a.m. rush hour in atlanta?

[asktriplets]

hi.

we're driving down to DW this week and will be stopping on the nw side of atlanta for thursday night. can anyone tell me what to expect on friday morning? we'll be on the 285 loop on the westside, down to 75S. is there a GOOD time to drive in the a.m. (eg: before 7 or after 8:30)?, or is it a zoo until midmorning?

thanks!!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I would highly recommend taking the I-75 HOV lanes right through the city and avoid I-285 altogether. The Perimeter can be as much of a nightmare as the main arteries going in and out of the city.

we'll be on the 285 loop on the westside

Where are you staying in the area? Do you already have a hotel reserved off 285? Just curious; there are some areas of 285 that are decent but others that I would avoid.

 

[asktriplets]

I would highly recommend taking the I-75 HOV lanes right through the city and avoid I-285 altogether. The Perimeter can be as much of a nightmare as the main arteries going in and out of the city.


thanks!

Where are you staying in the area? Do you already have a hotel reserved off 285? Just curious; there are some areas of 285 that are decent but others that I would avoid.

we'll be at the embassy suites-galleria (at the 75/285 split, i believe). is that area decent? thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

It's a very busy area -- lots of offices, two large malls, plenty of restaurants to choose from, and three busy highways (I-75, I-285, and Cobb Parkway) -- but a good area. Should be easy to get back onto I-75 south, and you might be able to avoid the 75/285 interchange altogether.

 

[asktriplets]

It's a very busy area -- lots of offices, two large malls, plenty of restaurants to choose from, and three busy highways (I-75, I-285, and Cobb Parkway) -- but a good area. Should be easy to get back onto I-75 south, and you might be able to avoid the 75/285 interchange altogether.

thanks for the tip on hopping on 75...do you have any ideas on how awful it'd be if we left around 8:30am on friday?

thanks!

 

[mum4jenn]

It will probably be really bad that time of morning. If you could leave before 7 am that would prob be better.


I don't live there but have driven through many times and we leave here around 3-4 am to get through Atlanta before that time.(we live about 3-3 1/2 hours south of Atlanta. Also we lever take 285 unless we have to depending on where we are going. I have seen many many more wrecks at the 285 exits than anywhere else.

 

[CarolA]

Could you drive through the night before? I just moved here and that would be my plan! Figure from 7 to 9 or 10 it's a NIGHTMARE!

 

[triplefigs]

The Cobb-Galleria area is fine to stay in. Traffic in Atlanta is a nightmare- especially on a Friday am. I would leave no later than 6:30 am as by 7am the traffic will be AWFUL! It will especially be bad on the Connector ALL MORNING (where 75/85 meet in downtown Atlanta). There's a 10 car pile-up there right now (Tues morning) that has all lanes blocked. If you can't leave EARLY, plan on leaving around 9:30-10am.

My best advice is that if you can drive to South Atlanta to spend the night, you will be much better off. Being North of 1-20 and the Perimeter will not be good. I'd find somewhere South of 285, and then you'll have an EASY drive Friday morning. ETA: the Jonesboro/Morrow area in S. Atlanta is past all the bad traffic and is a good place to stay. Just do a search for Jonesboro (it's right off I-75) for hotels. It would probably save you a huge headache with the kids (and sitting in traffic). Lots of restaurants to eat dinner and breakfast (including my favorite- Cracker Barrel!)

Here are some local links for travel and the GA DOT page on construction/wrecks.

http://www.georgia-navigator.com/

http://wsbradio.com/traffic/

http://www.11alive.com/life/travel/traffic/cams_frame.asp

http://www.wsbtv.com/traffic/index.html

Have a great trip! BTW, my BBG will be 5 in June. We have a huge triplet club here in Atlanta with over 160 families!!!

 

[asktriplets]

thank you for the addtl. info! unfortunately, my kids don't sleep in the car well, and when they get cranky because they are tired, it's a MESS (literally...the last 2 times we tried to drive past bedtime, by little guy cried til he threw up, poor thing). oh, how dreamy to drive for more than 2 hours with 3 sleeping toddlers!!!

we did our best to plan for getting south of atlanta before PM rush hour on thursday, but any way we look at it, we'll be getting there after 4 (and it is so much easier on the kids to just check into the hotel and have a few hours to wind down before bedtime), so we'll have to suck it up the next morning!

i think we can plan on getting out of the hotel by 6:30am...the last time down to DW, we did the embassy suites stops and the kids LOVED all the space to wander around. i was hoping they'd have an hour or 2 in the AM to eat and walk off some energy. knowing that we have to leave at 6ish will get us moving in the morning!!

triplefigs, your addtl. info. for atlanta traffic is much appreciated! thanks! i'm loving, loving, loving these toddler years! the kids are so much fun!

thanks,

 

[triplefigs]

you'll do fine in that area (it's very nice). I love Embassy Suites for the big breakfast- yummy! I sooooo understand about driving with triplets. We went to the beach (should have been a 8 hour drive). Ended up being 12+ and they were so cranky!

Have a great trip and post a report when you get back. PM me if you need anything else!

Have fun!

thank you for the addtl. info! unfortunately, my kids don't sleep in the car well, and when they get cranky because they are tired, it's a MESS (literally...the last 2 times we tried to drive past bedtime, by little guy cried til he threw up, poor thing). oh, how dreamy to drive for more than 2 hours with 3 sleeping toddlers!!!

we did our best to plan for getting south of atlanta before PM rush hour on thursday, but any way we look at it, we'll be getting there after 4 (and it is so much easier on the kids to just check into the hotel and have a few hours to wind down before bedtime), so we'll have to suck it up the next morning!

i think we can plan on getting out of the hotel by 6:30am...the last time down to DW, we did the embassy suites stops and the kids LOVED all the space to wander around. i was hoping they'd have an hour or 2 in the AM to eat and walk off some energy. knowing that we have to leave at 6ish will get us moving in the morning!!

triplefigs, your addtl. info. for atlanta traffic is much appreciated! thanks! i'm loving, loving, loving these toddler years! the kids are so much fun!

thanks,

 

[Meezers]

I live in the Atlanta area and everyone here has it right on. Avoid 285 at all possible costs! If you can't leave the motel by 6:30 don't bother....it will take you as much time as if you left at 10:30!

We live on the NE side of Atlanta.....we leave for WDW about 7am...with one gas stop and a quick breakfast stop...it is about 7 hours to WDW. No we don't drive the speed limit....do travel with the "flow" of traffic.

Best of luck!

 

[asktriplets]

oh, our trip would have been so much messier without all of your input!! thank you!

so after spending more time looking at our schedule, and the time changes, and the kids' schedule, i'm thinking it SHOULD work if we wait out rush hour on the north side of town on thursday night, then drive the 30-45 min. (?)through atlanta before the kids get too tired. or, at least, this seems potentially easier on the kids then having them up and READY to go at 5 am our time (as dh pointed out)!

can any of you tell me if the embassy suites near the airport is in a decent area? i know that some airport neighborhoods can be a bit unsavory...

thanks for your time!

 

[triplefigs]

I just emailed our triplet group to ask about that area. Some of the members live there. I'll get back to you as soon as I hear something.

 

[asktriplets]

I just emailed our triplet group to ask about that area. Some of the members live there. I'll get back to you as soon as I hear something.

you are so awesome! thanks for your help!

 

[triplefigs]

Here's the text of one reply I got. Everyone seemed to agree it was a fine area to stay in. You'll be so much happier being on that side of town on Friday am. I hope you have a great trip!


"I used to work right there and live in the general
area. The Embassy Suites is not a bad hotel at all,
at least it wasn't 4-5 years ago; the area has only
gotten better though from what I hear. It being right
by the airport helps, pretty good security/police.
Also, it is literally right on the runways for
Hartsfield (kids would love it, they can see the
planes come in and go).
With that said there are a few draw-backs, there is
nothing really to walk to and not a whole heck of a
lot to do. There are a few restaurants in the general
area, but downtown College Park, which is very close,
has been renovated and is really neat, it has some
great restaurants, from upscale American, to Eclectic.
In general, if it is for a night and they would like
to be by the airport, I think they'd be fine.
Depending on their budget, they could try the Hilton
across the road, I've stayed there before and think
the hotel is very nice."

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

I live in the Atlanta area and everyone here has it right on. Avoid 285 at all possible costs! If you can't leave the motel by 6:30 don't bother....it will take you as much time as if you left at 10:30!

Best of luck!

ITA

I would say to try leaving by 6:00 a.m. if possible. Every morning is becoming a nightmare from 6:00 a.m. until at least 10:00...even weekends.
Our rush HOURS are from 6-10 am. and 3-7 p.m..

Drive Safely!

 

[asktriplets]

we booked the embassy suites at the airport, so our plan is to hang out at the ES-Galleria for a few hours while we wait out rush hour, then drive through town after 7 pm and check in down there. my kids will either LOVE the airplanes so close, or HATE the noise (it'll be an adventure, either way!)... it sounds like this will save us loads of hassle in the morning, and we'll be that much closer to checking in at the POLY on fri. night!

thanks.

 

[triplefigs]

Oh, forgot to add that the Braves are in town on Friday night. Tip Off is at 7:35 pm EST. You may want to wait until about 7:15 to leave the Galleria. You will pass Turner Field on 75/85 going through downtown. Make sure to point out the stadium to the kids!

Have a safe trip! Wishing you Pixie Dust for a magical time.

we booked the embassy suites at the airport, so our plan is to hang out at the ES-Galleria for a few hours while we wait out rush hour, then drive through town after 7 pm and check in down there. my kids will either LOVE the airplanes so close, or HATE the noise (it'll be an adventure, either way!)... it sounds like this will save us loads of hassle in the morning, and we'll be that much closer to checking in at the POLY on fri. night!

thanks.