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« on: April 14, 2010, 02:23:14 pm »
For those wanting a twisty ride through the mountains, I have a route I prefer over the one through Rome, which can get congested at rush hour. I've been driving back & forth to Huntsville a lot lately, and this is my preferred route.
From I-75 N:
Take exit 306 and turn left onto GA-140 W
Go 16.0 mi and turn right onto GA-1 N/Martha Berry Hwy/US-27 N
Go 13.9 mi and turn left onto GA-48 W
Go 23.0 mi and turn right onto AL-117 N/AL-7/US-11 N
DON'T MISS THIS NEXT TURN
Turn quickly back left (about 0.1 mi) onto AL-117 N/AL-40 W
Go 23.9 mi. Beware of the 30 MPH left turn on this leg. You CANNOT take it at 60 like you'd think. It's tight and off camber.
Turn right onto AL-35 N/Veterans Dr
Go 3.4 mi and turn left onto US-72 toward Huntsville
Go 37.8 mi and US-72 turns into I-565W
Go 7.3 mi and take exit 14B for AL-255 N/Research Park Blvd
Go 5.7 mi and turn left onto AL-53 N/Jordan Ln
Go 10.6 miles to the Fiero Factory on right
This route takes you through a few little towns, but nothing that backs up like Rome. The worst holdup I typically experience on this route is sometimes getting stuck behind slow traffic, which can happen with any of the non-interstate routes. For some reason, an 18-wheeler will sometimes think this route's a good idea.
I generally get gas at the Racetrack at I-75 exit 277. It seems like all the gas after that point is more expensive, until you get to the Kangaroo just a couple of miles after turning onto US-72. The distance between these two stations is about 120 miles.
I don't know if I'll be able to make the meet. I may be driving to Atlanta as you guys are driving to Huntsville. If you pass a white Formula going the other way, wave.