Need help-Atlanta area in the middle of the night

[CherylDan]

We are planning a quick trip down in March, driving straight through. We will be passing by the Atlanta area (on I-75) approximately 4am, and would like to stop for a quick bite to eat/restroom/gas stop. We aren't picky, just want something that's safe and open! So, if anyone knows a quick 24 hour place, with easy on-off to the highway, I'd appreciate the help.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I think there's a Waffle House at practically every exit in Georgia (it may be a state law ). Stake n Shake is open 24 hours, IIRC. I know of one on Cobb Parkway just north of I-285 -- from I-75 take the I-285 exit that would direct you to Birmingham and Macon (the other way directs you to Augusta), go about a mile and take US 41 north.

I'm not sure if there are too many exit inside the Perimeter to recommend. Not just for safety reasons but because they may not have gas or food places that are easy on-off. I'd suggest the Barrett Parkway, Windy Hill Road, or Delk Road exits north of Atlanta or Morrow, Jonesboro, or McDonough south of Atlanta. I'm much more familiar with the area north of Atlanta and the three I mentioned are safe and have plenty of places to stop.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Another suggestion ... there is a link to the I-75 exit info guide in the list of links thread stuck to the top of the Transportation Board.

 

[CherylDan]

Thanks for the info, and the link. I managed to overlook that, and I'm so glad you pointed me to it! I'm sure it will prove to be quite helpful while planning this trip - this will be my first trip driving down, so any other helpful hints would be most appreciated.

 

[JulieEck]

There is a good exit that's inside the perimeter (I-285) but before you get to the downtown area. It has a Steak-n-Shake, Chick-fil-A (will be closed) and McDonald's (probably closed at that time though). Also a couple of gas stations. The SnS is nice and very easy to get too. The name of the exit is on the tip of my tongue, but the name escapes me for the moment.

If you don't want to venture too far off of 75 and want to eat before you get into Atlanta, then Barrett Parkway is your best bet. Lots of places although I'm not sure how many are open that late. There is a SnS though. Travelling south on 75, you'll want to turn Right then go about 3 lights. It'll be on the left. Not hard to get to at all and there's a BP on that side for when you are getting back on the interstate.

Macon has had some of the cheapest gas in the state lately so fill up there!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

You don't say what day of the week you are driving...but if it is normally a work day then I'd probably choose to stop on the south side of Atlanta rather than the north side. From Exit 231 south would be good...that's the Southlake Mall area in Morrow and there is a lot of stuff there. However I'd probably pick exits past 224...there's been a bit of ongoing construction there. Jonesboro Road is exit 221...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Cracker Barrels open up at 6am.

South of Atlanta in McDunnough--there is one at Exit 218 if you can stretch yourself to then. Yummy breakfasts--walking around space and clean restrooms.

Also in Macon at Exit 3 off of I-475 (signs direct you to bypass Macon this way--so no idea what happens if you stay on I-75). Or Exit 71 on I-75 (this should be before 475 on the map--it is really close to it).

I agree about getting south of Atlanta before stopping if driving on a weekday.


(I keep a cracker barrell map in my car--so this info is directly from that!).

 

[CherylDan]

Thanks for all the input....I'm quickly learning that I have a lot of planning to do regarding our planned route and stops! We are leaving on a Sunday afternoon, so by the time we hit the Atlanta area it should be around 3-4 am Monday. I've never driven through or around Atlanta, but I have heard that traffic is bad...just wondering if it will be at that time too? Is it better (meaning quicker) to bypass the city, or just stay on 75 and cut right through?

My original thought was to stop in Atlanta because I thought I would have my best chances of finding something open in the city, but since then I've discovered Pilot Travel Centers all along 75 that are open 24/7. Anyone have any experience with them? Again, our main goal is just to get to WDW as fast as possible, so being able to stop for gas, grab a bite to eat, and use the restroom all at one location sounds perfect.

 

[JulieEck]

so by the time we hit the Atlanta area it should be around 3-4 am Monday. I've never driven through or around Atlanta, but I have heard that traffic is bad...just wondering if it will be at that time too? Is it better (meaning quicker) to bypass the city, or just stay on 75 and cut right through?

If you are hitting Atlanta around 3-4 am you will not have a problem with traffic (pending any really bad accidents of course). Drive straight through on 75 - don't go around. 285 will take longer and it's not the best road. 75 is much better! When I lived in Acworth (north of Kennesaw/Marietta on 75) and worked in downtown Atlanta, I would leave by 6am and be fine with minimal traffic. Every minute past 6am though and it gets worse. If you hit the suburbs later than you intend, you can either just go through it and know it'll be slow going (although you can use the HOV lane if there's more than one person in the car and that'll help) or you can stop and rest/relax for a little bit then go on. I don't believe 285 is any better and may be worse than going straight through during rush hour. 285 doesn't have the HOV lanes either. Trucks are supposed to take 285 and not go through town unless their destination is inside the perimeter. A very good radio station to listen to is 750AM. They do traffic reports every 6 minutes during the morning/afternoon. It's less often during the middle of the night, but I think it's still every 15 minutes. Maybe 30 minutes.

Hope that helps!!!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I would drive straight thru on I-75. If for some reason it looks like you would go through after 7:30AM then I might choose to stop on the northside of Atlanta for a leisurely breakfast and then resume about 9AM..

Worst case scenario would be taking I-285. If you just had to do it I would take it in a Westbound direction because there are quite a few corporations either south on I-75 or east on I-285. There always seems to be an accident somewhere on the north east side of Atlanta.

One rule of thumb when traveling through any major city is that fast food is generally more accessible on the outskirts than in the main part of town. In town the restaurants are oriented on the local residents whereas on the outskirts they are oriented toward both residents and people passing through. You could find yourself taking an exit where it isn't all that obvious where the entrance ramp is when you are ready to get back on the highway.

The website someone pointed your towards earlier is an excellent tool for finding places to stop. I've used it with good results on my Disney trips.

In terms of truck stops I find the Love's travel stop to be very clean and quite modern. For breakfast I'd probably pick a Waffle House and be done with it. The food is simple, straightforward, and inexpensive. The parking lots are well lit, they are popular and it seems like there is one at virtually every exit.

And finally...getting past Atlanta is a good idea no matter what time you are going through. So much truck traffic passes through that traffic ties up due to accidents daily...any time day or night. As mentioned before trucks go around ATL on 285 unless they have business in town so you should have an easy ride once you are inside the perimeter.

 

[CherylDan]

OK....driving straight thru on 75 it is! Thanks for the input, I really do appreciate it. LOL....of course, I haven't even started planning the return trip yet, so that will present it's own set of questions I imagine.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

There is a good exit that's inside the perimeter (I-285) but before you get to the downtown area. It has a Steak-n-Shake, Chick-fil-A (will be closed) and McDonald's (probably closed at that time though). Also a couple of gas stations. The SnS is nice and very easy to get too. The name of the exit is on the tip of my tongue, but the name escapes me for the moment.

West Paces Ferry Road? I forgot about that exit. I used to take that exit over to Buckhead all the time.

I have to second (well, it may be third or fourth by now) the comments to take I-75 straight through and use the HOV lanes if necessary. Heck, even with the truck traffic on the Perimeter I would recommend the HOV lanes.

 

[JulieEck]

West Paces Ferry Road? I forgot about that exit. I used to take that exit over to Buckhead all the time.

I have to second (well, it may be third or fourth by now) the comments to take I-75 straight through and use the HOV lanes if necessary. Heck, even with the truck traffic on the Perimeter I would recommend the HOV lanes.

That's the name of it!!! Thanks - I'd been thinking about that ever since I should've just looked it up on the map online...

 

[kydisneyfans]

Take 75 straight through!

I have not run into a bad Pilot Travel Center yet, and most have some type of restaurant or fast food attached. You can check at their website for gas prices and what restaurant is attached before you leave.

Flying J usually has cheaper gas but more expensive food. They seem a little more difficult to enter and exit than Pilot.

Definitely stay off the exits inside the Perimeter. We stopped at a Raceway for gas just south of Atlanta around 1:00 AM and were actually scared. They would not unlock the door for our 5 year old to use the restroom. We let him go in the parking lot at the side of the building-there was no other choice.

 

[CherylDan]

Thanks for the update on the Pilot stations. It seems like they are just about everywhere along 75, so I'm feeling fairly confident in that regard. We'll be stopping at one either right before or after Atlanta, so hopefully the drive straight through Atlanta will be a smooth one. Thanks to all for your input, it has helped a great deal!