How far is it?
- The county's economic development office lists Forsyth County as 39 miles from downtown Atlanta and 45 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Drive times depend heavily on traffic on Georgia 400. Forsyth County: Economic Development (Atlanta's Neighbor)
- In a straight line, Cumming City Hall is about 35 miles from the Census Bureau's center point for the City of Atlanta. Driving distance is longer. Computed: Census Geocoder match for 100 Main St, Cumming (34.2071, -84.1402) to Census internal point for Atlanta city (33.7629, -84.4227), haversine
- Forsyth County is part of the Census Bureau's Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA Metro Area. U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder, Metropolitan Statistical Areas layer
Georgia 400
- Georgia 400 is the main north-south highway through the county. Sawnee EMC's directions to its Cumming headquarters, for example, use GA 400 Exit 14 at GA 20. Sawnee EMC: Contact Us (directions)
- The New Georgia Encyclopedia says the completion of Georgia 400 in the 1980s turned Forsyth County into a suburb of Atlanta and encouraged population growth. New Georgia Encyclopedia: Forsyth County
- Georgia DOT plans optional express lanes on SR 400 for about 16 miles, from the North Springs MARTA Station in Fulton County to McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County. Transit riders and registered vanpools would use them without paying a toll. Georgia DOT: SR 400 Express Lanes Fact Sheet (P.I. 0001757, dated Oct. 8, 2021)
Drive times from each part of the county
These are computed routes on OpenStreetMap data at free-flow speed, with no traffic, from a fixed point in each area. Rush hour is slower, sometimes much slower. Use them to compare areas with each other, not to plan a meeting.
Decision tool · area matcher
Which part of Forsyth County fits you?
Forsyth runs about 30 miles from the Fulton County line to the Dawson County line, and where you live in it changes your day more than any house does. Tell us where you drive to most days, how long a drive you will put up with and what you want close to home, and we will rank the parts of the county that fit, with computed drive times and what is nearby.
Drive times from each area
| Area | Alpharetta (Avalon) | Perimeter Center | Midtown Atlanta | Atlanta airport | Nearest GA 400 exit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Cumming | about 19 min | about 35 min | about 48 min | about 68 min | Exit 14, about 5 min |
| McFarland (southwest Forsyth, GA 400 Exit 12) | about 9 min | about 24 min | about 37 min | about 57 min | Exit 12, about 2 min |
| South GA 400 corridor (Peachtree Parkway / GA 141, Exit 13) | about 13 min | about 28 min | about 41 min | about 61 min | Exit 13, about a minute |
| Big Creek (southeast Forsyth, Peachtree Parkway side) | about 16 min | about 31 min | about 45 min | about 65 min | Exit 13, about 5 min |
| Haw Creek & Daves Creek (east of Cumming, between GA 20 and Buford Dam Road) | about 19 min | about 34 min | about 47 min | about 68 min | Exit 14, about 4 min |
| Lanier (Lake Lanier shoreline, Mary Alice Park side) | about 24 min | about 39 min | about 52 min | about 72 min | Exit 15, about 8 min |
| Vickery Creek (west of Cumming, Vickery Village / Post Road) | about 15 min | about 30 min | about 43 min | about 63 min | Exit 13, about 3 min |
| Campground (far west Forsyth, south of GA 20) | about 22 min | about 38 min | about 51 min | about 71 min | Exit 12, about 16 min |
| North GA 400 corridor (Exits 17-18, Hammond's Crossing node) | about 22 min | about 38 min | about 51 min | about 71 min | Exit 18, about a minute |
| Chestatee / Jot Em Down (northeast Forsyth, Lanier side) | about 31 min | about 47 min | about 60 min | about 80 min | Exit 17, about 10 min |
| Etowah (northwest Forsyth: Matt, Silver City, Etowah River) | about 30 min | about 46 min | about 59 min | about 79 min | Exit 18, about 8 min |
| Sawnee Mountain & Coal Mountain (north of Cumming) | about 25 min | about 40 min | about 53 min | about 73 min | Exit 18, about 3 min |
Free-flow drive times computed on OpenStreetMap data from each area's anchor point, checked October 19, 2026. Rush-hour traffic is slower. A dash means no route was computed.
Each area is anchored to a real named place or crossroads. Drive times are computed routes on OpenStreetMap data at free-flow speed, one way, with no traffic. 'Close' is scored from the drive to the nearest library, greenway trailhead, Lake Lanier public access, county park, shopping center or GA 400 exit. Areas are matched only on these, never on who lives there, school ratings or home prices.
Found an area that fits? Gold Peach Realty agents sell homes across Forsyth County and can show you what is for sale there now.
Public transportation
- Access Forsyth is the county's reservation-based public bus. Trips must start and end inside Forsyth County, cost $3 each way (exact change) and run 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Call 770-781-2195 to book. Forsyth County: Public Transportation
Questions
How far is Forsyth County from Atlanta?
Forsyth County's economic development office lists the county as 39 miles from downtown Atlanta and 45 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. In a straight line, Cumming City Hall is about 35 miles from the Census Bureau's center point for Atlanta. Georgia 400 is the main route south, and drive times vary a lot with traffic.
Source: Forsyth County: Economic Development; Census Geocoder (straight-line distance computed)
What is the main commute route from Forsyth County?
Georgia 400 runs north-south through the county and is the main highway toward Atlanta; directions to places in Cumming often use Exit 14 at GA 20. Georgia DOT plans optional toll express lanes on SR 400 for about 16 miles, from the North Springs MARTA Station to McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County. Transit riders and registered vanpools would use those lanes without a toll.
Is there public transit in Forsyth County?
The county runs Access Forsyth, a reservation-based bus. Trips must begin and end inside Forsyth County, so it does not go to the airport. The fare is $3 each way in exact change, and buses run 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Call 770-781-2195 with your pickup, drop-off and timing to book a ride.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organizers have the final word: Forsyth County Government