Atlanta or not?

[FlyFish]

Have been taking Dallas to/from Charlotte via I40 for several years. I20 through Atlanta is shorter but have avoided Atlanta because of recommendations to avoid driving through Atlanta at all costs. Would like to take I20 to Atlanta and loop north via 285 to I85 not during 8a and 5p traffic. Is Atlanta really that bad or doable? What's your recommendation? Thanks.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyFish Is Atlanta really that bad or doable? What's your recommendation? Thanks.

Like anything else, even Manhattan is doable if the timing is right. Just transit Atlanta off-peak and you should be good to go. The Interstate infrastructure will move you along pretty quickly.

[Dirtbuster]

If you enter Atlanta after 9:30am, & leave before 3:30pm you should be good. North loop should be your best option!

[jbilling]

I have been travelling from Ontario Canada to Florida in April for the last 5yrs. We go straight through Atlanta I75 every year. No question time of day makes a difference but I have gone through at rush hour unfortunately and at worst it probably added 30-45minutes. I don't know what you are driving. I have a 43ft motorhome and 28' stacker. Lanes are narrow but if you are confident in what you are driving you will be fine.

Jon

[David49]

I totally agree with Dirtbuster. Avoid those times and the North Loop should be no problem. If you have internet capability during your travel, GA DOT has a very good web site for monitoring traffic conditions: NaviGAtor

[Dixieray53]

We just did the Atalanta to Birmingham on I85. Both times at about 4pm. Yeah there was traffic, but it was not a problem. Center lane 50-55 mph. And watching the loonies use all 4 lanes to exit D

[doc]

[QUOTE=Dixieray53;800894]We just did the Atalanta to Birmingham on I85. Both times at about 4pm. Yeah there was traffic, but it was not a problem. Center lane 50-55 mph. And watching the loonies use all 4 lanes to exit D[/QUOTE


Hmmmmmm???? Are you sure you were not on I-20 ? I-85 runs to Montgomery.

[Dixieray53]

Hmmmmmm???? Are you sure you were not on I-20 ? I-85 runs to Montgomery. [/QUOTE]

Sorry...I am sure it was I85..I just drive..DSO tells me where to go..

[FlyFish]

We did it on Monday between 10-3p. East to West, 85 to 285 to 20. Was very easy. Will do it again. Thanks for the advice. My home country of Dallas was worse on Wednesday about 3p.

[AFChap]

Our normal route through Atlanta is from I-85 South to I-20 East, or reverse. I quit using the "bypass" around Atlanta several years ago regardless of what vehicle I am driving as it was as bad or worse than going straight through. We have gone through the middle during rush hour with our 40' MH and towing. I would MUCH rather drive through Atlanta in rush hour than through the center of Dallas in rush hour, or through Houston ANYTIME.

[MegaRoadie]

Have made the I-75 thru downtown Atlanta run over 100 times over last 20 plus years. Did in 31 Ft TT, a 36 ft Kountry Air 5th wheel, C/K 3500 with Lance camper on, and in 33 ft Itasca Suncruiser...

Stay in center lanes, know what route you will take so you dont have to make snap decisions, stay around 50-55 mph, signal well in advance, and dont try it from 6:45 am to 8:30 am or from 4:00 pm till 6:00 pm if you can avoid it. Common sense will help a lot and knowing routes pays big dividends in keeping things calm. For the most part the downtown drivers are simply trying to get to/from work and I find that modifying my trip a bit is so much easier than trying to push thru at inappropriate times. There are great rest areas along this I-75 corridor. Pull in, have a great meal and a nice walk with DW and the dogs, maybe even a nap, allow the working guys and gals the road when they need it and be on your way.

I find the bypass traffic speeds, north or south to be 15 to 40 mph faster than traffic thru downtown and that kind of speed makes me uneasy ! Besides with the airport traffic on bypass it just makes no sense to me to do that.

[mscampers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyFish Have been taking Dallas to/from Charlotte via I40 for several years. I20 through Atlanta is shorter but have avoided Atlanta because of recommendations to avoid driving through Atlanta at all costs. Would like to take I20 to Atlanta and loop north via 285 to I85 not during 8a and 5p traffic. Is Atlanta really that bad or doable? What's your recommendation? Thanks.

I've found Atlanta not to be too bad (unless you are flying through on Delta!). Pick your time wisely to minimize delays and I drive straight through downtown when I'm heading to the east coast. The bypasses are too congested too. When pulling my camper, favor this route than going over the mountains on I-40 (albeit I-40 is a more scenic route.

[clarkgriswold]

There's always opinions and experience to back it up. So, all I can say is based on my experience I would follow I75 straight through Atlanta BUT NOT during morning or afternoon cummute times. I've done the bypass and found that it can be as busy as I75 during those non-commute times. ......just my opinion.

[Arch Hoagland]

I've been to 48 states and lots of big cities. Atlanta took the cake for the most 18 wheelers I've seen on the interstate. Beat L.A. even.

However, I would go through there again. It all seemed to move right along but that was at about 10am.

Driving through big cities is half the fun of RVing. Makes you appreciate the small ones!