Need traffic advice - East Point to Windy Hill during morning rush (Atlanta: home)

[JPD]

I have to go to Windy Hill tomorrow morning from East Point. I've lived in Atlanta my whole life, but I have never used the freeways during morning rush hour, so I don't know what I'm getting myself into.

What is my best option? 75 all the way up? 285 to 75? Something else?

How long can I expect this to take me? I have to be there by 9:15. Should I leave now?

[pinetreelover]

Going around 285 at that time of the day is NOT the way to go! Your best bet will be through the city and north on 75. Once you get on 75 you shouldn't have too much traffic at all. I would probably leave at 8:00 to give myself a generous margin, but it won't take that long.

[atl1221]

I live in East Point and commute to Vinings (not far from Windy Hill) daily. I would leave @ 8 and fire up google maps for a suggested route. It’s hard to give you the best route without knowing where the crashes are going to be. I would say that 60% of the time the best route would be 285N to 75N to windy hill. You might also get routed up Main Street through downtown to join the connector @ Williams Street. Rarely do I ever go up 75 the whole way...it’s literally a parking lot from Langford to Freedom Parkway at least. You can probably bank on whatever route you take to be 45 min - 1 hour at that time of day.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by atl1221

I live in East Point and commute to Vinings (not far from Windy Hill) daily. I would leave @ 8 and fire up google maps for a suggested route. It’s hard to give you the best route without knowing where the crashes are going to be. I would say that 60% of the time the best route would be 285N to 75N to windy hill. You might also get routed up Main Street through downtown to join the connector @ Williams Street. Rarely do I ever go up 75 the whole way...it’s literally a parking lot from Langford to Freedom Parkway at least. You can probably bank on whatever route you take to be 45 min - 1 hour at that time of day.

More often than not that's how it is when I travel 75N when it isn't rush hour, or even a weekday. So I'm not looking forward to seeing it during the commute.

Thanks, y'all, for the recommendations.

[samiwas1]

From east point, if you want to avoid interstates, take Hwy 29 (Lee St) to Northside to Hollowell to Marietta Blvd. Marietta Blvd turns into Atlanta Rd, which runs into Windy Hill. You'd be going against most traffic, except for maybe some blips on Northside. I use this route a lot from the Lakewood area to get to my home off Marietta Blvd. and I rarely encounter much traffic.

Another option is to use 285 to I20 East, then exit at Hwy 280 (Hamilton E. Holmes) going north. This turns into James Jackson Pkwy, then Cobb Drive, which runs into Windy Hill. Might hit a little traffic at the Cobb/285 intersection, but should be pretty clear outside of that.

Third option is a hybrid of the two...Lee Street up to I-20 West, then Hamilton E. Holmes.

I'd give myself an hour or so, but it probably won't take that long.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

From east point, if you want to avoid interstates, take Hwy 29 (Lee St) to Northside to Hollowell to Marietta Blvd. Marietta Blvd turns into Atlanta Rd, which runs into Windy Hill. You'd be going against most traffic, except for maybe some blips on Northside. I use this route a lot from the Lakewood area to get to my home off Marietta Blvd. and I rarely encounter much traffic.

Another option is to use 285 to I20 East, then exit at Hwy 280 (Hamilton E. Holmes) going north. This turns into James Jackson Pkwy, then Cobb Drive, which runs into Windy Hill. Might hit a little traffic at the Cobb/285 intersection, but should be pretty clear outside of that.

Third option is a hybrid of the two...Lee Street up to I-20 West, then Hamilton E. Holmes.

I'd give myself an hour or so, but it probably won't take that long.

Interesting. None of those routes had occurred to me.

Looks like I have dodged a bullet, or at least postponed one. My appointment for tomorrow is being rescheduled and possibly relocated somewhere in Midtown. I will keep all these options in mind for the future.

Thanks again all.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by JPD

Interesting. None of those routes had occurred to me.

Looks like I have dodged a bullet, or at least postponed one. My appointment for tomorrow is being rescheduled and possibly relocated somewhere in Midtown. I will keep all these options in mind for the future.

Thanks again all.

Yeah, I live in "Upper Westside", near the new Publix on Marietta, and work down by Lakewood Amphitheatre, right off Langford Pkwy. I only use the connector during early morning or late night commutes. Other than that, I use various combinations of Metropolitan Pkwy, Northside Dr., Joesph E. Lowery. The only time I run into anything is the people who drive 15MPH down Lowery, or the people walking in the middle of the street.

[hilltop180]

I lived in Grant Park and commuted to Vinings. Most of the time I took I-20 to 285. Like others said the downtown connector is really bad in the morning. It does free up after you get on I-75. Waze is a good app to tell you the options. So basically 3 options - Langford, I-20, 75; 75/85, I-20, 285, 75; or 75/85, 75.

[ATLTJL]

My appointment for tomorrow is being rescheduled and possibly relocated somewhere in Midtown.