Driving from Atlanta to Chesapeake, Va. Is I95 a No-No? (Emporia: for sale, live in)

[oldhousegirl]

Just printed out our directions on mapquest. But, just read about I95 traffic being brutal in the summer and adding hours on. Is there a better alternative. The Mapquest has us I20 E merging onto I95 N to US-58 E.

Thanks!!

[Pink Jazz]

Originally Posted by oldhousegirl

Just printed out our directions on mapquest. But, just read about I95 traffic being brutal in the summer and adding hours on. Is there a better alternative. The Mapquest has us I20 E merging onto I95 N to US-58 E.

Thanks!!

You might want to try I-85 and US-58 as an alternative.

[oldhousegirl]

Thanks. I really need a paper map, so I can plot this all out. I hate looking at maps online, trying to zoom in and what not. So much easier on paper. I didn't realize you can take 85 all the way there. We live right off 85.

[bonnielisabeth]

I-95 is not that bad in the summer, as long as you stay away from going south on a Saturday or north on a Sunday...there seem to be more folks going those directions on those days.

You can also go I-85 as well, and it is less crowded. Just be sure to take advantage of rest stops as you go through the Durham NC area, cause there really isn't much on I-85 between Durham and Emporia on 58.

Also, I drove this route for years: be alert driving on 58--lots of local people turning off and on; there are usually speed traps on the outskirts of Emporia, so be sure to go the speed limit around there.

If you can stop, they have great peanuts for sale around Courtland, VA. Gurganus Peanuts has a roadside stand: Contact and the Peanut Patch / (new name...Feridies) has a store in Courtland with free tastings and nice clean restrooms: Feridies (http://www.feridies.com/default.cfm - broken link)

[Erma]

Originally Posted by Andros 1337

You might want to try I-85 and US-58 as an alternative.

be careful once you enter 58 if you drive fast...they get em' alot right at that interchange. I always drive 95 to 58 from Florida.

[ellar]

I've never had a problem driving 95 from Georgia to Virginia. The highway tends to really back up about 40 miles or so from D.C., but you would be getting off 95 long before then.

[steflee55]

funny i came across this. i just drove from ATL to VA Beach today. I took 85 north to 64 at the Va line.

[Wynternight]

Emporia is a major speed trap. Do the speed limit as you approach the town limits and keep doing it until you leave.

[oldhousegirl]

Thanks again everyone. Helpful as always.

[CatLover1959]

I think it depends on where in Atlanta that you're going. My relatives live in East Atlanta, off of Flat Shoals Rd./Decatur and the last time I went down there I drove down I-95 to Florence, SC then west on I-20 without any delays right into SE ATL and it was a breeze. If I was going to go to North ATL and Marietta area, I'd go down I-85, I believe. The traffic on I-85 is always unpredictable through NC and you can hit Charlotte rush hour if not timed right.