Avoiding Atlanta Morning Rush Hour

[WeLoveToyStory]

Looking for recommendations. We are from the Cincinnati area and have driven to FL many times. Typically we leave around midnight on a Fri. and get to Atlanta about 7 a.m. on a Sat. morning and traffic is never an issue. This year we are leaving on a Wed. night and I just realized we will hit Atlanta at 7 a.m. on a Thur. morning. How bad will it be?

We are considering the following:

A.) Just leave at midnight as planned and hope for the best
B.) Leave at midnight and stop for breakfast before Atlanta which would take about an hour (but I kind of think that may be even worse since we'd be back on 75 about 8 am.)
C.) Leave at 10 p.m. instead, although I'm not sure DH would get enough sleep that evening before we leave. He typically tries to get in about 5-6 hours if he can before we hit the road.
D.) Leave at 1 a.m., stop for breakfast before Atlanta and that would have us back on I-75 at 9 a.m. Would that be late enough to miss the worst of it?
E.) Just try to go around Atlanta altogether?

Recommendations and tips appreciated. Thanks!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Whether you go through ATL or around it, 7:30 to 9:00 is a dicey time to get to the north side..

7am may be the tail end of the "sweet spot"..............and even that time puts you going through/around ATL between 7am and 8am. Ugh!

9am may still be a little too early to avoid congestion.

Our traffic is awful here.

I know it stinks, but I suggest leaving at 10pm. Are you both going to drive?

Have your breakfast just south of ATL.

Tune to WSB radio at 750 am or 95.5 fm for the best traffic info.

You can "practice" listening to the live steams from 7am to 9am in the next few days to see how things sound congestion wise.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

I would definitely try to get through ATL before 7 am or after 9 am. You may still hit some traffic, but you should miss the worst of it.

When is your trip? Summer is a little bit better, as opposed to when school starts back (early to mid August).

Definitely stay away from Atlanta if it snows!!!

 

[LadyBeBop]

A.) Just leave at midnight as planned and hope for the best

...which, if everything goes right, will put in in Atlanta's north side right at the beginning of rush hour. And that's if everything goes right. We're also from the Cincinnati area. Once, we left about midnight, and got into an hour-long traffic jam in Lexington (bad wreck). We did eat breakfast north of Atlanta, so we got through about 8:30-9. It was a weekend though.

B.) Leave at midnight and stop for breakfast before Atlanta which would take about an hour (but I kind of think that may be even worse since we'd be back on 75 about 8 am.)

Agree. That's a non-starter.

C.) Leave at 10 p.m. instead, although I'm not sure DH would get enough sleep that evening before we leave. He typically tries to get in about 5-6 hours if he can before we hit the road.

I don't like that suggestion. DH needs to be well-rested. Could he take off work a couple of hours early, so he could nap from 4-10 instead of 6-10 or 6-12?

D.) Leave at 1 a.m., stop for breakfast before Atlanta and that would have us back on I-75 at 9 a.m. Would that be late enough to miss the worst of it?

That may be the best. That will still get you at WDW by late afternoon/early evening. Assuming you're driving in one day.

E.) Just try to go around Atlanta altogether?

Never done the bypass. However, I heard that's just as bad during rush hour than just taking I-75. When taking I-75, always remember...the carpool lane is your friend.

Good luck.

 

[grimley1968]

I'd go with option D. It allows you to leave a little later than Wed. night. Also, keep in mind that your breakfast can happen anywhere north of Atlanta. I'd find a Cracker Barrel somewhere in north Georgia, say Dalton (if it's open that early), have a leisurely meal and get back on I-75, hitting Atlanta maybe more like 9:30 rather than 9:00.

I would avoid I-285 and would just stick with I-75, assuming you can delay hitting Atlanta until around 9:30 AM. I think the traffic volume difference between 9:00 and 9:30 might almost make good the later arrival to Atlanta.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'd go with option D. It allows you to leave a little later than Wed. night. Also, keep in mind that your breakfast can happen anywhere north of Atlanta. I'd find a Cracker Barrel somewhere in north Georgia, say Dalton (if it's open that early), have a leisurely meal and get back on I-75, hitting Atlanta maybe more like 9:30 rather than 9:00.

I agree, except I'd travel further than Dalton. That's still an hour north of the Atlanta suburbs. I think all Cracker Barrels open at 6 AM, so you should be OK. Our breakfast was at a Cracker Barrel about 30 miles north of the Atlanta suburbs. I think it was in Cartersville which would be Exit 290 off of I-75. That would be a good place to stop.

 

[skent10]

I also agree with option D. We're 3 hours north of Atlanta, and have learned the hard way that there's no point in leaving home earlier than 6:00 am, as we'll hit traffic and won't save any time.

And the bypass is not really a bypass anyway. In fact, it's often worse than just staying on 75 straight through the city, as the bypass has a bunch of spokes coming off it that people take to get on other interstates, to the airport, etc.

 

[Pumpkin910]

Can someone please tell me when evening rush hour is roughly?

Hope it is ok to jump in-it didn't seem worth starting a new thread.

 

[skent10]

Can someone please tell me when evening rush hour is roughly?

We've noticed evening rush hour isn't as bad as the morning. I think maybe people leave at staggered times, or stay downtown for dinner, etc.? But we usually try to avoid Atlanta between 4-6. If you hit the edges of the suburbs before 6 pm, it's not the end of the world, as you're still heading into the city center against the larger flow of traffic heading out.

I have to admit though, I think Atlanta is one of the worst cities for traffic in terms of city sprawl, how many cars are on the road, and how crazy the drivers are. I've lived in cities larger than Atlanta that weren't as crazy. No matter the time of day, you're going to be in traffic. We've just learned to be patient, and be thankful that we don't have to deal with it every day.

 

[Pumpkin910]

Thank you. I live in Toronto which is traffic hell, so if Atlanta traffic is comparable then it will just be normal for me

 

[skent10]

Thank you. I live in Toronto which is traffic hell, so if Atlanta traffic is comparable then it will just be normal for me

Small world! I grew up in Toronto too (Etobicoke)--my driver's ed lessons included trips downtown on the QEW. I've also lived in Chicago and dealt with its traffic. I'd rather drive in TO or Chi-town anyday than Atlanta!

 

[LilyWDW]

Small world! I grew up in Toronto too (Etobicoke)--my driver's ed lessons included trips downtown on the QEW. I've also lived in Chicago and dealt with its traffic. I'd rather drive in TO or Chi-town anyday than Atlanta!

I grew up in the Chicago area and learned how to drive there! Nothing like being thrown to the sharks. If I never have to drive on the Dan Ryan, I will be a happy girl.

 

[WeLoveToyStory]

Thanks for all the input. DH has decided he wants to wait until 1 a.m. and leave (so the reality is, it will probably be more like 1:30 a.m. ). Having breakfast north of Atlanta, which is normally what we do anyways, should put us back on 75 at 9:00/9:30 a.m., pending we have smooth travels overnight.

 

[Pumpkin910]

Small world! I grew up in Toronto too (Etobicoke)--my driver's ed lessons included trips downtown on the QEW. I've also lived in Chicago and dealt with its traffic. I'd rather drive in TO or Chi-town anyday than Atlanta!

Well Toronto rush hour is now 3pm to 7pm, no kidding!