Traffic Alternatives

Expect traffic delays on the downtown connector near 14th Street. Please use our alternate routes below and allow extra travel time. See the GA DOT Bulletin for details.

Be sure to call 678.576.5344 if you are running late or need directions

I-85 Southbound alternate route

  • Take I-85 S to Exit 86 for GA-13 South to Peachtree Street.
  • Merge onto GA-13 South.
  • Take the exit for US-19/GA-9/Peachtree Street to Buckhead.
  • Stay left for US-19/GA-9 SOUTH/Spring Street/Peachtree Street.
  • Take the RIGHT lane to get onto US-19/GA-9 SOUTH to Spring Street/Downtown.
  • Turn right onto Spring Street (Help-U-Sell is in front of you).
  • Turn right onto 10th Street (Chevron Station is ahead on the right).
  • Go over I-75/85.
  • Turn left onto Hemphill Avenue (Institute for Paper Science and Technology
  • on left).
  • Where Hemphill ends, turn right onto Ferst Drive.
  • Follow Ferst Drive around to the Area 3 Visitor Lot and turn left into the parking lot. (The Student Center Parking Deck will also be on your left.)
  • Park in the surface lot, as there will be no charge during the weekend.

I-75 Southbound alternate route

  • Take I-75 South to Exit 255: W. Paces Ferry / SR 3 / US 41 / Northside Parkway.
  • At the end of the ramp, turn left onto West Paces Ferry Road and immediately get into the rightmost lane.
  • Turn right at the light onto Northside Parkway. (OK Cafe will be in front of you.)
  • Follow Northside Parkway, which will merge into Northside Drive. Stay in the right lane, as the middle lane is a reversible lane. (You will go a total of 5 miles on Northside before you make your next turn.)
  • Stay on Northside Drive, eventually crossing over I-75. You will go under two different sets of railroad tracks, and just after IKEA, there will be a slight left onto Hemphill Avenue. (You'll go left of the BP station, while Northside Drive will go to its right.)
  • Take Hemphill Avenue until it ends and turn right onto Ferst Drive.
  • Follow Ferst Drive around to the Area 3 Visitor Lot and turn left into the parking lot. (The Student Center Parking Deck will also be on your left.)
  • Park in the surface lot, as there will be no charge during the weekend.

I-75/I-85 Nouthbound alternate route

  • Exit #244 University/Pryor Streets
  • Turn left at end of off-ramp onto University.
  • Go 0.8 mile to 3rd red light, turn right onto Metropolitian Parkway (formerly Stewart Avenue).
  • Go 1.5 miles to 6th red light, yield right onto Northside Drive.
  • Go 1.9 miles to 11th red light (passing the Georgia World Congress Center), turn right onto North Avenue.
  • Go 0.3 mile to first red light on North Avenue, turn left (in front of Coca Cola Company).
  • Go one block to stop sign, turn left onto Tech Parkway.
  • Go to red light, turn right onto Ferst Drive.
  • The Competition parking will be immediately on the left after the cement median.