Ashville NC to Houston Tx /Avoiding Atlanta

I've done the Atlanta route lots of times. I've never had much of a problem taking I-85 to I-285 around the east side of town, and back to I-85 on the South side. Stay on I-85 south to Montgomery, then I-65 to Mobile, then I-10 and I-12 to Houston. There is always traffic around Atlanta, but no worse than around Houston. Just avoid the rush hours, and avoid the "downtown connector" and the north and west sides of I-285. I've sometimes get heavy traffic, but seldom slowed to a stop. Watch the signs for staying in the right lane and you should be alright. I would certainly not go way out of the way just to miss it!