Need Atlanta driving tips Quick!

[boatscr]

We will be driving south through Atlanta on I-75 tomorrow, 8/17/2014, and need advice on the best route to take. Talking to a few people, some say go right through the city. Others say the roads are very narrow and traffic heavy. Others say take take the I-285 bypass, but which way, right or left? I am not familiar with the I-285 traffic designations. Which is the best beltway side?

I am sure that any advice you will give will add at least a year or two on my life! Thanks in advance.

[LynnandCarol]

I drive 200 hundred miles out of the way to avoid that chaos! Same for Houston, and Dallas! Avoiding stress and living longer...lol

[keyspirate]

We drive thru Atlanta many times a year. We try to avoid rush hour but if we hit we live with it. Have tried all the ways but 75 is best and fastest. If you have 2 or more people in the vehicle you can use the HOV lanes pulling.:):)

[Duck]

We have driven through Atlanta many times with our trailer and have always driven straight through on I75. As other have said avoid rush hours and try to drive in the middle lanes. Lanes will drop off on both the left and right side.
Don

[Goostoff]

I had to go to Atlanta for some service work during the 96 Olypic games. We drove down and came into town at about 4AM. Traffic was still a lot heavier than I cared to navigate on strange highways. My time was limited so I got my crew started and then had to fly home so airport here we come. I can honestly say that I dont care to ever visit that city ever again. It was 75 to 80 MPH all the way and if there was a half a car length between you and the one ahead someone thought they had to get their big SUV in there.

The free trip to the olympics was cool though.

[bgum]

Best advice is to avoid it at all costs.

[DownTheAvenue]

I am sorry to say I have lived in the Atlanta area for 50+ years. The main key to surviving a drive through Atlanta is to avoid the rush hours which are typically 7 to 9 in the morning and 4 to 6 in the afternoon. The problem with driving through Atlanta is the lanes are narrow, people will jump in front of you leaving no space, and the lanes quickly become exit only lanes without notice. It is very confusing. While longer, I recommend from I75 North of the city, take I285 east to I675 south that rejoins I75 much south of the city and away from most of the Atlanta traffic.

[Krease]

Since you're going through on a Sunday, just take i75 straight through.

[jerem0621]

[Dick_B]

We drove thru Atlanta once and never again. There is no straight stretch of road longer than 100 yards. We take the bypass and follow the signs to Tampa; much more relaxing ride.
The previous comment that `it's not that bad' ought to tell you something. The bypass is not bad at all!

[Happily_Retired]

With 34 years in the Atlanta suburbs, all I can say is getting around or through the city can be very frustrating!

When driving the motor home we much prefer taking I-285 west and rejoining I-75 just south of the airport. Traffic is much better. We have gone straight through on I-75. The problem with a large rv is that cars are continually jumping in front of you leaving way too little stopping space. After one particularly hair raising experience we said never again!! Hence we drive slightly further on I-285.

If you go this way and for any reason miss the I-75 south exit just go a little further and take I-675 south. It will bring you to I-75 and it is a better less traveled road than I-75. We often take it by choice!!

We highly recommend using the GPS with lane advisors when driving through Atlanta!

Have a great trip!

[WeBeFulltimers]

edatlanta wrote:
I lived and worked in the Atlanta area for 15 years. I would avoid the rush periods and just go straight through. I285 around the north side of town is a "lot longer" and I285 south of I75 gets you close to the airport traffic. Just go straight through on I75 after 10:00am and before 2:00pm. It isn't that bad. Just get in about the 3rd lane from the left and stay there. The right lanes tend to become exit only lanes frequently as you pass through Atlanta. When you join up with I85 in downtown Atlanta move over to the 3rd lane from the left and stay there.

It isn't that bad at all.

Do it this way.

[Bumpyroad]

edatlanta wrote:
I lived and worked in the Atlanta area for 15 years. I would avoid the rush periods and just go straight through. I285 around the north side of town is a "lot longer" and I285 south of I75 gets you close to the airport traffic. Just go straight through on I75 after 10:00am and before 2:00pm. It isn't that bad. Just get in about the 3rd lane from the left and stay there. The right lanes tend to become exit only lanes frequently as you pass through Atlanta. When you join up with I85 in downtown Atlanta move over to the 3rd lane from the left and stay there.

It isn't that bad at all.

I wanted to turn onto I-85 and was in one of the left lanes and the exit sort of sprung up on the right. glad I didn't have the RV that day. I stopped at the welcome center that am and asked them for advice. checking the time/distance they said just go straight thru.

bumpy

[edatlanta]

I lived and worked in the Atlanta area for 15 years. I would avoid the rush periods and just go straight through. I285 around the north side of town is a "lot longer" and I285 south of I75 gets you close to the airport traffic. Just go straight through on I75 after 10:00am and before 2:00pm. It isn't that bad. Just get in about the 3rd lane from the left and stay there. The right lanes tend to become exit only lanes frequently as you pass through Atlanta. When you join up with I85 in downtown Atlanta move over to the 3rd lane from the left and stay there.

It isn't that bad at all.