U.S. Route 78 (US 78) is a U.S. Highway in the U.S. state of Georgia. It travels west to east in the north-central part of the state, starting at the Alabama state line, west of Tallapoosa, where the roadway continues concurrent with the unsigned highway Alabama State Route 4. This is also the western terminus of Georgia State Route 8 (SR 8), which is concurrent with US 78 to the east. The highway serves the Atlanta, Athens, and Augusta metropolitan areas on its path from the Alabama state line to the South Carolina state line, at the Savannah River, on the northeastern edge of Augusta, where it continues concurrent with US 1/US 25/US 278/SC 121. This is also the eastern terminus of SR 10. US 78 travels through portions of Haralson, Carroll, Douglas, Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Walton, Oconee, Clarke, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, McDuffie, Columbia, and Richmond counties.

Various portions of the highway, from the Alabama state line into Atlanta, were part of the historic Bankhead Highway, a cross-country automobile highway connecting San Diego and Washington, D.C. It was part of the National Auto Trail system.

US 78 also is a freeway for about 10 miles. It is the main route of the freeway. It has about 8 exits.

Route description

Alabama to Mableton US 78 begins at the Alabama state line, west of Tallapoosa, where the roadway continues to the northwest, concurrent with the unsigned Alabama State Route 4 (SR 4). Southeast of here in Haralson County, US 78 travels concurrent with Georgia State Route 8 (SR 8), which also begins at the state line. They travel just to the south of Wards Lakes, East Wards Lake, and the East Wards Lake Dam, and cross over Sanders Creek. Approximately southeast of the creek, US 78/SR 8 cross over the Tallapoosa River on the Bently Bridge. About later, they curve to the east-northeast. Then, they enter Tallapoosa's city limits, where they have a very gradual curve to the east. In the main part of town, they have an intersection with SR 100 (Robertson Avenue), which joins the concurrency for a few blocks, until it turns off onto Alewine Avenue. Here, the concurrency curves to the east-southeast. Just before leaving town, US 78/SR 8 intersect the northern terminus of SR 100 Spur before crossing over Greene Creek. Immediately, upon leaving the city limits, they pass the Helton Howland Park and the Tally Valley Park. Upon passing Pine Grove Cemetery, they are northeast of Tally Mountain; then, they curve to the southeast, passing through Budapest. After crossing over a Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) line, the two highways curve to the east-southeast and enter Waco. In the main part of town, they curve to the east-northeast and leave the city limits. Immediately, they enter Bremen. Just after the city limits, they pass just south of Antioch Cemetery and intersect US 27/SR 1 (Martha Berry Highway). A few blocks later, they pass northwest of Bremen City Cemetery and Higgins General Hospital. In the main part of the city, they cross over an NS line and intersect US 27 Business/SR 1 Business (locally known as Alabama Avenue to the south and Hamilton Avenue to the north). Just before intersecting Bryan Street, the highways begin to curve to the east-southeast. They cross over Buck Creek, and begin a very gradual curve to the east-northeast, shortly before leaving the city limits. North of the Mangham Lakes, US 78/SR 8 begin to curve to a nearly northeast routing. Just after crossing over Chance Creek, they curve to the east-southeast and enter Carroll County and the city limits of Temple.

In Temple, US 78/SR 8 pass just south of Easterwood Lake before they cross over Webster Creek. Slightly more than later is an intersection with the western terminus of SR 274 (James Street) and the northern terminus of Centerpoint Road. Right after this, the two highways slightly shift to a nearly due-east routing. Almost after SR 274 is an intersection with SR 113 (Carrollton Street). About a block and a half later, the two highways pass just south of Temple High School. Immediately after the school is the eastern terminus of SR 274 (Sage Street), which circles around the SR 113 intersection. Just to the east of Oak Shade Road, the concurrency curves to the northeast. They begin a gradual curve back to the east-southeast, cross over Trestle Creek and leave the city limits. After a slight jog to the north, they curve to the southeast and cross over the Little Tallapoosa River. Approximately later, they curve to the east-southeast and then enter Villa Rica. In the main part of the city, US 78/SR 8 curve to the east-northeast and intersect SR 101 (locally known as Industrial Boulevard to the south) and SR 61, the latter of which joins the concurrency. The three highways pass Hill Crest Cemetery before a fairly sharp curve to the southeast. At Carroll Road, SR 61 departs the concurrency to the northeast. The highways curve to the east-northeast and enter Douglas County.

US 78/SR 8 curve back to the east-southeast and very briefly travel due east. During this section, they intersect the northern terminus of SR 8 Connector (Liberty Road). Almost immediately, they curve to the east-northeast before curving back to the east-southeast and leaving the city limits. After a brief northeast routing, they curve to a nearly due-east direction and back to the east-southeast, north of Andy Mountain. They head southeast and curve back to the east-northeast, traveling through Winston, and passing Winston Elementary School. US 78/SR 8 travel due east to an intersection with the southern terminus of Polk Road, where they begin to curve to the east-northeast. They travel through White City, curving back to the northeast. After a very brief jaunt to the east, the concurrency curves to the east-northeast and enters Douglasville. In town, they intersect SR 5 (Bill Arp Road), which joins the concurrency. In downtown, they travel just south of Worthan Park a few blocks before intersecting SR 92, which also joins the concurrency. The four highways travel together for two blocks, where SR 92 splits off onto Mozley Street. US 78/SR 5/SR 8 leave the city limits and pass northwest of Beulah Elementary School. They pass Sunrise Memorial Gardens and curve to the east-northeast just before entering Lithia Springs. In town, they travel north of Penns Lake and curve to the east. They curve to the northeast and back to the southeast, before curving back to the northeast and intersecting US 278/SR 6 (Thornton Road). At this intersection, US 278 joins the concurrency, which travels to the north-northeast. They pass Louise Suggs Memorial Park and intersect Line Street, where they enter Cobb County and the city limits of Austell.

US 78/US 278/SR 5/SR 8 travel one block to the east of Rose Hill Cemetery. Just north of Rosehill Street, they make a slight tilt to the north-northwest before a nearly 90-degree curve to the right, then traveling to the east-northeast. The four highways travel just south of Collar Park. They cross over Sweetwater Creek on the Dr. J.A. Griffith Bridge. Just over later, SR 5 departs the concurrency to the north. The other three highways cross over Butternut Creek and enter Mableton. They travel in a roughly eastern direction before curving to the east-southeast and passing the Austell Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College and Davis Chapel Cemetery. They curve to the northeast, and pass northwest of Sky View Elementary School, before beginning to curve back to the southeast. At this point, they are south of Mableton Elementary School and Mableton Memorial Gardens. After an intersection with the western terminus of SR 139 and the southern terminus of Floyd Road, they travel just south of Lions Park. After a curve to the east, they pass Harmony–Leland Elementary School and Lindley Middle School. They curve to the southeast, passing Mt. Harmony Cemetery and Cobblestone Creek Pond, before crossing over Nickajack Creek on the Coogan Ray Bleodow Memorial Bridge, where they leave the city limits. The three highway continue to the southeast and cross over the Chattahoochee River into Fulton County and the city limits of Atlanta.

Atlanta area From nearly the very moment that US 78/US 278/SR 8 enter the county, they are southwest of the Atlanta Industrial Park. The travel through the former location of the Bankhead Courts, a government housing complex. On the southeast corner of the industrial park is English Park and an intersection with the northern terminus of SR 70 (Fulton Industrial Boulevard NW). Less than later is an interchange with Interstate 285 (I-285; Atlanta Bypass). The concurrency travels through the Brookview Heights neighborhood, southwest of Carey Park and Williams Elementary School. A short distance later, they intersect SR 280 (locally known as Hamilton E. Holmes Drive to the south and James Jackson Parkway NW to the north). After curving to an eastern routing, the three highways pass Center Hill Park. At an intersection with the southern terminus of Hollywood Road NW, the concurrency curves to the southeast. They travel through Grove Park, passing Edwin Place Park, Grove Park Elementary School, and Woodson Elementary School. They curve to an easterly routing and cross over Proctor Creek. US 78/US 278/SR 8 travel through Bankhead, passing Maddox Park, just south of the Fulton County Jail. The three highways intersect US 19/US 41/SR 3 (Northside Drive NW) at an intersection that doesn't have any signage on the eastbound lanes. All six highways travel concurrently to the southeast for about . Along this stretch, drivers can see the Atlanta skyline. US 19/US 41/SR 3, along with US 29 southbound, travel in a due-south direction. At the same time, US 78/US 278/SR 8, along with US 29 northbound, travel to the east. The four highways curve to the northeast and begin skirting along the northern edge of downtown as they travel underneath multiple NS rail lines and Marietta Street NW, north of the Coca-Cola headquarters, before curving back to the east. They travel just south of Georgia Tech, before crossing over I-75/I-85 (Downtown Connector). About later, they begin skirting along the northern edge of the Bank of America Plaza. This is about one block south of the AT&T Midtown Center and Fox Theatre. At the corner of Peachtree Street is the North Avenue Presbyterian Church. At the intersection with Piedmont Avenue NE, the four numbered highways turn left onto Piedmont for one block and turn to the right onto Ponce de Leon Avenue. Three blocks later, at the intersection with Argonne Avenue NE, US 29/US 78/US 278/SR 8 begin to skirt along the northern edge of Ponce de Leon Center. A few hundred feet later, they intersect Boulevard NE. They travel under a footbridge that carries the Eastside BeltLine Trail. Just to the east of the intersection with Bonaventure Avenue NE, the highways skirt along the northern edge of Freedom Park and intersect SR 10 (Freedom Parkway), which joins the concurrency. On the southeast side of the intersection is an entry point for the Freedom Park Trail and, less than later, is another entry point. At the intersection with North Highland Avenue NE, is the Plaza Theatre and Druid Hills Baptist Church. About a block and a half later, they intersect US 23 (Moreland Avenue NE) and SR 42 (Briarcliff Road NE). Here, US 23 joins the concurrency. At this intersection, the six highways enter DeKalb County.

DeKalb County