ATL peeps, need travel advice

I'm driving into ATL on a Friday afternoon and need to be at Georgia Tech by 6:30. I'm coming from NC and need to know at that time what is a realistic amount of time to give myself from 85 and 285? Thanks.

 

Remember it's Atlanta you are always 1 ladder in the road way or upside down car away from never making it to your destination. Heed Mongo's advice and don't cut it too close.

 

Friday evenings can be tricky if there are any major events going on. Might want to check the Dome/World Congress Center, Phillips Arena schedules to make sure.

 

Definitely check the event calendar. Do you have parking if it's an event at GT? Personally I'd allow an hour. Friday traffic sucks in every direction.

 

Is 85 better than 20?

 

That was my commute for about 7 years. With normal traffic, it's 15-20 minutes from the 85/285 interchange to campus (depending on what part). Like Mongo said, the 400 merge is the start of most traffic clogs going southbound. That doesn't get better, since a couple miles later 75 and 85 merge. Traffic moves, but just slower. It typically adds about 10 minutes, but that can balloon to 2-3x that if there is an event or incident. Personally, I'd plan for 45 minutes, but I know the area. Someone less familiar might want a little more time.

It also depends on which part of campus. The business school/gatech hotel is right off the interstate, but a 5 blocks from exits on either side. McCamish Pavilion and Bobby Dodd are on east campus, but you take the earlier 14/10th exit. Honestly, I get off at the 14th/10th during that time of day for any part, since it avoids the 85/75 connector, which is a bit of a cluster. If you need to go to west campus, student center, etc... add another 10 or so minutes to navigate the surface streets plus 5-10 for parking and walking. Student center is a pay lot, as is the lot next to the physics building (at ferst and state), the deck on state street next to the new bioengineering buildings, and the deck at the hotel/conference center. There are a couple other lots, but I don't really use those. Quick edit, don't bother trying to find free parking. GT parking enforcement sucks, and any parking area (including adjacent neighborhoods) is already zoned. The parking rates are pretty reasonable for inside the city, and $1-2 per hour for the lots I mentioned.

 

I meant the 285/85 interchange. I'm staying at the Renaissance hotel right next to tech and then walking to the Ferst Center at tech for a show.
Thanks for the replies guys.

 

Like Sean said. 85 directly into town. No 285.

Give yourself an extra buffer of about 45 to 1 hour for the traffic.

 

I can't think of a reason, coming from the large majority of NC, to go all the way down

That's how I understood you (and how I geared my reply). I'm assuming the Renaissance on West Peachtree. Just a heads up, if you park there and walk, it's a solid 20 minute walk.

 

Give yourself twice the amount of time you think... I have sat between the 400 Interchange and North Avenue sometimes for over an hour.. ( 3 miles) like others said.. Look at what's going on in the city... I can guarantee you there are no Braves or Falcons Games...

 

Just hope it doesn't rain.

 

Just don't leave any valuables in clear site in your car.... My Mom lives across the street from Tech off Means St and there have been many many break in reported lately...

 

on a friday at that hour and rain…..good luck

 

Maybe you'll get lucky and experience a "wintery mix" forecast that day.

 

Every time I've driven around down there have always been at least one couch and a mile or two down the road a mattress and a smashed chest of drawers in the left lane.

 

Here in NoVa we get big ass flat screen tvs. People too cheap to have them delivered and decide to take them home in the back of a pick up and not tied down.

TVs and chairs.

People behind stop and snag that ladder and be 2 miles up the road before the guy who lost it even had time to stop. Free ladders are gold here!