I-75 or I-95?

[Sinclare]

Last year (the first time I drove down...from central Kentucky with just me and my son), my parents insisted that I cut across I-40 and take I-95 down. Now I start out on I-75 and that seems to be the shortest route but they insist that I-95 is much easier once I'm on it.

Now I'm a straight shot type of person; the fewer turns, stops, slowdowns, and such that I have to take, the happier I am. Now I liked I-95 once I was on it (except when I hit Columbia at night, in rain, and heavy traffic). However, It adds a minimum of an hour or so to the trip both ways to do this.

Their main problems with I-75 seems to be Atlanta and heavier traffic/slow downs. However, I noticed I-95 to have it's share of slow downs as well last year as we got stuck in Gerogia on the way back for over an hour going 10mph or less.

Opinions on whether I-95 is worth the effort to cut across? I drive I-75 all the time but not south of Knoxville. I've noticed there is a real easy cut over (I-16) south of Atlanta but that would mean going through Atlanta first.

I really liked the I-95 route, as I cut across through some nice mountains and the view along I-95 just seemed better than I-75 in general. However, with gas going to $3-$4-$5 a gallon by June, cutting off 50-60 miles per one-way would not only save time but money.

Thoughts? (especially if you've recently drove both roads)

 

[Maddle]

I will be interested in the reponses to this question, too. I am planning be taking I-75 straight down from Dayton, Ohio. Last year, my first stop was on the Gulf coast near Sarasota, so I did not question the thought.

This year, I am going direct to Orlando, but the directions from both Google and Mapquest send me down I-75. The difference is that Google sends you around Atlanta via a beltway of some sort - I didn't conxider that before. Also, once into Florida, Google sends you over the Florida turnpike, but Mapquest sends you all the way down to Tampa, and then back up I-4.

Does anyone have any recommendations about these options?


(Interestingly enough, Rand McNally sends you over to I-95.)

Thanks - Maddle

 

[clkelley]

I would shoot straight down on I-75.

Going through Atlanta is really no problem!! If there are at least two of you, hop in the high occupancy lane and scoot right on through!!!

DO NOT take the bypass around Atlanta, the big trucks HAVE to take the bypass, so you lose the semis (except local) through the city.

Also if you take I-75 straight down, you will be able to avoid I-4, 192 and all other Orlando traffic, due to the new Western Beltway.

DO TAKE the 475 bypass around Macon.

The new western Beltway directions:

Get on Florida Turnpike off of I-75 at Exit 328 (Signs are very obvious) (Toll Road)

Go to 429 South at Exit 267 (Toll Road)

Turn into DisneyWorld property at Western Way. Exit 8. It
should dump you out near Coronado Springs.

Carol

 

[kydisneyfans]

We drive from the Lexington area yearly-have taken 77 to 26 to 95 when we lived in Ohio---the 75 route is much better. Granted, there may be slowdowns in GA and Knoxville, especially at rush hour, but 95 has the same type of slowdowns in the Jacksonville area-plus I 4 through Orlando can be a bear. 75 is designed to handle more traffic also, with 2/3 of the trip being 3 lanes or more, most of I95 and I4 are only 2. I would not even consider the 95 option.

I will second the 475 bypass in Macon-you don't even have to tap your breaks, it is smooth sailing.

 

[Maddle]

Thank you so much for the advice about the by-pass around Atlanta, because I probably would have taken it just to try it out.

Last year I went through Atlanta on a Sunday, so traffic was not too bad. I did learn that you should try to get to the left of the highway, because the right hand lanes keep peeling off. I would move over left, and it would be "exit only" and I would move left and it was "exit only" again. Pretty exciting, because it was dark and I was unfamiliar and by myself. I'm thinking to myself, "so where the heck is the through-road?" and by the time I was done, it was the left two or three lanes, instead of the "slow-poke" lanes that I kept thinking I belonged in. I have a feeling it's going to be one of those "easy once you know how' driving experiences this year.

Maddle

 

[clkelley]

Yes, absolutely stay left or towards the center. Many years ago was driving through Atlanta and got in a situation about dusk where I was in the wrong lane and had no choice but to exit, and it took me FOREVER to get back on the highway, and it was getting dark and I was in a scary part of town.

 

[grimley1968]

Kentuckian here - don't bother with cutting over to I-95 unless you're going straight to the Space Coast. If you're going to WDW, I-75 is much straighter and more direct. Remember to hit the Florida Turnpike about 90 miles outside Orlando, or else you'll wind up in Tampa.

Other posters are right: go through Atlanta at a non-rush hour time, and stay on I-75. You'll zip right through downtown and won't waste 45 minutes on the bypass, which is as packed as I-75 itself lately.

 

[Sinclare]

Could someone please clarify, is it exit 267A, B, or C? I just went out and bought Microsoft streets and trips 2006 but and planned everything fine so far but once I turn off I can't find a exit 8 or the western way road for that matter.

 

[clkelley]

Could someone please clarify, is it exit 267A, B, or C? I just went out and bought Microsoft streets and trips 2006 but and planned everything fine so far but once I turn off I can't find a exit 8 or the western way road for that matter.

Not sure whether it is A, B, or C. It is 429 South.

Western Way will not be on any stand alone mapping software as it just opened 3 weeks ago. The interactive web site mapping software doesn't even have it yet.

From looking at:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/turnpikepio/NewWebPages/system_roads.html

it looks like exit 267A.

There are links on that page for the main turnpike

and the Western Beltway.

 

[Belle1962]

Be warned going home--I75 North on the weekends is having major construction from about mile 281 - 290. I have seen backups that stretch back to mile 273. Not sure when it is scheduled to sstop.

http://www.georgia-navigator.com/construction

 

[sammielynn]

I go down I-75 from Tennessee. What I do is to take Hwy 27 south (exit 347 and turn left) to I - 24 (27 turnes into I-24)and then hit I-75. The I- 75 strech between Knoxville and Chattanooga is just something I hate but if you are coming from the north that might be out of your way to come all the way down to exit 347.
I hate diriving through Chattanooga and try to hit that and Atlanta at non rush hours also. Neither are to bad if you miss morning traffic, lunch traffic and evening rush hour. I plan my entire travel days around getting through Chattanooga and Atlanta.
The carpool lanes in Atlanta are good if you can avoid some of those strange exits they have.

 

[duckfish]

We drove down the first week of April and on the trip down (at night) from east Tennessee. We sat in traffic for 5 hours, in two seperate places in Geogria. The first was on the south side of Atlanta and the other was probaly about 100 miles north of the Florida border. AAA had recommended for us to use I-95, even though it is longer, due to the construction backups, but thinking that I was wiser than AAA, I chose to use the shorter route (BIG mistake)! On our return trip, we did use I-95 and it was great. No delays, no backups, and much quicker. We cut over using I-40 from Ashville, NC to Knoxville, then headed up I-75 to home.

 

[littleprissboutique]

I live in Bean Station TN and grew up in Knoxville.......

I say take 75 all the way. You just need to time it right. Granted Knoxville and ATL can have heavy traffic at all times of the day. Here is what I have learned from many travels in these two area's..

If you hit Knoxville around 3pm you should get into ATL around 7:30 which I have found to be the best times ( during the day ). If you go at night I would hit Knoxville around 11:00pm and you should get to ATL around 3:30am. This is also depending upon what speed you travel at.

I-75 is a straight shot and very easy to travel outside of the major cities.

*********Word of caution for everyone traveling this route. 40 through West Knoxville has road construction right now. The speed limit through 5 to 9 miles of it is 45 mph. They have a few cops clocking that radio down to the other officers that pull you over. The fine in these area's is $$$$$. So, make sure to drive the speed limit in that area.

You dont want to start you vacation out that way....



But back to the traffic. Hope this helps, Someone else may have a better idea. Just keep in mind that Knoxville's part of I-40 is 25-30 miles (9-12 that is sometimes bad ) and it is hit or miss. Somedays it is great and sometimes it sucks. An ATL expert may be able to tell you how many miles of 5 lane you have on 75.


Good luck and have a great trip

 

[disneydiz]

We just got back from WDW this weekend, and I took I-75 the entire way (to Michigan). First, I did take the new Western Way road. It was great -- absolutely no traffic until the Turnpike. I got on right near Coronado Springs resort. We hit Atlanta on Friday night at about 6:45pm -- no heavy traffic. Be sure to take the HOV lanes on I-75 if there is traffic (meant for 2 or more people in the car). I-75 was great -- we paid no more than 2.77 per gallon in Tenn, KY, and Ohio. Michigan and Florida were much higher! It took us 18-1/2 hours from WDW back to Michigan. Record time!