Atlanta on 85

[jk53]

Towing a Kia Soul behind a '37 motorhome . What is the best way through Atlanta? Staying on 85 through or 285 towards Brookhaven then joining 85. I'm starting from Auburn AL.

[Dtwallace]

I've only taken the loop once and I swore never again, so for me, any time I have to go through that area, knowing that the traffic will be just as bad on the loop, I go straight through. I've heard all the stories about state and local police demanding you take the loop, but I've never had an issue not using it.

You will find heavy traffic no matter what route you take if you catch it at the wrong time of day, or night. You just have to be patient and go with the flow, and be careful of the road rage aggravators.

DTW

[Wizard]

Stay out of downtown during rush hour, otherwise I would just go straight through. We usually go through on I20 or I75 but the roads are well marked and give you plenty of time to change lanes if necessary.

[nctox]

I'm somewhat at odds with some on this topic. I drive I85 a lot and I always go around Atlanta, but I ALWAYS use the south/east side of I285. It may be a few miles further but, the traffic moves along. Every time I've attempted to go thru Atl, the traffic comes to a complete stop somewhere downtown for no other reason than just heavy traffic. The lanes narrow a bit thru downtown also.
Just another opinion.
Tim,,,

[JMonroe]

In the interest of full disclosure, most of our trips through Atlanta have been north/south on I-75, but we always stay on the "main". While we did I-85 east/west a couple of years ago we've only done it the one time and I frankly don't remember how.

We used to take the bypass but one time following our GPS it took us right through downtown. Surprise, surprise, the traffic was no worse to lighter, the route is shorter. The only traffic tie ups were where the bypass feeds back into the main route, on both ends. We've repeated that route a number of times since.

I agree, avoid rush hour regardless.

[Graygulf]

I live in Atlanta and 258 is just a longer and wider parking lot. Go straight through. If you have a Sun Pass it is accepted for tolls in the Peach Pass lanes on the north side of town on I-85.