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

The driving distance from Nelson, GA to Sandy Springs, GA is about 47.5 miles (76.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 31.6 miles (50.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 43m 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
47.44 mi
00h 51m
Flight
31.63 mi
50.91 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nelson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
31.63 mi
Kilometers
50.91 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
47.44 mi
Kilometers
76.35 km
Drive Time
00h 51m

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 00h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sandy Springs
Thu, Apr 23, 2:46 AM EDT
Return by in Nelson
Thu, Apr 23, 3:38 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nelson
2026-04-23T01:54
Arrive Sandy Springs
Thu, Apr 23, 2:46 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:52 AM to 10:52 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nelson
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
Woodstock
GA

City in Cherokee County, Georgia, United States

From Nelson
23.5 mi
00h 25m
To Sandy Springs
24 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Dogwood Pass

    5 m · 9 sec · Dogwood Pass

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Blue Ridge Avenue

    158 m · 24 sec · Blue Ridge Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Kennesaw Avenue

    1073 ft · 40 sec · Kennesaw Avenue

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Canton Road

    1339 ft · 27 sec · Canton Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Ball Ground Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · Ball Ground Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Canton Highway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Canton Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Ball Ground Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Ball Ground Highway

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Howell Bridge Road

    1917 ft · 40 sec · Howell Bridge Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left

    2135 ft · 53 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto A P D Highway

    6 mi · 6 min · A P D Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

    10.2 mi · 11 min · Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

    10.9 mi · 12 min · Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

  14. 14

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

    2272 ft · 32 sec

  15. 15

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

    1.4 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Riverside Drive

    1808 ft · 24 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Riverside Drive

    41 m · 3 sec

  19. 19

    Turn slight right

    65 m · 6 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Riverside Drive Northwest

    146 m · 14 sec · Riverside Drive Northwest

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Riverside Drive Northwest

    976 ft · 28 sec · Riverside Drive Northwest

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Heards Ferry Road Northwest

    3098 ft · 1 min · Heards Ferry Road Northwest

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Mount Vernon Highway

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Mount Vernon Highway

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mount Vernon Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Nelson 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
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
50.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
21.1 mi · 45%
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
8.26 mi · 17%
A P D Highway
5.96 mi · 13%
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
2.91 mi · 6%
Ball Ground Highway
2.75 mi · 6%
Mount Vernon Highway
1.23 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

Keep slight right to continue on Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

10.9 mi · 00h 12m

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
00h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.9 mi
31.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woodstock
00h 25m from Nelson
Leave By
4:46 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Nelson 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 Nelson to Sandy Springs?

The road trip is about 47.5 miles (76.4 km) and usually takes 00h 51m 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?

Woodstock is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.5 miles from Nelson and 24 miles from Sandy Springs.

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

The direct path is about 31.6 miles (50.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.9 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 4:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.61 one way or $13.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Woodstock

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Woodstock and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 10.2 mi away

City Hall Parking Deck

Marietta , GA
211 Lawrence St NE, Marietta, GA 30060
Rating 3.0/5 1 reviews Parking garage
Sandy Springs City Hall
Meeting point 14.8 mi away

Sandy Springs City Hall

Sandy Springs , GA
1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Rating 4.3/5 24 reviews City Hall,City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 11.2 mi away

Parking near City Hall and Cultural Arts Center

Roswell , GA
38 Hill St, Roswell, GA 30075
Parking lot

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Peachtree Station

36 mi away
1688 Peachtree Street, NW
RAIL

Gainesville

67 mi away
116 Industrial Boulevard

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nelson and Sandy Springs. Straight-line distance: 31.63 mi (50.91 km).

Nelson

#1 Nelson

City in Pickens and Cherokee counties, Georgia, United States of America

Population1,395
Coordinates34.3820400, -84.3710300
Altitude377
CountryUnited States
Sandy Springs

#2 Sandy Springs

A city in Fulton County, Georgia.

Population109,928
Coordinates33.9242700, -84.3785400
Altitude333
CountryUnited States
Start: Dogwood Pass (-84.371073, 34.382034)
End: (-84.378565, 33.924289)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 76 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.67 gal
6.34 L · about $6.61
Round trip
$13.23
3.34 gal · 12.68 L
Estimated CO2
14.8 kg one way
Round trip: 29.7 kg / 65 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $6.61 $13.23
Mid-grade $4.43 $7.40 $14.79
Premium $4.78 $7.98 $15.96
Diesel $5.62 $9.39 $18.78

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Nelson and Sandy Springs. The current time is 01:54:52.

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.