Avoiding Atlanta

[NCTeddyBearLady]

My husband and I are avid RV's and are planning to visit my father in Texas this Christmas. We live in Western North Carolina and make that trip usually by plane but this time we plan to take our new-to-us Newmar, Mountain Aire (38.5' long). Needless to say we wish to avoid the twisty mountain roads that are the shortest route to I20, our preferred route to Daddy. Further, we wish to avoid the insane traffic around Atlanta.

I do most of the driving and am completely comfortable driving our big rig even on narrow roads. I am, however, not happy holding up traffic the way I must to take on the tight turns on the very narrow, windy roads between here and Atlanta. When we look at a map, we can find work-arounds for the worst windy roads but are having no success finding a work-around for Atlanta. Even at 3:00 a.m. driving inside the ring road around Atlanta is confusing and a traffic nightmare. We don't live in Atlanta so don't know ways to stay outside that ring road and off windy roads with our big rig.

If we drive to Atlanta in our car, we come down 276 to route 11 connecting with I85 at the NC/SC state line. That road is passable for our RV but slowing to safely make those tight turns will back traffic up for miles. To avoid doing that, I will opt to take 64 west through Cashiers and use that route to intersect with route 11. It is windy but not as bad as the other route.

Any one who can make some suggestions about that, let me know. We plan to leave on the 20th if we can find a work around. If not, we will try to hit Atlanta at 3:00 a.m. that same morning. That is not the best choice for us as neither of us do well driving at night. We can drive to a campground near Atlanta the day before, wait for the wee hours of the morning to arrive before we enter the traffic pattern around Atlanta and then catch up on our sleep once we get past it. We would rather not do this as it loses us a full day with my Dad as we'll have to do it going and coming and must be back here by the Monday following Christmas.

Suggestions? Advice?

[jerseyjim]

Not to go on a tangent...or a thread hijack, but "traffic" is maybe just what one is used to.
For instance, some years ago, we were told that I-10 thru Houston was a nightmare. What with construction, etc, etc.,
What we found out was that it was no worse than I-95 thru Philadelphia...a road we use often.

[Lumpty]

Atlanta rush hour can be hit or miss. My last time through was a Monday afternoon in early October, approaching from the west on I-20 East, headed to Braselton northeast off of I-85. I chose to head into downtown to avoid the I-285 perimeter in Cobb County. It was sucky, but not terrible, based on my NYC metro-based frame of reference. From the I-20 and I-75/I-85 interchange, it took us about 1:30 total. Could have been much, much worse.

My son routinely has to drive through as he goes to school at Auburn, and it is the only real way to head home, as well as driving instructor jobs he has at Road Atlanta in Braselton and Atlanta Motorsports Park in Dawsonville. Those trips should take 2 hours for the first and maybe 2:30 for the latter. He's had a few that have been over 4.....

[dodge_guy]

Atlanta is no big deal. We went through with our Excursion and TT (55ft) on a Friday afternoon in rushour on our way to Disney. I wouldn`t think twice about doing it again!

[mpierce]

sunny jeep wrote:
Between 10 am and 2 pm going threw Atlanta is not to bad.usely just stay in one and take it easy.

I drive semi between MN and FL, and go thru Atlanta all the time. The info above is correct. Barring an accident, the middle of the day is fine. There will be traffic, but it will be moving at speed limit.

Or, before 5 AM, or after 7-8 PM.

[NCTeddyBearLady]

Oooops, I meant to say we left on the 20th and got back on the 28th. All other info is as stated.
Shelley

[NCTeddyBearLady]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. My husband and I hit Atlanta at midnight on the 28th. Traffic was still an issue but not so bad that we worried we would not be able to make the necessary lane changes in time for our chosen exits. Once through Atlanta, we stopped for a few hours sleep in a Wal-Mart parking lot. We were back on the road as the sun was coming up on the 29th. We made the trip across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and just over the state line into Texas by bed time. We spent a few very restful hours of sleep at the Welcome Center and then headed on the Austin on the 30. The trip was uneventful except for the condition of the roads. We live in North Carolina where gas prices are high. A part of the tax we pay on gas goes to keep our state's roads in reasonable repair. On our trip, we passed through South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Although road conditions in North Carolina are far from perfect, South Carolina roads were worse. Georgia's roads were on a par with South Carolina's but Alabama's were worse, Mississippi's worse than Alabama's but without a doubt Louisiana's roads were a whole new level of bad. Coming through Shreveport, the roads were so bad that the windshield wiper on the passenger side of our big rig rattled loose from the motor and stopped working all together. As it was raining at the time, we were very concerned that the other one would give up the ghost too. We got lucky and had the issue addresses when we got to my dad's house. I have not seen roads in such grave disrepair since I visited East Germany just after the wall came down. Things were almost as bad as road conditions in the former Yugoslavia during the war.

On our return trip, we stopped just short of Atlanta and hit town at 6:00 a.m. the following morning. Traffic was still an issue but not as heavy as it was at midnight on the 28th. It took about half an hour to clear the city. We are grateful so many of you helped us with your suggestions.

Thank you all,
Shelley

[garry1p]

I lived in Brevard back in the 70's working for RCA at the NASA tracking station made the trip over 276 to Greenville hundreds of times.

I would think about going to Hendersonville to pick up I-26 to I 85 and plan to overnight before Atlanta. Best time thru Atlanta is 5AM to 6AM on any day. If traveling on Sat or Sun around 9am to noon is not so bad.

As others have said a GPS to keep you in the correct lanes is a great help.

[conceptumator]

Be sure to check the construction between Memphis and Little Rock. We didn't have much trouble going through there in October this year but we spent a couple of hours dead stopped at that locale more than once previously. The crew was completely shutting down the interstate in both directions for extended periods in the middle of the day. You can detour slightly south around Forrest City and back into the interstate and miss it if you plan out your trip.

[tom076]

Agree with I-40 option as a viable choice, weather permitting, I traveled both ways to Ind. in late October. Had limited construction in Arkansas west of Memphis. Would go from Memphis to Little Rock, then Southwest on I 30 to Texas via Texarcana. I see construction everywhere no more no less.

[conceptumator]

How Far East to get to I95? Just head south there and hit I20 straight through Atlanta. I'm certainly no "expert driver" but I have navigated Atlanta on several occasions (as recently as early November this year) and not had any issues. I'm driving a 31' gasser and pulling a Tacoma on a car hauler for a total length of about 55'. Your rig should be head over heels easier to drive than mine. I've run both routes - the loop and right through town on I75 - no difference either way, just avoid rush hour and have a good GPS that tells you which Kane to be in. Good luck!

[JumboJet]

NCTeddyBearLady wrote:
Sorry Guys. I should have been clearer. We live in Brevard, NC and are headed to see my dad in Georgetown, Texas, just north of Austin.

Well, you are in for an excruciating trip no matter how you get to Dallas. I35 south of Dallas is under construction ALL the way to Austin. The road is being expanded to 3 lanes in both directions for the entire route. Lots of delays and frustrated drivers!

[aviator]

I also travel Atlanta in a 45' with a car in tow several times a year. Just keep an eye on the look out for which lanes you need to be in. A GPS will help with the lanes. Go slow and watch ahead for proper lane and you will not have any problem. Early morning or 10am to 3pm are best. Also, Sundays do not seem to be bad until after 12 noon. Game days or other big activity in town all is off. I would rather go through Atlanta than try for any two lane road around Atlanta. You will never know the condition of the smaller roads as to accidents or closures for some other reason. I think you are worried for nothing.

[Pop-Pop_C]

We did loop Sun Am. No traffic!

[Bird_Freak]

Wow, I don't see the problem with Atlanta. First off . stay off 285. The ring as you call it. Straight down I85 to I75 south, down a few exits to I20 West. 2 turns thru Atl. Avoid rush hour and its no problem at all.