[Eric]

Chris, The last time through Atlanta from Charleston, I traveled the bypass southern route. It wasn’t bad due to it being a Sunday, but still quite busy with all of the exits in the small suburbs. Drive straight through, you’ll see all of the crazy drivers for sure.

JimH

[Archived]

We might just get lucky with timing, but we always go straight thru. Not had any issues and I prefer atlanta over nashville

[Ron]

Go straight through. Traffic is still light…for Atlanta…due to Covid.

[Loc]

Straight through and you can use the HOV lane.

[DON]

We have driven both the loop and through town numerous times. The loop tends to be quicker at peak hours unless there is construction. I am driving from Houston to North Georgia tomorrow. We will take I-285 on the west side of town from I-85 up to I-75. I will report tomorrow night.

I am going to avoid going through downtown given recent protests. One thing to keep in mind, the Wendy’s that was burned in Atlanta is one block from I-85/I-75 (Exit 244) just south of downtown. According to Atlanta media, armed protesters are in occupancy at that location.

[Thomas]

Thank you very much everyone for your helpful information.

the way things are now we can’t be careful enough.

I talked to a friend working 4 blocks from the Chop zone in Seattle and he said that they literally had a four lane highway blocked off.

thanks again!

Chris

[DON]

Update. We came through Atlanta on Thursday afternoon. We hit the I-285 / I-85 intersection at 4:55 pm (not great planning on our part but that is a whole other story). I expected a long, slow commute up I-285 west to I-75 and then I-575 north of the loop where we turn off. To my surprise, other than about a three minute slow down where I-20 crosses the loop, we traveled at posted speeds. We were headed north. It was not the same situation for travelers heading south from I-75 on I-285 west. There was about a 9 mile back up (bumper to bumper) from I-20 north. Part of this is normal traffic but there were also two accidents mixed in.

[John]

I live in North Georgia just South of Chattanooga and go through Atlanta regularly back and forth to the South side frequently. Also, I’m a native of Atlanta and have lived there all of my life.

That being said, go right up the middle, or down the middle, as Tom said, and use the HOV lane, for which you are legal. The perimeter, I-285, can be very dangerous due to that being the route that the trucks are required to use.

There shouldn’t be any problem from the unrest, since that takes place in midtown to the East of the interchange system if anything is going on.

[ed]

Thank you guys! This is very helpful information.

Current first hand news is always good!