The Cost of a Trip Between Chapel Hill, NC and Atlanta, GA during Current Gas Prices

Traveling between Chapel Hill, NC and Atlanta, GA is a common route that requires careful planning to ensure a successful and cost-effective trip. The distance between these two cities is roughly 365 miles, and there are different possible routes with varying costs. This article will look at the cost of a trip between Chapel Hill and Atlanta, highlighting different possible routes, and recommend the best one to follow.

Possible Routes

The I-85 Route

The most straightforward and fastest route between Chapel Hill and Atlanta is through I-85, which spans almost the entire trip distance. This route passes through Durham, Greensboro, and Charlotte in North Carolina, and Spartanburg and Greenville in South Carolina. It then goes into Georgia and passes through Lavonia, Gainesville, and Commerce before ending in Atlanta.

The distance between Chapel Hill and Atlanta using this route is 363.4 miles, which would take approximately five hours and forty minutes of driving time. With gas prices in Chapel Hill currently at $2.95 per gallon (as of August 2021), a trip to Atlanta and back (727 miles in total) would consume between 25-30 gallons of gas, depending on the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.

So, at $2.95 per gallon of gas and 25 gallons of consumption on average (one way), drivers should expect to spend about $74 on gas alone if they stick with the I-85 route.

The I-85 and I-985 Route

Another possible route between Chapel Hill and Atlanta involves taking I-85 and diverting to I-985, which intersects with I-85 near Commerce, Georgia. This route continues southwards through Gainesville and into Atlanta. This alternative route is slightly longer than the previous one, with a distance of 381 miles.

With gas prices at $2.95 per gallon and assuming either a one-way trip or a round-trip, driving along the I-85 and I-985 routes would consume up to 26-31 gallons of gas, rounding up to approximately $77.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Route

There's an alternate, scenic driving route alongside the Appalachian Mountains. Taking US-421 from Chapel Hill to Boone, NC, from there the Blue Ridge Parkway is accessible. This route gives a picturesque drive through Great Smoky Mountains, Cherokee National Forest, and Chattahoochee National Forest. The route meets the I-85 in Lavonia, GA, and from there, it's an hour's drive through Commerce to Atlanta.

Although scenic, this route adds approximately 47 miles to the journey for a total distance of about 410 miles, with about nine hours of drive time. Using the same gas prices mentioned before ($2.95 per gallon), the round trip fuel consumption would consume 32-38 gallons, totaling up to $95.

Our Recommendation

Looking at the three routes discussed above, it's clear that driving along the I-85 is the most cost-effective and efficient route for travel between Chapel Hill and Atlanta. This recommendation is based on the fact that it is the fastest and most direct route, with less driving distance than the alternatives. Additionally, the I-85 route is the most traveled and has better road conditions, making it an overall safe and convenient route.

Conclusion

When planning a trip between cities, a careful selection of the route to use can significantly impact the cost and duration of the journey. From Chapel Hill, NC, and Atlanta, GA, the most straightforward route is along I-85, a distance of about 363.4 miles that consumes up to 25 gallons of gas round trip, totaling $74 with the current gas prices.

In summary, travelers traversing between Chapel Hill and Atlanta should opt for the I-85 route for a less time-consuming, cost-effective, and convenient trip.