Georgia State Route 61 (SR 61) is a north‑south state highway in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route is maintained by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and serves primarily the north‑western portion of the state.
Route description
SR 61 extends for approximately 124 mi (200 km). Its southern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 27 (US 27) and State Route 1 (SR 1) in the city of Trenton, Walker County. From there the highway proceeds northward through the following counties and principal communities:
- Walker County – passes through LaFayette, where it intersects US 27 Business and SR 136.
- Catoosa County – continues to the town of Ringgold, intersecting US 27 and Interstate 75 (I‑75).
- Whitfield County – travels through the city of Dalton, intersecting US 41/US 76 and SR 3.
- Murray County – proceeds to the city of Chatsworth, meeting US 411 and SR 2.
- Gordon County – passes through Calhoun, intersecting US 41 and SR 53.
The northern terminus of SR 61 is at the Tennessee state line on Lookout Mountain, where the roadway continues as Tennessee State Route 148 (TN 148) toward Chattanooga.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Milepost* | Intersecting routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walker | LaFayette | 6.3 | US 27, SR 136 |
| Catoosa | Ringgold | 28.9 | US 27, I‑75 |
| Whitfield | Dalton | 55.4 | US 41/US 76, SR 3 |
| Murray | Chatsworth | 81.2 | US 411, SR 2 |
| Gordon | Calhoun | 112.7 | US 41, SR 53 |
*Mileposts are measured from the southern terminus in Trenton.
History
The designation of SR 61 dates to the 1930s, when the Georgia highway system was expanded to provide a continuous north‑south corridor across the north‑western region of the state. Over the decades, the route has been realigned in several locations to accommodate the construction of I‑75 and to improve traffic flow through Dalton and Ringgold. Minor extensions and truncations have occurred, but the overall alignment has remained largely consistent since the mid‑20th century.
Related routes
- U.S. Route 27 – parallel corridor to the east of SR 61 for much of its length.
- U.S. Route 411 – intersecting route in Chatsworth.
- Interstate 75 – provides a limited‑access alternative through the region.
References
- Georgia Department of Transportation, “State Highway System – Official Map,” GDOT, latest revision.
- Georgia Highway History Archives, “State Route 61,” Georgia Transportation History Project.
Note: All distances and intersection data are based on the most recent GDOT official maps and may be subject to change due to roadway modifications.