How far is Ellijay, GA from Sandy Springs, GA?

The driving distance from Ellijay, GA to Sandy Springs, GA is about 72.8 miles (117.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 53.6 miles (86.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
72.81 mi
01h 17m
Flight
53.57 mi
86.21 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ellijay.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
53.57 mi
Kilometers
86.21 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
72.81 mi
Kilometers
117.17 km
Drive Time
01h 17m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sandy Springs
Fri, Apr 17, 11:24 AM EDT
Return by in Ellijay
Fri, Apr 17, 12:41 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ellijay
2026-04-17T10:06
Arrive Sandy Springs
Fri, Apr 17, 11:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:56 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ellijay
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Canton
GA

County seat in Cherokee County, Georgia, USA

From Ellijay
36.1 mi
00h 38m
To Sandy Springs
36.7 mi
00h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
89°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ellijay and Sandy Springs.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ellijay and Sandy Springs.

  1. 1

    Start on North Church Street

    128 m · 24 sec · North Church Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    126 m · 15 sec · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 5 toward Northside Square

    95 m · 18 sec · River Street

  4. 4

    Exit the rotary onto River Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · River Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight right

    135 m · 13 sec

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    44 m · 4 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto APD Highway

    24.8 mi · 31 min · APD Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on A P D Highway

    10.1 mi · 11 min · A P D Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

    10.2 mi · 11 min · Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

    10.9 mi · 12 min · Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 285 Bypass West, I 285 Bypass East: Birmingham, Tampa, Greenville, Augusta

    2272 ft · 32 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 285 East Bypass: Greenville, Augusta

    1.4 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Riverside Drive

    1808 ft · 24 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Riverside Drive

    41 m · 3 sec

  17. 17

    Turn slight right

    65 m · 6 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Riverside Drive Northwest

    146 m · 14 sec · Riverside Drive Northwest

  19. 19

    Turn slight right onto Riverside Drive Northwest

    976 ft · 28 sec · Riverside Drive Northwest

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Heards Ferry Road Northwest

    3098 ft · 1 min · Heards Ferry Road Northwest

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Mount Vernon Highway

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Mount Vernon Highway

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mount Vernon Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ellijay and Sandy Springs.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
APD Highway
24.8 mi · 34%
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
21.1 mi · 29%
A P D Highway
10.1 mi · 14%
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
8.26 mi · 11%
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
2.91 mi · 4%
Mount Vernon Highway
1.23 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

APD Highway

Merge slight left onto APD Highway

24.8 mi · 00h 31m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 17m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.2 mi
53.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Canton
00h 38m from Ellijay
Leave By
3:56 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ellijay and Sunny near Sandy Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ellijay to Sandy Springs?

The road trip is about 72.8 miles (117.2 km) and usually takes 01h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Canton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36.1 miles from Ellijay and 36.7 miles from Sandy Springs.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 53.6 miles (86.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.18 one way or $20.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ellijay and Sunny near Sandy Springs.

Stop Ideas Near Canton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Canton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Canton.

RAIL

Peachtree Station

49 mi away
1688 Peachtree Street, NW
RAIL

Gainesville

61 mi away
116 Industrial Boulevard
RAIL

Toccoa

113 mi away
47 North Alexander St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ellijay and Sandy Springs. Straight-line distance: 53.57 mi (86.21 km).

Ellijay

#1 Ellijay

City in Gilmer County, Georgia, United States of America

Population1,724
Coordinates34.6948100, -84.4821500
Altitude390
CountryUnited States
Sandy Springs

#2 Sandy Springs

A city in Fulton County, Georgia.

Population109,928
Coordinates33.9242700, -84.3785400
Altitude333
CountryUnited States
Start: South Church Street (-84.48207, 34.694758)
End: (-84.378565, 33.924289)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 117 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.57 gal
9.73 L · about $10.18
Round trip
$20.36
5.14 gal · 19.46 L
Estimated CO2
22.8 kg one way
Round trip: 45.7 kg / 101 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $10.18 $20.36
Mid-grade $4.43 $11.38 $22.77
Premium $4.78 $12.28 $24.56
Diesel $5.62 $14.45 $28.91

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Georgia · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Ellijay and Sandy Springs. The current time is 10:06:47.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.