Road Trip to Florida

[golfnut]

Later this month, my BIL and I are going to Orlando from Chicago for a little golf.

Some questions for the road warriors on this site:

How do you avoid the gridlock in Atlanta? Back in 2016 , we left the Chicago area around 3:30 in the am and were making great time until we hit Atlanta and just crawled for like 2 hours (maybe more). I never saw traffic like that in my life (note I have lived in the Chicago area my whole life).

When does the Atlanta rush hours begin and end? Are there any alternatives avoiding Atlanta? Unfortunately, it appears we'll be hitting Atlanta on a Friday.

Also, any recs. regarding hotels in southern georgia? We have a few rules - inexpensive, clean, comfortable beds, good showers and complimentary hot breakfasts.

Thanks in advance for any help here.
-

 

[MichaelB]

Driving through Atlanta on a Friday? I don't think there are any good options. Not only is it the worst traffic along your route, it also has the worst drivers. Good luck.

There are lots of places to stay along I-75. Macon and Cordele are reasonable options, it all depends on how far south you want to go. TripAdvisor overflows with reviews.

You might want to add "newer" to your list of hotel requirements. This time of year will be chilly and you may need the room heater, and in lots of older properties those things are noisy. Either that, or bring along a white noise machine to minimize the impact.

 

[golfnut]

Thanks, already checked tripadvisor - just thought I'd get some ideas from the forum members.

 

[Koogie]

As discussed in another thread, you can't beat staying at Hampton Inns. Especially for the criteria you pointed out.

They are pretty thick on the ground in southern Georgia. Someone mentioned on that other thread a website you can use to see when a hotel was last renovated. Maybe have a look at that when choosing between sites.

Can't help you with the rest. Our journey to/from Georgia every year is on the I77/I95 corridor. We are well east of Atlanta, thankfully. Charlotte still sucks mind you but not anywhere near the scale of an Atlanta.

 

[Cayman]

4 a.m. this past Saturday through Atlanta was traffic free per my DD who was on the same route you're planning on taking. The last time I went through Atlanta on a Friday at 11pm the traffic was heavy.

After driving this route several times, DH and I typically fly due to the transit time. RT drive takes 2 full days.

 

[Sunset]

OP - on our drive down from Chicago, this year we stopped two times (I hate trying to drive long distance due to the possibility of traffic jams, so we break up the trip into ~400 mile drives) at:

Harrah's Metropolis Hotel & Casino - Metropolis
100 E Front St
Metropolis 62960 IL US
+16185242628
- the town is sad, but the casino is nice, and cheap, just be sure to eat before you get there, as there are only fast food restaurants in the town. Or drive 5 miles to cross the river and that town has lots of stuff (and cheap gas as is a diff State). They charge a resort fee of $11.09 but even with that it cost us $73 for a night.



We also stopped at Macon, at a lovely Hampton
Hampton Inn & Suites Macon I-475
5010 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, GA 31206
T: 1 478-803-4900 3-4900

 

[golfnut]

Sunset,

Thanks. We plan on stopping just once and hopefully, south of Atlanta.

Hampton Inns are nice but might be too much $$ for us cheap bast+rds !

There rooms are usually around $150 or so. We like to keep it at around $100 all in.

 

[45th Birthday]

When we used to do regular road trips between the Chicago area and Florida, we would stay in the Hampton Inn in Tifton, GA. Certainly the nicest Hampton Inn in which we've stayed and one of the best hotels anywhere considering the price. Lots of little touches by owners who obviously work at it.

 

[Red Badger]

Try to go through Atlanta on Sat/Sun around early morning. It's always a gamble, but your odds are better early on the weekends.

LQ hotels are often worth a look. Usually lower than Hampton - and like Hampton, a good breakfast is thrown in.

Good luck!

 

[Bamaman]

Allegiant Airlines flies into Orlando Sanford airport dirt cheap from Rockford and Bloomington, IL airports. Then rent a car.

That'll get you thru Atlanta without issue.

Many golfers avoid Florida golf and go no farther than the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. They have courses all over the state about an hour from each other, and many courses have 4 star Marriott hotels attached.

RTJ Golf courses are just about as good as golf gets. I am very fortunate to have two 18 hole courses playing 8050 yards from the back tees--on my street. Our Marriott hotel has a 250 ft. tall revolving restaurant overlooking the Tennessee River.

 

[NH Hiker]

Google maps has a “leave at time/date” feature - it is marginally useful when I have tried it.

 

[meierlde]

The issue is is shunpiking allowed or not? If shunpiking is allowed US 27 goes about 60 miles west of Atlanta, and goes to Tallahasee you leave 75 at Chatanooga. (Yes you visit small towns but ...) Or you could take 27 to I 85 to I 185 to Columbus and then US 80 back to I 75 at Macon.

 

[gerntz]

Take I65 to Montgomery & then cut east to I75 or south to I10.

 

[golfnut]

Take I65 to Montgomery & then cut east to I75 or south to I10.

Wonder how many hours would be added to the trip with this route assuming no delays in Atlanta?

 

[golfnut]

When we used to do regular road trips between the Chicago area and Florida, we would stay in the Hampton Inn in Tifton, GA. Certainly the nicest Hampton Inn in which we've stayed and one of the best hotels anywhere considering the price. Lots of little touches by owners who obviously work at it.

Thanks, was there a preferred time you left Chi-town to avoid the Atlanta mess?

 

[omni550]

Thanks, was there a preferred time you left Chi-town to avoid the Atlanta mess?

I do the I-75 drive between Michigan and Florida and back, every year.

I time my departures to hit the various metro areas to best avoid their heavy traffic/rush hours. For me, that means Atlanta no later than 3 pm...and earlier, if possible. Traffic can sometimes be heavy...but as long as it keeps moving, I'm OK with that.

I know they recently opened a fee-based section of the highway south of Atlanta (Peach Pass | Peach Pass Toll Facilities | I-75 South Metro Express Lanes) designed to help reduce the congestion, but I have not driven there since that section of road was opened. (BTW, the Peach Pass was supposed to have some reciprocation/interoperability with E-Z pass and SunPass, but I haven't read all the details to figure out how it is supposed to work.)


omni

 

[Sunset]

Of course missing the Season of Spring Break or is is Spring Brake

We went down early this year and Atlanta was no issue, quite a surprise, but it was pre-Spring Break.

 

[Plantman]

Wonder how many hours would be added to the trip with this route assuming no delays in Atlanta?

According to Google maps one hour because it is sixty miles longer.

 

[omni550]

I was curious, and did a little research. Florida SunPasse transponders are accepted on toll roads in Georgia.

SunPass: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina transponders now valid in all three states. - Sun Sentinel

(From my limited research, it appears that the E-Z Pass transponders may not yet be accepted in Georgia.)

omni

 

[Dtail]

I was curious, and did a little research. Florida SunPasse transponders are accepted on toll roads in Georgia.

SunPass: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina transponders now valid in all three states. - Sun Sentinel

(From my limited research, it appears that the E-Z Pass transponders may not yet be accepted in Georgia.)

omni

I drove down from New Jersey. EZ Pass only accepted through North Carolina going south.

 

[meierlde]

Note that according to Wikipedia us 231 (the route from Montomery to i -10 is four lanes all the way.

 

[gerntz]

Wonder how many hours would be added to the trip with this route assuming no delays in Atlanta?

Well, the issue is concern for delays in Atlanta, not no delays.

 

[gerntz]

Note that according to Wikipedia us 231 (the route from Montomery to i -10 is four lanes all the way.

Once drove 231 from Apalachicola part way to Auburn, AL for a football game. Nice as I recall.

 

[golfnut]

Well, the issue is concern for delays in Atlanta, not no delays.

Well, I should know what the concern is because I am the one who started this thread.

Just wanted fb on how much longer it took taking this route vs. going thru Atlanta (again with no delays).

 

[Bamaman]

Take I65 to Montgomery & then cut east to I75 or south to I10.

Alternative to avoid Atlanta:
You could go south of Nashville to Birmingham and Montgomery on I-65. Then southeast to Dothan, AL, east to Bainbridge, GA and south to Tallahassee--all on good 4 lane highways. Then east on I-10 to the Lake City junction with I-75.

What hasn't been said is Chattanooga is a 15 minute town that takes 1+ hour in rush hours. Atlanta traffic can be bad anytime, even midnight, because of road construction goes on all night and weekends perpetually. They never stop paving.