How To Miss Atlanta

[Gneiss Guy]

I'm heading south in a month or so and will need to leave mid-week. If I stay on I-75, that will put me into Metro Atlanta at a time I don't like to pull a trailer. Can anybody suggest a route that will connect the Marietta area with I-75 south of Atlanta, or even staying off I-75 entirely. We are heading toward the Ocala, FL area. I usually zip straight through Atlanta on Sunday morning, but don't want to wait that long this year. Any good camping places along your suggested route would be helpful too. Thanks.

Richard

[SeeMore]

I've lived in the metro area for 40+ years and have yet to find an alternative that takes less time (or twice as much) than the interstate if pulling a trailer that route. Since Atlanta is about 4 hours from Greenback, if you pass between 10 AM and 2PM and use I-285 on the west side it should not be that trying an experience. Of course, the caveat is an accident clogging the highway of choice on the day you arrive.

[Mrjkq]

I hate just the thought of Atlanta except on Sunday morning. If I have to I take the bypass as stated above but not during the AM or PM drive times.

[AWCHIEF]

I happily will drive 100 miles and 2 hours out my way to avoid Atlanta 24/7. I enjoy driving secondary roads. It is possible to drive from one end of Georgia to the other and pretty much avoid main interstates. It is the journey not the destination that matters. Spending some time studying maps will uncover those perfect drives.

[Roadtech]

You can't get there from there...

[Mike1997]

I lived there for many years and would never consider taking my Airstream thru the downtown connector unless it was early morning or late night, even then you run the risk of hitting construction traffic. Once your into the metro area only way to avoid the downtown connector is to take the I-285 bypass around the west side till it reconnects to I-75 near the airport on the south side.

If you have plenty of leisure time....Get off I-75 at Calhoun onto SR53, this leads into Rome and changes to SR27 which is mostly 4 lane; follow it south to Carrollton and Newnan. From there pick up SR16 which goes to Griffin and intersects with I-75. Sounds like you will be traveling in mid day so you should not have to worry about school buses in the rural areas until about 3pm.

Travel safe.

[nvestysly]

With the title of this thread I thought I was going to read about a beauty pageant! Doh!

I agree with AWCHIEF - if you don't want to take I-75 straight through Atlanta then you're going to need to go quite a bit west. Take the back roads and enjoy the scenery if you like. Otherwise, the window of relatively light traffic seems to be more narrow than it used to be. 10 - 2 maybe, but 11 - 1 is probably better.

I don't hesitate to drive right through Atlanta on I-75 or I-85 but I do avoid rush hour if possible. I've found the I-285 perimeter loop to be a time consuming proposition compared to simply driving through downtown.

[StrmyWeather]

I agree with a couple of things that have been posted. I would think that leaving Greenback in the morning, or even in the evening, would get you through Atlanta at a time you're more comfortable with, using either 285 (west side) or 75 through downtown and, if you're wanting to drive straight through, that would be your best option. We use the interstates often when traveling between locals: ie we'll drive interstates through to Arizona and then start driving back roads so we have more time there to explore that area.

If you're not in a hurry, there's probably no bad backroad route that'll take you safely from TN to Ocala and it's a great way to see some beautiful country. That said, you'll have to make your own decision on which route and where to stop because there are so many different ways to go and the route and time it takes will dictate where you stop. You can take advantage of State and County parks along those routes when available.

Hope you have a great trip.
Richard

[Jwestman]

Develop a talent, look good in a swim suit and learn how to walk in six inch heels.

(Sorry, the devil made me do it.)

[randyc]

I would highly suggest NOT taking I-285 West. We live in NW Georgia and take at least one trip a year to Florida. Last year we decided to try 285, what a nightmare. The road was nothing but a continual bump, one after another. When we got to our location we found that practically all the clothes on hangers had been bounced off the hanger rod and we swore we were never going back on that side of the bypass. I've been on the East side which is much smoother but is a longer route. I'd follow the other suggestions, get thru Atlanta before 6 a.m. or between 10 and 2.

[Chaplain Kent]

[QUOTE=nvestysly;1894446]With the title of this thread I thought I was going to read about a beauty pageant! Doh!

I was expecting a sad story about fond remembrances of the fair city of Atlanta.
This said, I remember our maiden voyage many years ago prior to GPS and my knowledge of proper hitching and safe towing. We hauled our trailer through Atlanta during rush hour and an ice storm. Today I think nothing of hauling the trailer anywhere at anytime.

[crispyboy]

Not sure how much time you have but this fall we took US 441 from Florida to north Georgia and then home to northern KY. It was a wonderful drive in comparison to being on stressful I-75 through Georgia. The slow part was getting back to I-75 from a stay in Helen, Ga.
If you can't do the alternate route then hit Atlanta after 9 pm at night.

[skalywag]

I live in Nashville and would rather eat lint than drive a TT thru Atlanta during peak hours. We take I-65 south toward Birmingham and use a very nice 4 lane thru Montgomery to Cordele GA.
Best of luck.

[Roadtech]

I would take Mike1997's mostly 2 lane route or if you want more Interstate/4 lanes you can do the following:
When you get to Chattanooga, jog west on I24 to I59 and take I59 to Gadsden, AL.
Take Hwy 431 To Opelika, AL
Take Hwy 280 to Columbus, GA
Take Hwy 80/96 to I75 south of Macon, GA.

Most all of that is 4 lane highways.

[Seagars]

There is due to planning incompetence 25 years ago NO WAY around metro Atlanta.
11 am or 8ish pm and you can usually get through easily.
It's really pretty easy to navigate.
Interstate construction is mostly 75 South usually.

[xrvr]

If you go east first, take us441 all the way to Ocala. We use this route to Ohio at least once a year from Gainesville, Florida.

[Mike S.]

There is construction on the north side of Marietta. It starts right at the exit for wade Green Rd (exit number 280) and goes until 285. The construction is for a bi-directional toll road, and also for the new Braves stadium. Maybe look at the GA DOT site and see if they plan on closing any lanes at night. They have been closing 3 of the 4 until 5 am.

[Jim & Susan]

Originally Posted by Mike S.

There is construction on the north side of Marietta. It starts right at the exit for wade Green Rd (exit number 280) and goes until 285. The construction is for a bi-directional toll road, and also for the new Braves stadium. Maybe look at the GA DOT site and see if they plan on closing any lanes at night. They have been closing 3 of the 4 until 5 am.

The state DOT just finished the toll lanes on the south side of Atlanta on I-75 in Henry county. Supposed to open "early this year", whatever that means. Oh, and you can't use them unless you have one of those dashboard electronic toll gadgets from Georgia, Florida or North Carolina. The toll lanes are going to fix all of our traffic woes down here. I'm sure the same on the north side.

Ok, my sarcasm aside......I have towed thru the middle of downtown several times, but as others have noted, only on the weekends or middle of the day. I-285 on the west side is "better" than it was a couple of years ago because the DOT did that concrete surface grooving thing, but they skipped all the bridges. Road surface is now in pretty good shape, but the bridges are still a mess.

I like the Hwy 441 route or the detour down I-65 to Columbus to US 80. Good roads on both those routes of march. I've traveled those roads recently and they are in good shape thru interesting country. ( I drive A LOT for work and pleasure). The Hwy 16 route thru Carrolton is not all that great, but doable. More narrow road for the most part.

Hope this helps a bit.

Jim

[Roadtech]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

I like the Hwy 441 route or the detour down I-65 to Columbus to US 80

Don't you mean I59? I65 is way west of where he will be coming down.

[Jim & Susan]

Originally Posted by Roadtech

Don't you mean I59? I65 is way west of where he will be coming down.

YUP, my mistake. Sorry for the confusion.
Jim