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

 

[OKW Lover]

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.

I'll be driving through ATL northbound later this week. I've done this trip before and Waze has always routed me through ATL on I-75. Each time I've done that I've been stuck in traffic and am considering taking the permitted road instead. I expect to pass through Atlanta about 1- 2 pm. Hope I'm making the right decision but the miles aren't that much more.

 

[jaredjohn4]

We used to travel from Chicago to Fort Wilderness going straight through Atlanta around midnight. Last few years we have been going through Auburn Alabama to see our daughter who was working at the university. Last week we moved her to Orlando to work at UCF. We are camped just south of Atlanta on our way back north. I think we are going through Atlanta in the morning on our way to Nashville. Slow and steady with a 38 foot fifth wheel.

 

[quagmire0]

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.

Going through Google Maps, using the estimated departure time on a Friday afternoon/evening, it seems like the best range of times is by going 57 > 24 > 75. That would have us going through Atlanta around 7/8AM on a Saturday morning. It's not a holiday, so *hopefully* it won't be too bad. Seems like going down through Alabama using 65 and 231 will take longer no matter the traffic.

 

[Darklord77]

That would have us going through Atlanta around 7/8AM on a Saturday morning.

You'll be fine in the morning on a Saturday. Later in the day you might get some brief stop and go's going through the city on 75/85, but that won't be too bad either.

 

[fla4fun]

I evacuated to north Georgia near Chattanooga for Hurricane Milton last year. I left the hotel early on Saturday to return and drove straight through Atlanta on I-75. I got to Atlanta sometime between 7:00-7:30. There was a lot of traffic, but no slowdowns or stops. Just watch the signs so you stay in the correct lanes for your destination.

I hit Atlanta at the worst possible time going up. I was making good time on 75 until I was north of Macon. It was slow, then stop and go, from there to my hotel, and really bad through Atlanta. I ended up using the toll express lane out of the north side of the city and there were even slowdowns on that (although not as bad as the people sitting still on 75 were enduring). That was on a Monday, as I wanted to get out before they issued evacuation orders.

I agree that it all depends on the time of day, the day of the week, and if there are any major holidays going on.

 

[irene6118]

Like SmileLea, we also live in north Alabama (just outside of Huntsville). Our daughter lives in Florida so in addition to our Disney trips, we travel down to Florida quite a bit to see her. Our gps would always say going through Atlanta would be the shortest route and we always regretted taking that route as it always took much longer than the projected time. Now we save time and our nerves by driving through Montgomery. It's not perfect, but it is so much better.

 

[Skywalker3]

We live in middle TN, always drive, and I prefer the route through AL, while DH (who is the primary driver most of the time) much prefers the route through GA. I65 through AL, and then I10, are only 2 lanes of interstate each side, while the GA route, after Chattanooga, has 3 lanes each side. But I have made the drive so often to south AL to visit family there, that I just much prefer it, and last few times, had no issues. If you hit Birmingham at rush hour, that'll add quite a bit of time. Also, be wary of Waze after Montgomery. I had planned to go through Dothan, and Waze had me take a few other back roads instead, probably in its algorithm saving 2 mins, and ended up in Eufaula and then joined up w 75 in Tifton. I don't love curvy, back country roads, so didn't love this detour. Next time I do this, I'll put in Dothan as my destination, then change it to Orlando, after we get through there.
Glad PP mentioned the summer beach traffic. That is for real on 65 during the summer. Sundays driving home up 65 were always solid traffic.
As far as ATL traffic, we've had hits and misses, depending on time of day. We use the HOV lanes, and sometimes pay for express lanes when they're open. Waze sometimes reroutes us around downtown ATL on one of those bypass interstates, mostly we ignore that. Chattanooga is usually a problem. Our DD was in college there 2 years, and i just hate that drive through the mountains, and ALL the 18 wheelers, if there is a backup, it's just miles. Glad to hear some of the construction is done though. We've also just breezed through, so it's just always a crapshoot.
Our last few trips, worst traffic was on the FL turnpike, and about 1 hr before the turnpike. stop and go.
Hope y'all have a safe/wonderful trip, whichever route y'all choose!!