Driving from Chicago area - question about driving through Montgomery/avoiding Chatt/ATL

[quagmire0]

Need to take our dogs on this trip, so flying isn't an option. We're planning on driving overnight down to Kissimmee from the Chicago burbs in June.

I know that Chattanooga and Atlanta can be hell with construction and traffic, and have seen locals suggest continuing on 65 to Montgomery, then taking 231 to I-10 to I-75. Seems like it would avoid a lot of traffic, and possibly construction as well.

Anyone have experience with this route? Google maps shows it being about an extra hour, but I know that doesn't factor in the traffic along Chattanooga and Atlanta. TIA!

 

[Smilelea]

Need to take our dogs on this trip, so flying isn't an option. We're planning on driving overnight down to Kissimmee from the Chicago burbs in June.

I know that Chattanooga and Atlanta can be hell with construction and traffic, and have seen locals suggest continuing on 65 to Montgomery, then taking 231 to I-10 to I-75. Seems like it would avoid a lot of traffic, and possibly construction as well.

Anyone have experience with this route? Google maps shows it being about an extra hour, but I know that doesn't factor in the traffic along Chattanooga and Atlanta. TIA!

We live in North Alabama and I would 100% recommend going down through Montgomery and Dothan and on to I-10 over going through Atlanta. The only caveat I would add is that is that during the summer traffic on 65 can get pretty thick with all the folks headed to the beach so if you can avoid going through there on the weekend it would make a big difference.

 

[Paranurse]

Chattanooga traffic has eased up since they have opened extra lanes now. Atlanta traffic, on the other hand, is still pretty horrendous depending on the time of day(or night if you travel like we do) you come through.

 

[tguz]

Need to take our dogs on this trip, so flying isn't an option. We're planning on driving overnight down to Kissimmee from the Chicago burbs in June.

I know that Chattanooga and Atlanta can be hell with construction and traffic, and have seen locals suggest continuing on 65 to Montgomery, then taking 231 to I-10 to I-75. Seems like it would avoid a lot of traffic, and possibly construction as well.

Anyone have experience with this route? Google maps shows it being about an extra hour, but I know that doesn't factor in the traffic along Chattanooga and Atlanta. TIA!

We drive from SE Iowa and we go South at St Louis, thru Memphis, and eventually over to Birmingham and down thru Montgomery and usually stay at Dothan overnight. We like this route so much better than going thru Atlanta where we are stopped dead on the interstate a lot in bumper to bumper traffic. It can take forever to get past Atlanta.

 

[sam_gordon]

Google maps shows it being about an extra hour, but I know that doesn't factor in the traffic along Chattanooga and Atlanta. TIA!

Actually, I'm pretty sure Google Maps DOES account for traffic.

Under the destination, change "Leave Now" to "Depart At" and put in your time/date.
You can

 

[jimmymc]

If you time it so you ride through Atlanta in the middle of the night, traffic won't be that bad. But if you'll be in that area near rush hour, I'd gladly take the 1 hour detour to avoid it.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you time it so you ride through Atlanta in the middle of the night, traffic won't be that bad. But if you'll be in that area near rush hour, I'd gladly take the 1 hour detour to avoid it.

I'd say it doesn't even need to be in the middle of the night. If you can hit the northern part of Atlanta (or Southern part if heading home) between ~9a-3p or 7p-5a, you'll probably be OK. Or on a weekend.

If you have multiple people in the car, use the HOV lane.

Looking right now, going from Chicago to WDW via Atlanta is 17:15. Going through Montgomery is 18:15. That's assuming leaving now though.

For that matter, you don't have to decide until you get to Nashville which way you're going to go.

 

[team bradfield]

N. Illinois here, motorhome, I aways go through Montgomery to I-10 in mobile, beautiful drive, chatt and atl are the worst