Driving north through to Duluth

Hello,

I will be driving from Florida through to Duluth, GA, and I am hoping to avoid Atlanta (no offence- just don%26#39;t like driving through large cities). I have been studying the maps, and it looks like I can avoid Atlanta...is this correct? Any help you can offer is most appreciated.

thanks, Sinead

Driving north through to Duluth

You can avoid downtown Atlanta by taking I-75 to I-675 and then I-285 north around to I-85. But you%26#39;re not really avoiding Atlanta, or Atlanta traffic. The worst stretch will likely be between I-20 and I-85 on I-285, or I-75 before you hit I-675, depending on the time of day. Check out http://www.georgia-navigator.com or dial 511 from anywhere in Georgia for up-to-the-minute info on traffic, construction delays, etc.

Driving north through to Duluth

It would be very difficult for you to avoid atlanta. The better strategy is to come through Atlanta during a non-rush hour time (before 6am, 10am-2pm, or after 7pm). To detour atlanta, you would have to go many miles out of your way, and would have to drive through many small towns that have a lot of redlights and speed traps --- and it would increase your chances of getting lost.

If you%26#39;re seeing I-285 on the map and thinking you can avoid it, hopefully we can change your mind. I think coming straight through on 75/85 is much easier than 285. 285 can be confusing when it intersects with the other interstates. There is so much on/off traffic that the lane-changing from other drivers can get very intimidating. Don%26#39;t get me wrong - you get that on 75/85, but you just get less of it.

As the other experts have said, try to avoid rush hour traffic and don%26#39;t worry about avoiding Atlanta. Before I lived here, I found it fascinating to drive through and see the baseball stadium and the skyscrapers.

Not sure what your aversion is, but if you do stay on I-85/I-75, just be real sure to watch the signs. One of the first things I noticed the first time I ever came here without guidance was that being left or right of the center of your highway can vary based on whether you%26#39;re staying on I-85 or I-75. It%26#39;s almost too easy to mess this up if you don%26#39;t watch. Hope this doesn%26#39;t add to the stress! :)

Thanks very much for your help...and my aversion IS the stress :)

benefit