Cedar

I'm driving my GS from St. Louis to Savannah, Ga. on July 4th. I sure hate to on a Holiday but that's the way it worked out. Anyway, I did a mapquest search and mapquest recommends driving through Atlanta. I've always heard to avoid Atlanta during the day at all costs because of the traffic nightmare. Does anyone recommend going through Atlanta or should I go a different route. All,input is deeply appreciated.

Thanks

OldCorvetteFan

As long as it's not around 8AM or 4PM, just plan to stay on interstare 75 and go straight through. Going around on I-285 has way too many trucks. If you're travelling with someone, you use the HOV lanes.

When wer're going from Savannah back to NW Illinois, we hit Atlanta around 10AM, and it's not bad. Actually, I think it's easier to get through Atlanta than Nashville.

Safe travels!
Steven

Lee Cromwell

I can add a little...I live in Atlanta and Steven is partly right but traffic during the weekdays starts at 7am and is still thick till about 7pm, as long as there isn't accidents it'll keep moving,, slowly but moving but the HOV Lanes are only allowed with what's called a peach pass, if you're in the hov Lane without a peach pass you Will get a ticket. You have time to get the pass before your trip it would help .Without that pass, avoid the hov lane. I would agree with Steven on avoiding 285 as well, it's crazy and lots of construction so there are many areas that I won't take my vette because of the rough road .. Drive safe and have a great trip!!

dshamrick

The HOV lanes are fine without a Peach Pass, it is the Express Lanes that you need it for.

My guess is that DOT will suspend all construction on the Holiday so as long as it is on the 4th you should be good to go.

yellow2007

Stay off 285. I don't know who's in charge of the repaving project but they have no clue what a flat surface is.It's bumpy as hell.

Dutch08

From St. Louis you can come through Atlanta on I-20 or I-75 to Atlanta. I'd recommend I-75 since it is all 3 lanes wide and not too many effing left lane cruisers, I-20 can be a PITA, although 3 lanes, it has more people in the cruising in the left lane in my experience.. USUALLY I-75 is fairly forgiving and you can travel 75 to (your hoping) 80 without being pulled over. Now the last problem I-285 around Atlanta or I-75 through town. It all the depends on accidents and time of day. Judge by the traffic going down 75, if it is heavy go I 285 around, if it is light go through town which is slightly faster. Once you pass Atlanta traffic will be much easier. (My two-cents)

C6ToGo

Why not hit 40 at Nashville toward Knoxville, stop at Pigeon Forge and give Dolly a big 10-minute bear hug (if you can get your arms around her), then head south. Only 100 extra miles.

S.C. vette

Cedar

I appreciate everyone's input. It'll make my trip easier. And thanks for the road construction update, I don't want to tear my new Michelins or the GS up.

Jeff T.

Safe travels!! Raise one at Tubby's for me in Savannah!!

https://tubbysthunderbolt.com/

Mjfloyd1

pewter99

I dunno where you are staying but parking can be interesting in Savannah...

Bajaholic

I go that trip regularly, I 285 in my opinion even though it is rougher is still much faster than going I75 through down town.The key is to get to the outside (Left Lanes) as soon as possible so you don't have to deal with all the other traffic merging and re-positioning.

Once you get about 20 miles from Nashville, google traffic in Nashville. For the last 1.5 years it is almost worse than Atlanta if you just go the preferred GPS route. When traffic shows "Red" in downtown, take the 155 east bypass (Opry Land) This is a few miles further, but when traffic is stopped in the downtown area it will easily save you at least an hour. On the way back, I suggest, look where it starts turning red, there is 2 places to get to 155, the actual intersection on I 24 or from I 40, if you can get to the I 40 before it goes to crap, this is much easier and faster than the full 155 route due to a couple of lights in the first section. Again, watch Google traffic and you will save a ton of time!)

Cedar

Thanks for the heads up on the parking. Staying with family so parking is not a problem.

pewter99

perfect

seijack

This route gets my vote, did it this spring!!

TxLefty

Yep. Bought my car in NC and came back through Smoky Mountain Nat Park and Pigeon Forge, etc. Really a nice drive through that area if you aren't in a huge hurry. Easy drive to Savannah from there.

dmaxx3500

go straight thru Atlanta,

russ472

Do this ^^^ . if you dont trust it, do it anyway. Waze has save me TONS of time on my travels.

45gunner

A couple of weeks ago I was in NC on the TN border. I drove up from So. FL. I made the mistake of taking I-75 and 285 around Atlanta. Stuck in traffic for hours. It really sucked. Going home I decided on a different route. We left Murphy, NC and picked up US 64 to I-26 to I-95. It took us right by Savannah. Not much traffic and very scenic driving. Not the fastest way to go but enjoyable.