Driving from St. Augustine, FL to Atlanta
August 27, 2010 7:05 AM Subscribe
Driving from St. Augustine to Atlanta, what's the best route to take?
On the way down to St. Augustine from Atlanta, Google Maps sent us down 75 South to 16 East, and then the bulk of the drive down 23 South until we hit 95 South. While the route was fine, 23 South was a bit small town heavy and made for some slow parts.
On the trip back to Atlanta, would we be better off heading across on 10 West, and then making the straight shot up 75 North? According to the map it only adds 20 miles, and should be about the same amount of time, but I wanted to see if there was some real world experience with the roads.
On the way down to St. Augustine from Atlanta, Google Maps sent us down 75 South to 16 East, and then the bulk of the drive down 23 South until we hit 95 South. While the route was fine, 23 South was a bit small town heavy and made for some slow parts.
On the trip back to Atlanta, would we be better off heading across on 10 West, and then making the straight shot up 75 North? According to the map it only adds 20 miles, and should be about the same amount of time, but I wanted to see if there was some real world experience with the roads.
Agree with galadriel. I think 23 is a much slower route. Also 16 is often speed traps-r-us. Safe travels!
posted by pointystick at 7:41 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by pointystick at 7:41 AM on August 27, 2010
3rding galaldriel. Used to do it several times a year albeit from ATl to Daytona and back.
posted by shaarog at 8:14 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by shaarog at 8:14 AM on August 27, 2010
Another vote for 10 to 75. It's boring and ugly as all hell, but it should be quite a bit faster than the backcountry route you took on the way down, assuming that 75 near Valdosta isn't the ENRAGING FUCKING NIGHTMARE OF A MESS it was last December, the last time I drove that way.
posted by saladin at 8:20 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by saladin at 8:20 AM on August 27, 2010
Here's another vote for 10-75-95.
I used to do the Atlanta/St. Augustine trip regularly, and I always took the 10-75-95 route both ways. I feel it's the most straightforward route.
posted by outofplace at 8:26 AM on August 27, 2010
I used to do the Atlanta/St. Augustine trip regularly, and I always took the 10-75-95 route both ways. I feel it's the most straightforward route.
posted by outofplace at 8:26 AM on August 27, 2010
Best answer: Yeah, good call on not cutting across on 23. You might theoretically save a few minutes if everything goes your way, but the speed zones and stoplights are a pain. Not to mention, my phone calls always cut out on that route. (I'm not talking EDGE, I'm talking my regular cell phone signal.)
And there's no need to take 16. Not only would it be slightly more geographically roundabout than the 10/75/475/75 route, 475 bypasses Macon much more cleanly. The miles of highway surrounding the merger from 16 onto 75 have a really low speed limit. Also worth noting is that 75, from Atlanta all the way to Florida, is three lanes, if I'm remembering correctly. 16 is two lanes most of the way, so slow passers can be a pain.
I'm already looking forward to my drive to Savannah tonight.
posted by SpringAquifer at 8:41 AM on August 27, 2010
And there's no need to take 16. Not only would it be slightly more geographically roundabout than the 10/75/475/75 route, 475 bypasses Macon much more cleanly. The miles of highway surrounding the merger from 16 onto 75 have a really low speed limit. Also worth noting is that 75, from Atlanta all the way to Florida, is three lanes, if I'm remembering correctly. 16 is two lanes most of the way, so slow passers can be a pain.
I'm already looking forward to my drive to Savannah tonight.
posted by SpringAquifer at 8:41 AM on August 27, 2010
(Well, more geographically roundabout if you took the straight 95/16/75 route.)
posted by SpringAquifer at 8:44 AM on August 27, 2010
posted by SpringAquifer at 8:44 AM on August 27, 2010
Best answer: Oh, and there was also a one-lane construction zone on 16 last week, with a lowered speed limit.
Seriously, fuck 16.
posted by SpringAquifer at 8:46 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seriously, fuck 16.
posted by SpringAquifer at 8:46 AM on August 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
10 to 75 is the winner for constant speed.
As a current Valdosta Ga resident, I would say that I-75 in this area is in a much more drivable condition than last year. Where I typically run into problems/construction is between Adel and Tifton.
posted by Talia Devane at 2:28 PM on August 27, 2010
As a current Valdosta Ga resident, I would say that I-75 in this area is in a much more drivable condition than last year. Where I typically run into problems/construction is between Adel and Tifton.
posted by Talia Devane at 2:28 PM on August 27, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks, marked some answers, but you are all the best in my world. Just finished making up some roast beef pita pockets for the drive with the family, and I will update with the amazing land speed record after tomorrow. The kids are already a little disappointed that we don't get to eat at the Chik-Fil-A Dwarf House again. Anything I should know heading into the Atlanta airport?
posted by shinynewnick at 7:53 PM on August 27, 2010
posted by shinynewnick at 7:53 PM on August 27, 2010
Yes, that the original Chik-Fil-A Dwarf House is right near the airport.
Or is that the one the kids have already been to?
When I drove it in May, I-75 in south Georgia was just fine pretty much the whole way. It narrowed down to 2 lanes with no shoulders for many miles (construction), but still cooked along at 60 MPH no problem. I made record time, actually, coming back from the space coast.
And Nth-ing I-10 to I-75, and taking the 475 bypass. That stretch of I-10 is awful dull, though; make sure you're gassed up.
posted by intermod at 9:25 PM on August 27, 2010
Or is that the one the kids have already been to?
When I drove it in May, I-75 in south Georgia was just fine pretty much the whole way. It narrowed down to 2 lanes with no shoulders for many miles (construction), but still cooked along at 60 MPH no problem. I made record time, actually, coming back from the space coast.
And Nth-ing I-10 to I-75, and taking the 475 bypass. That stretch of I-10 is awful dull, though; make sure you're gassed up.
posted by intermod at 9:25 PM on August 27, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by galadriel at 7:33 AM on August 27, 2010