Florida to Townsend, TN

[djsamuel]

I'm planning a trip from Florida to Townsend, TN in September. Believe it or not, there is no question about Atlanta. I plan on driving straight through on 75 at an appropriate time. However, my plan is to avoid the Chattanooga area, and exit 75 north of Atlanta and get on Rt 411 north into Maryville, and then turning east onto Rt 321.

It looks like a simple and relaxing drive along 411. Am I missing anything?

Thanks.

[Bird_Freak]

TundraTower wrote:
Sorry, I got 411 and 441 across Newfound Gap switched in my mind. Apparently what ever I'm smoking is a little strong.

And yes, both our mis-adventures around Chatta were on Saturday. We actually wondered if that might be the real problem with everyone out enjoying the good weather and trying to get that last outing in before school starts. The times we've actually made it thru the breach in the last 2 years has been on weekdays.

That smoke can do that to you! :B

[TundraTower]

Sorry, I got 411 and 441 across Newfound Gap switched in my mind. Apparently what ever I'm smoking is a little strong.

And yes, both our mis-adventures around Chatta were on Saturday. We actually wondered if that might be the real problem with everyone out enjoying the good weather and trying to get that last outing in before school starts. The times we've actually made it thru the breach in the last 2 years has been on weekdays.

[SageCrispin]

TundraTower wrote:
Not sure what you guys are smoking, but Chattanooga this summer is a disaster.

Wow, no arguing with experience, but...

Spent all afternoon and evening on 7/28 out and about in Choo Choo town and never got held up once. Admittedly, I don't remember being there on a weekend. When we head to the aquarium, I guess we generally shoot for the weekdays.

As they say, YMMV....

Safe travels....

[Bird_Freak]

Have a good trip and watch your speed thru Benton Tenn.

[djsamuel]

Thanks for all of the help. I'll be coming up from the south, so I think I'll give 411 into Maryville a shot. As far as Atlanta goes, I'll probably stick with my plan of trying to time the drive through there as best I can to minimize traffic. Thanks again! 🙂

[Bird_Freak]

TundraTower wrote:
PS - 411 is not all that bad. You can avoid going thru Gatlinburg by turning left onto 321 at the Sugarlands Visitor Center just after you come down the mountain and before you enter Gatlinburg. That is the backway into Townsend and rarely heavy with traffic except the fall.

I am trying to figure out what you are smoking! :h If you take 411 into Maryville and get on 321 to Townsend it turns left and goes across Wears Valley into PF. Not Sugarland or Gatlinburg.
Op just wants Townsend so really PF and Gatlinburg doesn't even matter.

[TundraTower]

PS - 411 is not all that bad. You can avoid going thru Gatlinburg by turning left onto 321 at the Sugarlands Visitor Center just after you come down the mountain and before you enter Gatlinburg. That is the backway into Townsend and rarely heavy with traffic except the fall.

[TundraTower]

Not sure what you guys are smoking, but Chattanooga this summer is a disaster.

We went I-24 WB thru there last Saturday 7/25 headed to Smokys from north ALa. Came to a dead stop about 10 miles from Mocasin Bend and MapQuest said everything was stopped even beyond that point. We bailed off on I-59 south and invented a backroads detour thru Georgia.

Coming back Saturday 8/1, MapQuest showed more stopped traffic on I-24 WB on both sides of the I-75 exchange. We again went thru Georgia thru Dalton and got back on at Nickajack. WB was moving thankfully, but I-24 EB was stacking all the way back to the South Pittsburg exit.

I can't find any news of wrecks or other problems. There is a little construction but other times it shows to be flowing. Chattanooga for us has always been a growing problem for stacking and stopping, mainly because the interstate goes THRU town and not around it. And once you are trapped, there aren't many escape routes other than wading thru downtown with our 51 feet long rig.

We will make more trips in that direction this fall, but Chattanooga is officially off our radar. The drive thru Georgia isn't bad, and at least you are moving at a decent speed.

[Bird_Freak]

jaycocamprs wrote:
If I were to take US-27 around Atlanta I would take I-75 up to Tifton. Then go west to Columbus Ga, US-82/GA-520/US-280. And at Rome take GA-53 over to Calhoun GA. There you can pick up I-75, or GA-225 to Chatsworth and US-411. US-411 and US-27 run together awhile on the south side of Rome, but US-411 then goes east to Cartersville. No way I would take US-27 all the way into Chattanooga.

If you take this route you can also stay on 53 when in Calhoun and it will go straight to 411. I live just off 53.

[TNGW1500SE]

jolooote wrote:
I hate Atlanta and we go the easy route. Go I-75 to Macon, Ga.Get on I-16 South for about a mile. Exit onto Rt.129 to 441 at Eatonton or Milledgeville. 441 all the way thru the park. Go up thru Pigion Forge and 321 to Townsend. Yes, its a longer route. Some traffic in Pigeon F. Whatever you do, DO NOT take Rt.129 around the west side of the park. A 10 mile stretch of this road is known as 'The Dragons Tail'. It has, somehow, become the property of car and motorcycle RACERS! They do NOT take kindly to RVs on THEIR road.

I wouldn't want to take my RV down the dragon either. There's no way i could stay in my lane.

[Rangerman40]

Chattanooga is a cake walk any time of day compared to Atlanta. With that being said, when I head to Florida from Ohio every year I just take 75 south and don't worry about it. Chattanooga is the least of concerns I have on that road.

[jaycocamprs]

If I were to take US-27 around Atlanta I would take I-75 up to Tifton. Then go west to Columbus Ga, US-82/GA-520/US-280. And at Rome take GA-53 over to Calhoun GA. There you can pick up I-75, or GA-225 to Chatsworth and US-411. US-411 and US-27 run together awhile on the south side of Rome, but US-411 then goes east to Cartersville. No way I would take US-27 all the way into Chattanooga.

[johnhicks]

From Clermont I'd take the Turnpike to SR-44, SR-44 west to US-19, US-19 up to I-10, then pick up US-27 again on the north side of Tallahassee. Up through central Florida on US-27 is going to take forever.

Take the I-185 bypass around Columbus, Ga. so you won't waste a couple of hours going through town.

I've gone through Chattanooga a couple of times on US-27 and it wasn't horrible; far, far better than Atlanta.

[tegu69]

Just figure in about 4 more hours into the trip taking 27 from Clermont.