Bypassing Atlanta

Just don't hit Knoxville at rush hour times. Between 10am and 3pm is usually good. Asheville should not be a problem either. The I-40/I-26 route is your best bet.

Yep I do remember when there wasn't an I26 in the mountains. We use to switch to the back roads to get up to Hendersonville and Brevard. Still, I40/I26 through Ashville usually isn't that bad.

There is a bridge construction on I40 west of Knoxville at Harriman, TN, just east of ext 350. This has the road down to one lane.

Beeen there done that.
Maybe he I40 route to I26 will offer some refreshing new scenery.
Not looking forward to Knoxvilleee though, nor Asheeville since 72.
Remember when it was a spot in the road?

sremsing wrote:
If you avoid typical rush hour times it really won't be worth going around.

Ditto, more so if you use the HOV lane.

My experience driving through Atlanta from Cincinnati on I-75 has been less than successful. I drive a 'C' and pull a Jeep four down. Maybe its changed, but when I would get settled in the right lane, it would exit and a new lane on the far left would appear. Nobody driving a car wanted to let me merge. (I don't blame them) If I was able to move over, I was again in the exit lane.
I even drove thru in the middle of the night once - and got stuck in a traffic jam. I finally arrived at the problem. A guy in a car got stuck in traffic in the far left lane. He'd been there so long that he fell asleep. People in the next lane were letting other drivers merge in front of them and nobody was blowing their horn. Heck, he may still be there.
Now, I take I-65 south to the Gulf and I-10 east to pick up either I-75 on the Gulf side or I-95 on the Atlantic side. Its a longer drive, but nobody has to pry my fingers off of the steering wheel when I get there.

kohldad wrote:
Mid TN to myrtle beach you would want to take I40 to I26. No need to get anywhere near Atlanta.

I would take his advice.

However,
Atlanta is not so bad, just avoid rush hours and take your time. Most people are very courteous about letting you change lanes etc. if you run the blinkers and be patient. Pay no attention to the horns, they are just saying hello. :)

Mid TN to myrtle beach you would want to take I40 to I26. No need to get anywhere near Atlanta.

You want to AVOID Atlanta. Terryallen has it right. This route is great.

I took the bypass around Atlanta pulling the trailer once. It seemed to take a lot longer and traffic was heavy and fast. Now, I just drive straight through and it seems much easier.

sremsing wrote:
If you avoid typical rush hour times it really won't be worth going around.

Agree...planning your trip around the typical morning/evening rush hours will make all the difference. We have taken the beltway around Atlanta a couple of times and have concluded that staying on I-75 is better...same heavy traffic with better roads...the beltway roads are terrible!