17

Arrive at destination

Mount Vernon Highway

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lawrenceville, GA

21 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

Dunwoody, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lawrenceville, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Winder, 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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 41.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
5.2 mi into trip | ~9m in | US 29; GA 316 / University Parkway

Turn right onto US 29; GA 316 / University Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
33.4 mi into trip | ~43m in

Take the exit toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham

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 95B Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingh...
8
34 mi into trip | ~45m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, 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 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
8
40.2 mi into trip | ~52m in

Take the exit toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

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 25; 27B Toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road,...
8
41.7 mi into trip | ~55m in | US 19

Keep slight right at fork onto US 19 toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.68 one way

$13.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $7.30 $14.60
premium $4.70 $7.90 $15.81
diesel $5.61 $9.43 $18.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.8 0 $4.48 $2.05
Efficient EV 10.7 0 $3.74 $1.71
EV Truck/SUV 17.1 0 $5.98 $2.73

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 15, 2026

Origin

Winder, GA

Late night in Winder on Sunday

Local time

3:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sandy Springs, GA

Late night in Sandy Springs on Sunday

Local time

3:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°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

1 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

57m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 64% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will start your journey on University Parkway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 18.1 miles. Transitioning onto I-85 and eventually the Atlanta Bypass, also known as The Perimeter, defines the character of this drive. You should be prepared for a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a leisurely scenic tour. The road transitions from regional highway connectors to the high-traffic corridors surrounding the metro area, requiring your full attention as you navigate these primary arteries.

64% 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: 18.1 mi on University Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on University Parkway and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near US 29; GA 316 / University Parkway.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 42.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles (US 29; GA 316 / University Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Winder, GA to Sandy Springs, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Birmingham along the way.

Birmingham

33.4 mi in | ~43m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 42.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18.1 miles on University Parkway. 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 Sandy Springs, 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 5.2 miles (US 29; GA 316 / University Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. 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 Sandy Springs, 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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