Driving thru Atlanta

[tkafam]

We are driving from St. Louis this week and were hoping to get past Atlanta the first day. Someone mentioned a new highway around Atlanta instead of thru Atlanta. Does anyone know the name of this highway and if it's a longer drive, how much longer? TIA!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

No new roads here around the city itself. You can take tried and true I-285 around the city. Like any other major city, you add a few miles, but might avoid some congestion.

If you are traveling through here during am or pm rush hour, it wil be a mess either way.

One more thing...............once you get past Atlanta it is an easy 7-7.5 hour drive to WDW.

 

[tkafam]

Maybe 285 is what they were talking about meaning new to them (not a new highway) b/c we usually take 75 thru Atlanta. Do you think 285 would be less congested and how much longer do you think it would take do that instead of 75? We just remember sitting in traffic on 75-not fun. Or is there another route you would suggest w/o a lot of traffic and not too time-consuming?

 

[marius97]

We drove straight through Atlanta on 75 the first Friday of June at 7:30am. It was stop and go for the regular lanes, but we just hopped in the high occupancy lane and drove about 55mph all the way through.

 

[ProudMary]

Just my opinion but your best bet would be to time your drive so you are going through Atlanta around 10 or 11 am, or around 2 or 3 pm. This should keep the traffic lower.

285 takes longer and can be just as congested as downtown during rush hours. We did it once and said never again, it isn't worth it.

 

[tkafam]

Just my opinion but your best bet would be to time your drive so you are going through Atlanta around 10 or 11 am, or around 2 or 3 pm. This should keep the traffic lower.

285 takes longer and can be just as congested as downtown during rush hours. We did it once and said never again, it isn't worth it.

Thank you! That's just what I was wondering! I guess we'll try to time it right unless someone knows a better way to go??

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Timing your departure to avoid our rush hour is critical to either route. Once you get snarled in our rush hour traffic, your nerves will be shot.

Yes 75 south through town is more direct and does have HOV lanes. 285 is a little longer distance and has no HOV lanes. The gamble is whether or not there are any accidents downtown.

Tune to WSB radio (AM 750). They give frequent traffic updates.

 

[tkafam]

Timing your departure to avoid our rush hour is critical to either route. Once you get snarled in our rush hour traffic, your nerves will be shot.

Yes 75 south through town is more direct and does have HOV lanes. 285 is a little longer distance and has no HOV lanes. The gamble is whether or not there are any accidents downtown.

Tune to WSB radio (AM 750). They give frequent traffic updates.

Thanks for your help! We'll tune in and hopefully, that will help!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Every year when my family and I drive along I-75 South we will drive through Atlanta on a Sunday. We usually get there after 10:00 AM and we have never had any major issues, plus once you get past there it's a very easy drive getting to WDW.