Detouring Around Atlanta?
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Detouring Around Atlanta?
At least once per year, we drive N-S and S-N through the Atlanta area on I-75. That's not bad if we miss the rush hours, but during the bad times it's horrendous.
Are there any detours on back roads that would actually save us some time? Going west around the city via Calhoun-Rome-Carrollton-Newnan-Griffin would certainly miss Atlanta, but I'm not sure it would save any time during the rush hours.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
Are there any detours on back roads that would actually save us some time? Going west around the city via Calhoun-Rome-Carrollton-Newnan-Griffin would certainly miss Atlanta, but I'm not sure it would save any time during the rush hours.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Olustee Florida
there ain't any
If it were me, I would go from Knoxville, through Birmingham, Montgomery, troy, Enterprise I10 to lake city. According to google, it will take a little less than one hour more and the drive is much better. you very well could make it in less time. I hate 75.. Perpetual reconstruction.
If it were me, I would go from Knoxville, through Birmingham, Montgomery, troy, Enterprise I10 to lake city. According to google, it will take a little less than one hour more and the drive is much better. you very well could make it in less time. I hate 75.. Perpetual reconstruction.
Last edited by Olustee bus; Jan 11, 2011 at 06:59 AM.
Drifting
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St. Jude Donor '10
Just use 285 once you get into atlanta. It goes around the downtown area. If you're heading from the north and going south, take 285 West and it will take you around to 75S the fastest. 285 is a huge circle, so you if you happen to get on 285East, it will eventually get to 75, just much longer trip time. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Dallas Georgia
South
Might think about goingn thru Savannah, Ga...Atlanta is closed right now...
At least once per year, we drive N-S and S-N through the Atlanta area on I-75. That's not bad if we miss the rush hours, but during the bad times it's horrendous.
Are there any detours on back roads that would actually save us some time? Going west around the city via Calhoun-Rome-Carrollton-Newnan-Griffin would certainly miss Atlanta, but I'm not sure it would save any time during the rush hours.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
Are there any detours on back roads that would actually save us some time? Going west around the city via Calhoun-Rome-Carrollton-Newnan-Griffin would certainly miss Atlanta, but I'm not sure it would save any time during the rush hours.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
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I assume you live near Chicago. I would pick up I65 and head south. Stop in Bowling Green, Ky at the NCM and continue on I65 to I20 in Birmingham, AL. Use I20 east to I285 and zip south around Atlanta. Note, try to time Birmingham outside of rush hour and definately not on a Friday leading into a holiday weekend. The traffic heading south can be terrible through Birmingham.
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Thanks for all the help!
That's worth looking into, thanks.
Always have the wife along, but HOV doesn't seem to help when everything is stopped.
Every time we tried 285, it was just as slow at 75 but more miles, so we lost time. Based on previous experience, I want to start my detour further away.
We won't be doing it for a while, fortunately.
We live a bit west of Chicago, so we take I-39/57/24 and go slightly south of BG. The Museum is great, we've done two deliveries there but it adds another day in the crummy weather up here. As mentioned above, we've has some disasterous delays on 285 also. Maybe...
Again, thanks for all the ideas.
...
If it were me, I would go from Knoxville, through Birmingham, Montgomery, troy, Enterprise I10 to lake city. According to google, it will take a little less than one hour more and the drive is much better. you very well could make it in less time. I hate 75.. Perpetual reconstruction.
If it were me, I would go from Knoxville, through Birmingham, Montgomery, troy, Enterprise I10 to lake city. According to google, it will take a little less than one hour more and the drive is much better. you very well could make it in less time. I hate 75.. Perpetual reconstruction.
Always have the wife along, but HOV doesn't seem to help when everything is stopped.
Just use 285 once you get into atlanta. It goes around the downtown area. If you're heading from the north and going south, take 285 West and it will take you around to 75S the fastest. 285 is a huge circle, so you if you happen to get on 285East, it will eventually get to 75, just much longer trip time.
I assume you live near Chicago. I would pick up I65 and head south. Stop in Bowling Green, Ky at the NCM and continue on I65 to I20 in Birmingham, AL. Use I20 east to I285 and zip south around Atlanta. Note, try to time Birmingham outside of rush hour and definately not on a Friday leading into a holiday weekend. The traffic heading south can be terrible through Birmingham.
Again, thanks for all the ideas.
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St. Jude Donor '17
I worked in Atlanta 2.5 years and the traffic message boards or the traffic radio can dictate which route to take and save a lot of time. Going around or through Atlanta is still about the only choice.
The city is expanding so rapidly that just about any road off the interstate will bog you down with traffic and red lights. I think the nearest go around is I 95 and I 65
With that said we still go through Atlanta a dozen times year. We normally go right down through the middle. We really haven't caught much stopped traffic. I may be conditioned to know when to go through or around.
You do not want to hit spaghetti junction going North after 4p any day. It's OK after about 7p.
The city is expanding so rapidly that just about any road off the interstate will bog you down with traffic and red lights. I think the nearest go around is I 95 and I 65
With that said we still go through Atlanta a dozen times year. We normally go right down through the middle. We really haven't caught much stopped traffic. I may be conditioned to know when to go through or around.
You do not want to hit spaghetti junction going North after 4p any day. It's OK after about 7p.
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I worked in Atlanta 2.5 years and the traffic message boards or the traffic radio can dictate which route to take and save a lot of time. Going around or through Atlanta is still about the only choice.
The city is expanding so rapidly that just about any road off the interstate will bog you down with traffic and red lights. I think the nearest go around is I 95 and I 65
With that said we still go through Atlanta a dozen times year. We normally go right down through the middle. We really haven't caught much stopped traffic. I may be conditioned to know when to go through or around.
You do not want to hit spaghetti junction going North after 4p any day. It's OK after about 7p.
The city is expanding so rapidly that just about any road off the interstate will bog you down with traffic and red lights. I think the nearest go around is I 95 and I 65
With that said we still go through Atlanta a dozen times year. We normally go right down through the middle. We really haven't caught much stopped traffic. I may be conditioned to know when to go through or around.
You do not want to hit spaghetti junction going North after 4p any day. It's OK after about 7p.
Thanks for the info about the signs and the radio.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Macon, GA
Avoid Atlanta between 5:30 - 9:30 am and 3:30 - 7:00 pm and you should be fine driving thru. Also go to Georgia Navigator
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps/atlanta to help you avoid slow downs.
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps/atlanta to help you avoid slow downs.
Racer
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At least once per year, we drive N-S and S-N through the Atlanta area on I-75. That's not bad if we miss the rush hours, but during the bad times it's horrendous.
Are there any detours on back roads that would actually save us some time? Going west around the city via Calhoun-Rome-Carrollton-Newnan-Griffin would certainly miss Atlanta, but I'm not sure it would save any time during the rush hours.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
Are there any detours on back roads that would actually save us some time? Going west around the city via Calhoun-Rome-Carrollton-Newnan-Griffin would certainly miss Atlanta, but I'm not sure it would save any time during the rush hours.
Suggestions?
Thanks!
I live in North Georgia and drive to Hartsfield Airport at least once or twice a week.
Time your trip....avoid anything inside the perimeter (I285) from 0630 to 0930 and 1530 to 1900 weekdays (just my experience...with gov't holidays being pretty light all day).
I will say this, I used to jump on I285 and go around no matter what....I later found that took 5-10 mins longer getting to the south side....therefore, as long as my delay going through the city doesn't exceed 5-10 mins...I go straight through downtown and figure I'm ahead. (Personally, I think all corvettes should be allowed in the HOV lane single seat!!!
)Good luck!
Keith
Last edited by krf; Jan 20, 2011 at 05:11 PM.
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From: Olustee Florida
Avoid Atlanta between 5:30 - 9:30 am and 3:30 - 7:00 pm and you should be fine driving thru. Also go to Georgia Navigator
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps/atlanta to help you avoid slow downs.
http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps/atlanta to help you avoid slow downs.
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From: Farragut,TN
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St. Jude Donor '13
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I live in Spring Hill TN, south of Nashville I took 65S, to 10E to 75S to Orlando last month, This is a much better route, I will never go through Atlanta again...
Thread Starter
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St. Jude Donor '13
However, a friend told us they had tried it, said the drive through Alabama was even more boring than Georgia, and it added a couple of hours to the trip.
Anyone who can compare the Alabama route vs I-75 all the way through Georgia?
Le Mans Master
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We had considered I-65 south from Nashville, down to near the Florida border. Then US-31, AL-55, US-331 (or some similar combination) and join I-10 near De Funiak Springs.
However, a friend told us they had tried it, said the drive through Alabama was even more boring than Georgia, and it added a couple of hours to the trip.
Anyone who can compare the Alabama route vs I-75 all the way through Georgia?
However, a friend told us they had tried it, said the drive through Alabama was even more boring than Georgia, and it added a couple of hours to the trip.
Anyone who can compare the Alabama route vs I-75 all the way through Georgia?