How can I avoid rush hour in Atlanta?
If you are looking to avoid the worst traffic in Atlanta, consider planning your travel between 10 AM to 3 PM. These tend to be the least peak hours for Atlanta traffic, avoiding both the morning rush hour and the evening rush hour. This is the best time of day for Atlanta travel.
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Interstate 285 (Georgia)
Interstate 285 | |
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State | Georgia |
Counties | Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, Clayton |
Highway system |
Just try to get through town after 9 and before 3. If you have to come through during rush hour, it's not the end of the world. Just expect the trip to take 30-45 minutes longer. Also, you might want to run some searches on this forum on "rush hour" as similar questions get asked frequently.
The best way to get around Atlanta is by MARTA, Atlanta's public transportation system. MARTA operates both bus and rail lines throughout the city and into nearby suburbs.
- Organize Your Schedule. ...
- Drive Safely. ...
- Map Out Your Routes. ...
- Take a Defensive Driving Course. ...
- Make Your Rush Hour Commute Less Boring. ...
- Check out New Podcasts. ...
- Listen to Audiobooks. ...
- Explore New Music (or Revisit Your Favorite Albums)
The Plane Train, located on Level 0, is one of the easiest ways to get around ATL, operating 24 hours a day and departing every 2 minutes. Take an escalator or elevator down to the lower level where the Plane Train will be signposted.
Atlanta's rush hours run from about 6am to 10am in the morning and 3pm to 7pm in the evening. If you can't completely avoid those times, try to stay off the roads between 7-8am and 5-6pm, when the city sees 5.1% and 5.8% of its daily traffic volume, respectively. Take back roads when you can.
I-285 is an interstate highway loop that encompasses both the city of Atlanta as well as territory that is deemed “in The Perimeter.” With several access points to surrounding highways and state roads, I-285 has become not only Georgia's most busy highway, but in the entire nation.
Despite its sprawling layout and debilitating traffic, Atlanta is fairly easy to navigate, both with your own set of wheels or on public transportation. The city is well served by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority bus and rail system and a downtown tram.
The morning rush hour in Atlanta starts as early as 4 a.m., and it can last as late as 10 a.m., but the worst of it begins around 6 or 7 a.m. In the evening, you can expect the worst traffic from 3:30 p.m. to at late as 7:30 p.m. This is a long stretch of time when the roads stay congested, so if you do not want to sit ...
Is 45 minutes enough time between flights in Atlanta?
The ideal layover time for most people on a domestic flight will be 45-60 minutes. For an International to Domestic flight the ideal connection time will be about 90 minutes. Connecting in ATL is easy, fast, and pleasant. I'd recommend it to anyone.
It's a good idea to arrive at work around 8:30 a.m. and leave at 4:30 p.m. to avoid not only the traffic but potential danger. Rush hour on weekdays, between 5 and 7 p.m. are usually more dangerous due to the increase in drivers on the road.

- Cabbagetown.
- Candler Park.
- Midtown.
- North Buckhead.
- Underwood Hills.
Georgia Express Lanes are Georgia's optional toll lanes that run alongside existing interstates. You must have a Peach Pass in order to access Georgia Express Lanes. Peach Pass also works on toll roads in Florida and North Carolina and certain parking at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
You can walk around Downtown Atlanta, hop on the relatively new Atlanta Streetcar or take MARTA from Peachtree Street. However, just because you can walk around Downtown doesn't mean you'll never need a set of wheels. Atlanta is a fiercely devoted driving town.
Of course, you're more likely to find yourself stuck in traffic on the test if your appointment falls around rush hour. So, if your test is scheduled for any time around 9:00am or 5:00pm, you can expect more people to be on the road.
The best time of day to take your test
According to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the best time to book your test is between 7pm and 9pm when roads are quieter and most drivers are in less of a hurry.
- Remove Distractions. Many people use the slowdown caused by traffic jams to send a quick text or compose an email. ...
- Don't Lane-Weave. Why does it always seem like whichever lane we choose ends up being the “slow lane?” “ ...
- Maintain a Safe Following Distance. ...
- Stop Rubbernecking. ...
- Stay Calm.
The short answer (based on my own personal experience) is that the minimum connection time for domestic flights in Atlanta is 35 minutes. It doesn't matter what terminal you arrive at and what terminal you're departing from. 35 minutes is doable. Anything less than that, not so much.
Airport officials recommend passengers arrive inside at least two hours before your domestic flight is set to depart. That recommendation increases to three hours before international flights. Make sure you know which terminal to go to check in a bag or print a boarding pass.
How early should I arrive at Atlanta airport before my flight?
When you're traveling within the United States, we make the suggestion to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure. For most airports, you must be checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time (airports requiring additional time are listed below, Go to footer note).
In the south area, you might want to try Forest Parkway/Flat Shoals Road, parallel to I-285. Then there's 280, or James Jackson Parkway, an option on the west side of the route. You can also try I-75 if you don't want to bother with a surface street.
Atlanta's rush hours run from about 6am to 10am in the morning and 3pm to 7pm in the evening. If you can't completely avoid those times, try to stay off the roads between 7-8am and 5-6pm, when the city sees 5.1% and 5.8% of its daily traffic volume, respectively. Take back roads when you can.
The use or operation of any loudspeaker system, sound amplifier or other similar device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, and 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays, within or adjacent to residential or noise-sensitive areas, public rights-of-way or public space such that the sound ...
The best time of day to start a road trip and travel by car is early in the morning, before rush hour. You should plan to leave around 6:00 AM if you're only driving a short distance and even earlier for long trips. Starting in the mornings is safer due to less traffic and fewer accidents.