Drive through Atlanta or Go Around?

[Lesli54]

We are leaving for WDW at the end of the week. The last time we went, we took the bypass around Atlanta (in the evening) and it was a big mistake. We lost a lot of time in traffic and construction. We are coming from IL.

Would it be quicker to just drive through Atlanta this time? We will still probably be coming through around 6pm or so.

Thanks for your help.

 

[disynut]

We always drive through. We tried the bypass once, and, like you, got stuck. Ever since then we try and hit Atlanta at night(around 8 or 9PM) and usually don't have many problems.

 

[ILPHIL]

We always go straight thru. But it's either a weekend or the middle of the night. Don't think I would want to do it at rush hour...

 

[RebelHawk]

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I have been driving around and through Atlanta for the past 7 years with work and I almost always just drive right on through as the bypass is a LOT longer drive and traffic can get really nasty. That being said I have also been stuck in traffic sitting downtown Atlanta for 1+ hour without moving. In a perfect world I would say do everything in your power to avoid going through Atlanta at all if it is 7AM-9AM, 11:30-1:30PM or 4-7PM. If you are approaching during those times I would pull off an exit and use that time to have Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner and then continue the trip.

-Tom in SC

 

[mrsR123]

We go through. Usually we stay in Dalton for the night coming from Illinois, too. Then we're hitting Atlanta toward the end of morning rush. This year, though, we'll stay in Macon on the way down; so we'll see.

 

[rae662000]

I live in the suburbs of Atlanta and I will not get caught on the other side of town close to 3pm on any week day. If you are traveling on Friday do try to make it thru by 2:30 and you should be okay in the HOV lane. If however it is not that time it would be best after 7 pm. Also bare in mind that the quickest way thru will be straight thru, the by pass (known to us as 285) is usually crowded until after 8:00pm. One other thing to consider is whether the Atlanta Braves are playing because you don't want to be caught in that traffic. I will look at their schedule and post back to let you know.

 

[rae662000]

It's your luck, they are out of town this week.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I hope you are talking about 6pm on Saturday, but if you are not I would do anything you can to adjust the time you're going to hit Atlanta, that would be bad.

 

[Nika]

We just drove from St. Louis to WDW 2 weeks ago. Since we would be hitting the Atlanta area late at night and it was a Saturday we thought we would have no trouble taking the bypass. What a mistake We sat for over 2 hours in a horrible traffic jam during construction. I guess we did not think they would be working on Saturday night. It was almost midnight before we cleared the area and we finally stopped in Macon because we were exhausted and frustrated by then. On the way home we came back through Alabama to Nashville and it was a much more easy ride. No construction and less traffic. It probably took us about 100 miles out of our way. We have had people tell us we should have just gone straight through Atlanta and avoided the bypass. I would do that if I were you. Good luck.

 

[Traveliz]

We go through. Usually we stay in Dalton for the night coming from Illinois, too. Then we're hitting Atlanta toward the end of morning rush. This year, though, we'll stay in Macon on the way down; so we'll see.

Coming from Pekin and we have stopped at Macon the last two times as well. We always drive through Atlanta -- even during rush hours - it works MUCH Better than the bypass. It seems for us the traffic hold up is past Atlanta - even past the airport but I think that is due to the fact we go from 8 lanes down to maybe just 4.

Anyway we did the Bypass once and we will never ever do it again. We have been very pleased with our travel times through Atlanta mostly.

Liz

 

[Lesli54]

Thanks everyone for your input. We are planning to go through on Saturday since we check in at BWV on Sunday.

I believe, we will definitely be going straight through Atlanta. No need to take up time sitting in traffic. Maybe on the way home, we will consider going through Alabama. We have never gone that way before and always like to see something new.

Thanks again.

 

[disney 4 5]

Coming from someone who lived about an hour or so outside of Atlanta for about 2 years...drive straight through and try and drive through when it will not be rush hour (M - F from 6 Am - 9Am, 4 Pm - 7 Pm). Those are the worst times. It is shorter and less of a hassle to drive straight through.

 

[nrsgrl]

We come from Illinois, too. We always drive through Atlanta. It is crowded but going around seems much worse. My SIL used to live just south of Macon and we would overnight with them. There doesn't seem to be a good way to skip Atlanta entirely, but it would be nice.


Mary

 

[Laz]

Go thru Atlanta and stay in the HOV lane. You will go right through with little problems

 

[Diznut84]

We always drive straight through...

 

[indigoxtreme]

Being a "Native", you can never tell with traffic here in Atlanta. Being on a Saturday you should be okay, if no accidents etc. The HOV lane for 2 or more passengers starts in Gwinnett County, around Pleansant Hill Road and will take you through the City. Radio AM 7:50 gives traffic info and there are also info boards on I-85 which will help you if there are accidents even on the week end. Also I would drive straight through Macon, GA and not take the I-475 on Saturday as well, unless you have plans to stop there.

 

[Minnie824]

Do you think it should be bad the day after Thanksgiving in the late afternoon? I mean, that is a Friday, but I doubt most people are working.

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

Go straight thru and take the HOV like everyone said, I have done this for years. Two things to remember, Atlanta is one of the few Cities in the US where you actually have to Speed up to go through. If you keep you normal speed you'll get ran over.
The HOV lanes get a little trick in the center of town, watch the signs and you will be just fine, even though they look like they are taking you a different direction.
I have driven thru at Thanksgiving and Christmas, You will hit a bottleneck when you get to the southend after the Bypass rejoins, There is a large mall about exit 233 ( I think it is called Southlake) that the traffic has always backed up around. The is also the same area you loose a lane or two of the interstate. You will get caught by this eitherway you go.

Disney in 6 days, YES!

 

[Lesli54]

You guys are great! Thanks. I told DH that if anyone knew about the Atlanta traffic it would be those on the DIS.

Thanks again so much for your help.

 

[Lesli54]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for their advice to drive through Atlanta. Going down was a breeze since it was Saturday evening. Coming back yesterday, we hit Atlanta about 3:15pm and really had very little problems. Just on the North side of Atlanta as we were leaving there was a little congestion, but it moved along at a fairly decent rate.

Had a great time in WDW. Thanks again for the help.