Is there any way around Atlanta

[TyRy]

Hi all,

I just know with our luck and timing we'll end up hitting Atlanta around rush hour heading south (and on a Friday afternoon). I work in downtown Chicago and I know there are non-highways and/or smaller ones I can use if there are major back-ups on the main ones. Anyone have any tips for Atlanta? I do have satellite radio so I can tune-in to Atlanta traffic when we start to get close...anything in particular to listen for?

Or should we not do 24-75 and come down through TN/Georgia?

Thanks!

Ty

 

[MissLiz]

I'm not sure if there is another good way to get around Atlanta, but, if you do have to go through there on your way, you will want to listen for I-75 Southbound or the Downtown Connector Southbound on the radio.

Those are the roads you will be on.

Don't try to go I-285 around downtown Atlanta...it's usually a mess at rush hour and won't save you any time at all.

Unfortunately, 75 is the most convenient for you, I think, if you are coming from Chicago. I'm not sure of any other major highways that you can take.

We are driving from Atlanta in September and plan to leave extremely early and stay at WDW pretty late so we miss all the traffic.

Good Luck!!!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

A former Georgian here who agrees with MissLiz -- take the HOV lanes through Atlanta on I-75 instead of I-285. Through truck traffic (trucks travelling through the Atlanta area going from, for example, Chattanooga to Macon, and not making local stops) are not allowed within the Perimeter, so 285 traffic can be as bad if not worse than the traffic through the city.

If you wanted to try smaller highways, you could give US 27 from Chattanooga through Rome down to Newnan and then Highway 16 over to I-75 a try. It's been years since I've driven even a portion of that stretch, but it's a lot of small towns. IMO, I'd stick to I-75.

 

[triplefigs]

Rush hour on a Friday here is a NIGHTMARE going through downtown/ 75-85 connector. My DH works downtown, and it can take him 2 hours going backroads to get home on a Friday. Rush hour will start by 4pm and last until around 7pm. My suggestion is if you arrive during those times is to stop on the North side, take a break, eat, and get back on the road around 6:30pm. You'll not be as stressed and not sit in bumper to bumper traffic.

 

[BamaBaloo]

I would suggest taking I-65 to Montgomery, AL, then taking US Hwy 231 from Montgomery to I-10, and then I-10 across to I-75.

Much less traffic and construction, and very scenic.

 

[TyRy]

If we were to hit Atlanta about 3pm on that Friday - could we still make it through or would we already be trapped?

Although I have to add going through Alabama is looking like a possibility as well.

Thanks everyone for your advice!

 

[triplefigs]

You would probably be ok. Here are a few good Atlanta traffic links. ETA: I would probably try to plan leaving Chicago early enough to arrive on the North side of Atlanta by 2pm just to be safe (and give you an hour leeway for traffic elsewhere on your route). You'll have a lot nicer trip getting through ATL earlier in the day vs later. Check out the GA Navigator link for construction updates as well.

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

http://wsbradio.com/traffic/

AM750 is the best to listen to while driving. They give Atlanta traffic every 7 minutes.

 

[Traveliz]

We travel through Atlanta on 75 several times a year typically at bad times of the day - honestly getting through town is rarely a problem stayin in the HOV lane. We find the bunching up happens around mile marker 226 as the 8 lanes we had coming through Atlanta are slowing disappearing -- its a gradual thing but all of a sudden we are bunched up through there.

Liz