Thanks to all the enticing social and residential opportunities in the great
city of Atlanta, the
city has become host to swarms of tourists.Whether the destination is the Georgia Aquarium, the zoo, or the
shopping malls, Atlanta roads have filled up with just as many out-of-towners, as locals.Like many, I enjoy employing the use of
online direction applications like MapQuest when visiting someplace new.But also like many, I have found that MapQuest does not always provide the quickest or most direct route to the desired destination. Being a resident of metro Atlanta for quite a few years, I have found several ways to skirt the horrible traffic jams this
city is known for.So, out of the goodness of my heart, I have provided a quick
guide to avoiding the major thoroughfares which are known for being clogged with daily travelers. Mind you, the following “shortcuts” may not save actual miles. In some cases you may save several minutes. Some treks in fact, are longer.But they may also be more scenic and easier to navigate.
DESTINATION:Hartsfield-Jackson Airport,Atlanta GATYPICAL ROUTE(S):Most out-of-towners are familiar with
I-75/ I-85 (South and North). The airport can be accessed easily by using this highway. The drawback however depends upon the time of day you are attempting to make it to the friendly skies.If you are trying to get past downtown at any time between
3pm and 6pm, you can forget having an
easy time of it. This interstate is most trafficked during the weekdays from both directions, as people who
work south of the airport are headed north, and vice versa.
ALTERNATE ROUTE(S):One of the easiest ways to get to the airport is to bypass the “downtown Atlanta” traffic altogether.The best way to do this is to hop onto the never-ending highway, I-285.Depending upon what part of the perimeter you’re coming from, the airport is easily accessed from this highway, by getting off at
Exit #2,
Camp Creek Parkway-and heading south on this road directly to the airport. This road is traveled by people who live in the College Park/ East Point area, but is very rarely backed up.Additionally, because I-285 is essentially a circle, drivers tend to clog this highway in areas closer to the residential areas like Stone Mountain, or Cobb County.
DESTINATION:Perimeter Mall Area, Dunwoody - Atlanta GATYPICAL ROUTE(S):This area is most commonly accessed from both I-285 and Highway 400, respectively. Known for its proliferation of condominium communities and great
shopping venues, the Dunwoody area of metro Atlanta is growing in increasing numbers. With the addition of Sandy Springs as its own incorporated city, the traffic in this area has gotten even more congested.
ALTERNATE ROUTE(S):The best way to cut through the highway traffic is to take side streets to and from this particular area. Coming from the northwest (Cobb areas), take
Highway 41 (or Cobb Parkway) South all the way to
Mt. Paran Road. Follow this winding road all the way to
Roswell Road, hook a left, and follow all the way up to the Perimeter Mall area. Mt. Paran Road itself is littered with stop sign intersections.But the view of the million dollar
homes is enough to make your mouth water.By the time you reach Roswell Road, you’ll feel as if you’ve traveled to one of Hollywood’s elite
celebrity neighborhoods.If you’re coming from the
city (downtown Atlanta or Buckhead) there are several ways to get up to Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.If you happen to be traveling north on
Peachtree Road, avoid the traffic hopping onto Highway 400 by making a left onto
Peachtree Dunwoody Road and follow that all the way into the Perimeter Mall area. Again here you’ll find many residences along the way.But you may save just a few minutes during a heavy rush hour.
DESTINATION:Downtown Atlanta from Northwest Cobb CountyTYPICAL ROUTE(S):Many people residing in northern Cobb County travel to the downtown area by taking
I-75 South. This in fact, is one of the quickest ways to get to this particular section of town.But most north Cobb County residents will tell you how sticky it is to even GET to the highway from the more obscure suburban neighborhoods.
ALTERNATE ROUTE(S): Visitors of
friends and relatives in the extreme north of the county (Powder Springs, north Marietta) are probably best served by taking Dallas Highway all the way to Highway 92. This local highway connects to Thornton Road, which when traveled in the eastbound direction will take one directly to I-20. I-20 is another popular interstate with several exits into the downtown area. This is also an excellent way to get to the airport from northern suburban Cobb County.
Honorable Mention- Those traveling from northern Cobb County may also take Highway 41 South (Cobb’s main thoroughfare) all the way into the
heart of Atlanta without even “touching” the interstate!
DESTINATION: Buckhead, Atlanta GATYPICAL ROUTE(S):Most people trying to get into the
heart of Buckhead will travel the most popular highways and interstates in order to access the “metropolis.”But these streets can get clogged up during rush hour, or at ANY hour during the
holiday season.
ALTERNATE ROUTE(S): If you happen to be out and about in the Cobb County area, the best thing to do is hop onto
Highway 41 South all the way to
West Paces Ferry Road. West Paces Ferry is the street where you’ll find the
Governor’s Mansion in addition to hundreds of other beautiful homes. The street intersects with Buckhead’s main road,
Peachtree Road. The only advantage to this snarky little route would be that you’ll avoid other traffic heading into the downtown area. Many Atlanta natives are very familiar with this route, as it’s a great way to connect to the Perimeter Area. But out-of-towners looking to find directions
online to Buckhead’s popular venues will more than likely not be privy to this interesting, and rather
clean shortcut.There are tons of side streets, literally hundreds of them which snake through the city-connecting one neighborhood to the next. The best thing to do when planning a visit to Atlanta is to print the directions from the
online mapping sites, but compare them with other shortcuts you find as you visit the city. Visiting a
new city in the hopes of enjoying the
shopping and nightlife can be that much more enjoyable when the travelers have a better lay of the land.
