I-75 Southbound - Avoid Chattanooga?

[2chiefsRus]

wondering if it is a good idea to jump off I-75 and take Hwy 60 on the east side of Chattanooga? Any thoughts from the locals? On I-75 now in Tennessee for the night, heading to central Florida near I-75.

[colliehauler]

hornet28 wrote:
I never use either bypass around Atlanta anymore just straight through. The east bypass is especially long. It doesn't matter where a traffic problem is it's still a problem so I take the shorter way

This is what I have found as well. In addition I go through on Sundays. Makes the drive so much more pleasant.

[Sam_Spade]

2chiefsRus wrote:
And by the way for everyone concerned about Atlanta, we went around on the west side bypass with no trouble ......

Glad that part of your trip went OK but that is NOT usually the best choice. Semi's are not allowed through downtown on 75/85 so they ALL are on the bypass.....and it usually is a big mess even if it is moving.

[jaycocamprs]

The Cleveland to Dalton bypass looks real good on a map. But there is no direct connection between Dalton Pike and APD40. You must use McGrady Dr, which is basically the access road to Walmart. Dalton Pike is 2 lane to the state line. Cleveland Hwy is 4 lane. As you enter Dalton the speed limit drops and the number of lights increases. The N Bypass US-41/76 is what you take take back to I-75, again 4 lane.
The McGrady Dr and N Bypass areas can become very congested in late afternoon, and early morning. Which are the time most likely to have slowdowns on I-75

[2chiefsRus]

Thank you jaycocamprs!

[jaycocamprs]

I think you mean TN-60/GA-71, Cleveland TN to Dalton GA. Road is ok, not a bad detour around Chattanooga. But if traffic is flowing on I-75 not really a time saver. TN-30 to US-411 would work well also, Athens TN to Cartersville GA.

[2chiefsRus]

well thanks to everyone who replied about Atlanta even though I asked about Chattanooga 🙂 We ended up staying on I-75 along the east side of Chattanooga instead of trying 60. And by the way for everyone concerned about Atlanta, we went around on the west side bypass with no trouble until we got back on I-75 on the south side where traffic was very slow today.

[Sam_Spade]

missnmountains wrote:
As said earlier avoid Atlanta at all costs.

Ken

Not good advice, Ken.

"at all costs" might be a worse choice. Sometimes much worse.

Ken (who presently is IN Atlanta).

[Sam_Spade]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:

Atlanta is on our never again list.

In order for Atlanta to not be a problem, you must understand their schedule.

The morning rush hour inbound starts about 6 AM and doesn't thin out until about 10. In the afternoon, outbound congestion starts about 3 and lasts until about 7.

That is a day with no significant crashes or construction.

[hornet28]

I never use either bypass around Atlanta anymore just straight through. The east bypass is especially long. It doesn't matter where a traffic problem is it's still a problem so I take the shorter way

[bgum]

We go through Chattanooga 4 times per year and have never had any problems.

[lj2654]

We didn't have any issues with Chattanooga but Atlanta was a pain. Missed the bypass by being in the wrong lane and no chance to get over. Went thru town with the crazy lane changers. But we made it.

[missnmountains]

We go through there all of the time. Never had an issue. There are two campgrounds just south of Chattanooga that we like: Best Holiday Trav-L-Park and Battlefield.

As said earlier avoid Atlanta at all costs.

Ken

[2chiefsRus]

coolmom42 wrote:
Very very early morning, before 6 AM, or mid-day, or late night...and Chattanooga isn't too bad. Check TDOT Smartway traffic for current conditions. I-75 will keep moving unless there is a wreck, just slow.

Thanks for the info, but how is Highway 60?

[SDcampowneroper]

Chattanooga was easy last week mid morning. Atlanta a 2 hour nightmare the day before, took 2 hours to get through on I 24e to I 75n 3-5 pm. We thought that going into Atlanta at 3, before rush hour we would be good to slide through. Not so. dry roads , Wrecks galore.
We overnighted at Altoona dam an hour short of our reserved campsite near Chattanooga due to my frazzled nerves.
Atlanta is on our never again list.