Driving to the Dragon from Atlanta...

[Al N.]

I know there are a few folks coming up from the ATL...thought I might start a thread here to let people discuss routes/caravan potential amongst themselves.

 

FYI, I know a few journalists who are flying into ATL, so please advise on the smartest/funnest route.

[solder_guy]

Having grown up in Chattanooga, Tenn .. I have spent alot of time driving up to Knoxville .. and Johnson City where I attended school. But I have never heard of the Tail of the Dragon until it was mentioned on this site. Sure I've enjoyed drives through the mountains in my old beat '70s Celicas .. but I have never been near this road! So I cannot comment on the best or most fun ways to get there.

 

But I can say something about Atlanta.

 

This past Friday afternoon I was just a few minutes into my interstate commute to my destination, Jasper, Georgia, where I was to work an evening shift. Jasper is one of the more distant bedroom communities related to the big city. Rush hour was what I expected, much congestion on a Friday afternoon as more poeple try to escape for the weekend.

 

So what did I hear on the radio at 5:15pm about my intended route: Vice President Dick Cheney has made a secret surprise visit! He has just landed at Dobbins Reserve Air Base and the police are preparing to shut down I-75 in both directions to allow for his motorcade to zip unimpeded to nearby Kennesaw. Oh hell! Rush hour has just been shut down and delayed for one hour.

 

So as quckly as I heard the announcement I exited and started burning up some secondary streets. A BMW was with me. But he wasn't much for long as I did some quick right hand / left hand turns through some poorly placed red lights. Then I finally accepted the reality and sat in gridlocked traffic for about 30 minutes after agressively maneuvering myself into the best suited pocket. I was actually only 35 minutes late to work .. and I had the best late excuse to use in months. :lol:

 

So on to the drive:

 

Atlantans know their traffic patterns. We have some of the longest commutes in the nation. Most tune into News/Talk 750 WSB AM and listen to Captain Herb Emory in the Sky Copter and his friends to tell us what's happening with traffic. Most of the time the information is to inform us that it's time to get off the main road, find a secluded place and read the newspaper. :crazy:

 

In the 1950s Interstate 75 in Atlanta began as a beautiful treed, four lane, divided parkway. Now the downtown connector which shares about 7 miles with Interstate 85 has 7-8 lanes each way, including HOV. (If our specialty cars were three wheeled we could use the HOV.) Factoid: In 1976, Interstate 75 was the first national interstate to be completed continuously from terminus to terminus.

 

When leaving downtown Atlanta .. stay in the right hand lanes to go northwest on I-75. (The left hand lanes are I-85 which goes northeast).

 

The next interstate is the belt loop called I-285 which circumnavigates Atlanta. The intersection (exit 259) is called the Cobb Cloverleaf. The radio traffic guys describe traffic problems as being on the inner (clockwise) or outer (counterclockwise) loop. North of here I-75 expands to 8 lanes without HOV northbound.

 

Continue north and after 9 miles watch for exit 268 which is I-575 to Canton, Georgia. This is a divided interstate on which everyone drives really fast (sometimes 80+). It has one really quick turn to the right at the bottom of the hill at exit 16. I-575 terminates after 30 miles in Jasper Georgia where the traffic thins out and continues as Highway 515. There are 4-5 traffic lights. North of Jasper Highway 515 is a beautiful 4 lane divided parkway through rolling hills. The next two towns, Ellijay and Blue Ridge, do have traffic lights.

 

Just after Blue Ridge watch for signs for Spur 60. This is a narrow two lane road which begins at Mineral Bluff, Georgia and connects to NC Highway 19 at the state boarder town of Culberson, NC.

 

Next town is Murphy. Beyond that NC 19 / 64 is a nice 4 lane divided parkway through farmland. After about 25+ miles the highway narrows to two lanes. Follow the signs to continue on 129 to Robbinsville and the Tail of the Dragon.

 

Happy driving!

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

 

[Al N.]

Thanks for doing that Rob! Always helps to get a local's perspective vs. mapquest.

[solder_guy]

Thanks for doing that Rob! Always helps to get a local's perspective vs. mapquest.

 

Welcome .. Updated with the website for News/Talk 750 WSB AM

 

Rob

 

[solder_guy]

I'll be on my way from Atlanta late this afternoon (Friday) and will keep an eye out for Sevens along the above mentioned route. Save some dinner for me! :cheers:

 

Rob

 

[solder_guy]

Well alot of scattered thunderstorms across North Georgia this Friday afternoon .. just when I'm about to get on the road .. and now Friday afternoon traffic .. So I will get a later start .. if the weather relents.

 

Scattered thunderstorms in North Carolina tomorrow .. Saturday.

 

How are others from Atlanta faring as far as the drive is concerned ??

 

Rob (in Atlanta right now)

 

[C_ME_SPEED]

well we drove from atlanta andwell... the car got soaked... we left on friday morning and i think it rained on us half the time... but we still had a great time... we just had to wipe the car down as soon as we got there

[slngsht]

so, who is C ME SPEED?

[solder_guy]

well we drove from atlanta andwell... the car got soaked... we left on friday morning and i think it rained on us half the time... but we still had a great time... we just had to wipe the car down as soon as we got there

 

You fared better than I did. I started on Sat morning and the car had some problems .. so I turned back and got my Celica to drive instead .. got to 777 early Sat afternoon. Still had a great time! :hurray:

 

Rob in Atl