Driving by Bonnaroo on way to WDW

[CLEO Z]

HELP! My parents are driving my nieces from Iowa to Orlando and the route would normally drive by the site of Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN. For those of you who don't know what it is: Bonnaroo is a music festival lasting 3 & 1/2 days: think Woodstock and you'll have a close mental image. There are A LOT of big name performers.

For those of you who live near this location or have attended Bonnaroo, should they add almost two hours onto their trip to detour around it?

Bonnaroo starts on the evening of Thursday, June 11. My parent's would likely be hitting that area on that same morning. I've heard traffic is so nuts that the interstate can come to a standstill and creep for stretches.

Please help us decide. Thanks!

 

[Beehn]

We got stuck in Bonnaroo traffic a few years ago headed from Illinois to Florida. It was very obvious, because every car had something about Bonnaroo painted on the windows.. I know the interstate was nearly at a stand-still. I don't have any real advise, because I don't know my way around that area at all, just wanted to say you are right to plan for traffic.....it is crazy.

 

[srwarden1928]

I live in Tennessee. I am VERY familiar with Bonaroo traffic.

I would DEFINATELY either take 40 to Knoxville then 75 to Chattanooga and south or 65 to Birmingham then 20 to Atlanta. I would NOT under any circumstances take 24 from Nashville to Chattanooga during that time.

I might actually take 65 to Pulaski TN and US 64 east to Monteagle, but I am familiar with the area.

Have a magical trip.