Route Question Montgomery, AL to Fort

[5stljayhawks]

I am headed down from St. Louis, thinking about going through Montgomery, AL.

What is your preferred travel route down to hook up with 75 south

Do you go down 231 and catch 10 E in the panhandle or cut across on 82 over to Tifton, GA and then down.

 

[Tnbob]

I like the 231 route to 10 with a couple of little shortcuts to bypass Montgomery and Dothan. If no one else chimes in I will come back with the shortcuts. Someone may have a better way, I'm always open to others routes.

 

[djblu883]

We go 231 to I10 to I75

 

[clkelley]

I prefer to cut over to Atlanta at I-20, then get on I-75 in Atlanta.

 

[Bearikens]

I prefer Interstates from St. Louis...I-64 to I-57 to I-24 to I-75. 70 MPH (except when driving through towns and in Illinois) and it's almost a straight line all the way to Orlando. The only hills you will encounter are near Chattanooga and north of Atlanta.

I tried driving through Memphis to Birmingham and then angling down to Mobile and I-10...seemed to take forever (added 8 hours to the drive time) and my GPS though we were lost driving on a new Interstate in Alabama (that's why I call my GPS shut-up ).

 

[5stljayhawks]

Bearkins, that is funny. about your GPS, not getting lost. That's why I have paper maps and google....

This is an alternative route if bad weather moves in. We normally head down Nashville, Atlanta route, but thinking better have another way if the snow comes here in a few weeks.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Being someone who travels the Tifton to Columbus to Opelika route on route to Auburn quite frequently in her lifetime, it is faster to go that route. The road is all four lanes now and very scenic. You will need to watch when you go through Cussetta,GA and make sure you go EXACTLY the speed limit. Otherwise, you should be fine. (I have donated to the Cussetta improvement fund. )

 

[retired and happy]

My brother donated in Cusseta several times back in the '60's, so they have a history...

But don't any of you Alabama (the state) people take I-10 to US 27 east of Tallahassee, down to Williston? When I go from Mobile, I always take 27 instead of going all the way to I-75.

 

[bama_ed]

I like the route down to Montgomery to Dothan to I-10 and further east to I-75 at Lake City. I start my trip from the Birmingham area, though, so that is my caveat. I'm not coming as far as you are.

While the Atlanta route is all interstate, it is a longer distance with many steep grades (both up and down) in eastern Alabama. It takes longer but has fewer stops. I have driven it so many times (not always towing) I could do it in my sleep.

The Columbus route is more direct but offers less interstate and more stop-and-go than the Atlanta route. And since you are travelling beyond Montgomery it doesn't necessarily put you in a good jumping off spot.

The Dothan route is shorter than the Atlanta route but has stop-and-go of the Columbus route but for a shorter length. Also the first town into Florida (I think it is Cottondale) also has a community development fund supported by the local law enforcement as Jen mentioned in other towns so you need to watch your speed here. Us towing folks normally don't get going too fast but it can happen.

So it depends on what you want - shortest distance/time (Dothan), all smoother interstate travel (the Atlanta route) or the in-between route (Columbus). I have taken the Atlanta route south (assuming you are missing rush hours in Hot-lanta) and the Dothan route home.

The last three times going home via the Atlanta route I have always had a long delay between Macon and Atlanta south of I-675. No apparent reason but it has put me off that way going home.

Good luck with your travels.

Bama ED