Community Forums

Mark D · 02-12-2018, 04:52 PM

We will be going from Clearwater to Nashville with a 45' Class A with a SUV in tow. We have avoided Atlanta to date.

What is it like to drive through Atlanta? Looks like 75 is the main route. Also any good places to spend a night or two that us an hour south or north of the loop in Atlanta?

I use to travel there often but had a rental and that was 7 plus years ago. I don't mind some traffic it's stop and go and chaos that I avoid. Like 95 from DC north.

Thank you for any help.

Samuise · 02-12-2018, 04:57 PM

Atlanta traffic generally sucks. Only go through using rt 285 around the city and avoid rush hours at all cost. When I do it, I try and get around the city before 5am

bobbidonb · 02-12-2018, 05:02 PM

I always stayed on I75 thru Atlanta towing a 5th wheel and avoided the bypass. Heavy traffic but most of big trucks take bypass. We usually stay at Twin Oaks in Elko, Ga (just south of Perry) It's a nice overnight stop and both it and Fair Harbor in Perry are Passport America. Eat at the Swanson House in downtown Perry.

MisterT · 02-12-2018, 05:03 PM

I75 directly thru Atlanta, using the HOV lane, between the hours of 10-2 during the weekday is your easiest bet... Saturdays and Sundays are good at various times.

There are many parks on either 'end', whether N or S of town, outside of the I285 perimeter.... just do some 'google maps' with the search term 'rv park' while you have the area on screen. For example, KOAs right off I75 in Cartersville and Forsyth, both.

We do this route all the time, no worries - don't buy into the absurdity that somehow Atlanta is any different than any other 'town'.... just more cars, but also more lanes.

jjcrawfish · 02-12-2018, 05:06 PM

I travel from Clearwater to Atlanta in a 35 ft class A with a tow all the time. If you leave before 8am and take I285 West to get back on 75 you'll miss rush hour.

Jim.B1 · 02-12-2018, 05:08 PM

We travelled south on I-75 in January (8th time).
This year I considered taking the bypass and posed the question on this forum.
I was told the bypass was no better, use the HOV Lanes, and also, consider going through Atlanta between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
I definitely do not want to use HOV as you are expected to drive faster and we are in a Class A and in no rush.
We did take I-75, but missed the 2:00 pm time and actually drove through about 2:30.
It was our best ever time to go through.
Traffic, yes, but not rush hour and it actually went quite smooth.
We will be heading north in March and will once again shot for the mid day time frame and will be in the slow lane..

paddler1954 · 02-12-2018, 05:36 PM

Stay at Fair Harbor RV Park at 75 exit 135 at Perry. Leave Fair Harbor at 8 AM and you will hit Atlanta around 10AM, stay on 75 straight through town. I second eating at The Swanson while in Perry.

manderson2228 · 02-12-2018, 05:43 PM

Misery.. Sheer Misery. No good time I live here.

CharlesinGA · 02-12-2018, 05:58 PM

South of Atlanta on I-75 at exit 198 is Highfalls State Park. This is 40 miles short of I-285. Nice park with campsites. Coming from the south (headed north) off the exit ramp turn right (east) and go a mile and a half and you are there. Office and ranger station is on the left before the bridge, campgrounds are split with some on the right before the bridge, and some on the left across the bridge.

DO NOT turn left to the office and ranger station. With a rig of that size, there is no place to turn it around up there. Either pull off at the Petro Market on the right directly across from the drive up to the office, or pull off to the right like you are going to the Dollar General and go past it and pull off to the left in a large parking lot, and walk the few hundred feet up to the office. This last choice will have you headed to the riverside campground, if you pull off in the Petro you will be past that but could make the campground across the bridge. Its a tight area, but worth the visit.

There is a private High Falls RV Park off to the left before the State Park, but I think it is mostly long term campers.

Look at the web site, this is a nice State Park, very scenic area.

High Falls State Park | State Parks & Historic Sites

The lanes are narrow on the I-75/85 downtown connector, but doable.
Downtown connector warning, stay about two lanes away from the right. The right lane is always ending in an exit, and you will have to constantly be moving to the left to stay away from the exits.

Charles

Triangle Drifter · 02-12-2018, 06:01 PM

Been around Atlanta a few times. Treat it like any major city. Avoid rush hours. Midday is OK. If there is a bypass highway around it, use it. Stay out of the right hand lane. Leave it for the locals to zip on & off. Stay out of the NASCAR lane on the left hand side. Make use of whatever is left & try not to find yourself in a double exit lane when you don't want to exit.

Atlanta is no fun but it is a village compared to places like NY. Go way out of your way to avoid that one.

A Traveler · 02-12-2018, 10:07 PM

I’ve driven the coach through Atlanta on I-75 several times, including twice at rush hour. I didn’t think it was a big deal.

It’s just traffic...

Shell925 · 02-13-2018, 04:19 AM

Harvest Moon RV Park in Adairsville Ga. is a good place north of Atlanta.

momdoc · 02-13-2018, 06:02 AM

We try to avoid it if we can and I must say last time we drove through staying on 75 it was not that bad.

70ChevelleSS · 02-13-2018, 06:33 AM

We came through January 13th, Saturday morning around 9:30. Sailed right through on I-75 , 60-65 MPH. Semis must take bypass, can't travel through downtown according to the signs I saw.

We stayed north of Atlanta, Cartersville, GA. Cartersville/Cassville-White KOA.