Commute from Dunwoody to Smyrna? (Atlanta, Riverside: home, living in, metro)

[atlantanewb]

Hi all,

I'm new to the city, living in Dunwoody now but looking at jobs in Smyrna. Can anyone shed some light for me on what traffic is like during rush hour on 285 going west? I've heard horror stories about Atlanta traffic and I just want to make sure before I accept a job offer.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[TakeAhike]

I think there are some alternative routes from Dunwoody to Smyrna, which might or might not be easier. From previous posts it seems that if you can travel at non-peak times --ie before 7AM or after 9AM it is about a 30 minute commute. It might be bad in the afternoon from 4-7PM.

[Iconographer]

The 'northern arc' of I-285 (between I-75 and I-85) is truly one of the true traffic nighmares of the metro. What's more, there are no althernative direct routes between the two cities that I can think of. Unless you are planning to stagger your commute times to avoid the peak times, it's going to be tough.

[spacelord75]

There are limited options in terms of alternate routes, but if you get on the road by 7am-ish, you should be fine in the mornings no problem. Afternoon would be tough, though, unless you are working late, or can do a flex schedule to get out of work by 4-4:30 or so. The only alternate routes really would be to utilize the Riverside Dr. exit, both coming and going (as Abernathy/River Valley is not a very busy road to get over there), or perhaps consider taking Paper Mill in East Cobb over to Terrell Mill, but I've never done this. It seems kind of out of the way, though, and there is always tons of traffic in those back roads in E.Cobb.

[CMMom]

I drive my daughter's carpool at 7:20 AM from Dunwoody (GA400 Exit 6-Northridge) the the Northside Parkway/Mt. Paran Rd. exit on I-75 (one exit south of I-285). It takes roughly 20 minutes at that hour. I can't vouch for the rush hour ride home though.

When I drive carpool in the AM, I take back roads back to Dunwoody (Mt. Paran Rd. to Garmon Rd. to Northside Dr. to Mt. Vernon Rd.). It takes about 35 minutes to get back to Dunwoody at that hour.

Hope that helps.