Headed to Umatilla, Florida

This topic has been beat to death many times. Truth is all the routes around or thru the Atlanta area have heavy traffic almost all the time. Rush hour is a horror story. But most of the time non rush hour moves ok just a lot of traffic and speeders changing lanes. If there is any kind of accident you will be stuck in a long delay. I have sailed thru most of the time but when its bad its REALLY bad. Whenever possible I avoid Atlanta. Same for Baltimore/Washington or Boston/NY. Sometimes an extra 100 miles is well worth it.

Come on down.................. I have made the drive through Atlanta several times coming from the East on I-85 and coming south on I-75. If I were to come from the east and found the traffic was heavy on I-85, I would get off on I-285 at spaghetti junction and take it to I-475 and then come to I-75 south of Atlanta. Stay on I-75 until you get to Exit 358 in Florida, This will get you on SR 326 which will bypass Ocala traffic and link up with US-40 east of Ocala. US-40 will take you through the Ocala National Forrest to US-19. US-19 will take you south to Umatilla. The drive from I-75 is pleasant and the traffic is almost non existent ( except during commuter time).

I, for one, do NOT recommend taking a 5ver or TT OR MH THROUGH Atlanta at ANY time! Taking the Perimeter, a.k.a. I-285, "West" (even though you'll be traveling SOUTH! Just follow the signs for Birmingham/Tampa) is a) Not any further than 75 through downtown and b) WAY less stressful than dealing with the Canyon/Mixmaster that is 75/85/20 just south of downtown.

When we're headed for NC, I always time our arrival in Hotlanta for be between 11 AM & 2 PM; take I-285 around to I-85 N. and light out for South Carolina! There are, at times, slowdowns; but rarely does traffic come to a standstill like it does downtown.

Difference of opinion on the Atlanta route. Search this Forum for Atlanta and read the opinions. We always follow the bypass toward Tampa.

We used to be in Crystal River, moved 15 miles east to Inverness. Still close
By, maybe 30 or so miles.

hey Capt Bru...we are kinda neighbors I think!

I'd stay right on 75 the whole trip.....95 out of your way I would think!

If your in Knoxville, take I75. Don't worry about Atlanta, go straight through on 75. Best time in the middle of the day or weekends. Come on down and enjoy Florida.