Driving from Nashville (wanting to avoid Atlanta)

[dankevork]

On every trip from Nashville (at least 8+ trips) we go through Atlanta and inevitably hit terrible traffic and constuction which turns a 10 hour trip into a 12 or 13 hour trip. I have been doing research about heading south through Alabama, however there is about 100 miles of the trip which would not be interstate (I think it is a 4 lane road, but I do not know the speed limit). Has anyone from AL or TN done this trip? Is it worth going through that 100 miles through Dothan to avoid Atlanta, Monteagle and Chattanooga? Thanks

 

[Debbie-TN]

We always just go through Atlanta. It takes exactly 4 hours to get to Atlanta, so you have to leave home so that you don't go through there at rush hour traffic. We either leave at 3 am or 7 am, to get there before or after the traffic. We've never had a problem. Now coming home, that's another problem. We usually find more construction from Macon and Valdosta. Seems like they're always working on that stretch of highway. I would think going through AL would take even longer because of the speed limit.

 

[mgilmer]

I have done the Dothan route and it is no better than Atlanta. The four lane highway is like Hwy 31 south to Columbia and then to Lawrenceburg -- a traffic light and lots of small towns to go thru every few miles. The traffic can be very heavy around those places if you hit any time during work change or school hours.

 

[dankevork]

I have done the Dothan route and it is no better than Atlanta. The four lane highway is like Hwy 31 south to Columbia and then to Lawrenceburg -- a traffic light and lots of small towns to go thru every few miles. The traffic can be very heavy around those places if you hit any time during work change or school hours.

Thank you, that is exactly what I needed to hear. I live in Spring Hill, so highway 31 hits home exactly. I would not want to have 4 hours on each side of a trip with 100 miles on 31s. I will stick with the highways and hope hat we can get through atlanta without too much problem.

 

[clkelley]

I HATE the Dothan route. I too just go through B'ham and Atlanta and try to go through Atlanta after 7pm.

(FYI, the route through Auburn is crappy too.) Believe me I've tried them all.

 

[mgilmer]

Thank you, that is exactly what I needed to hear. I live in Spring Hill, so highway 31 hits home exactly. I would not want to have 4 hours on each side of a trip with 100 miles on 31s. I will stick with the highways and hope hat we can get through atlanta without too much problem.

If you can plan your trip thru Hotlanta before 6 am or after 7 pm, the traffic is not too bad. That is what we do. It is also not too bad anytime around the loop on the weekends. Just do not go thru Atlanta on I-75 on a day or weekend when there is a football game or any day the Braves are playing. Take the loop instead.