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USCe @ UGA - Help wanted - advice on accommodations and game day travel
Posted on 3/31/13 at 4:59 am
Posted on 3/31/13 at 4:59 am
We are planning on going to the USCe/UGA game on September 7th in Athens.
We will be flying in from out of town to Atlanta and are trying to figure out what we should do about hotels and driving. Here are the questions:
1) Should we stay in Athens or Atlanta? Why?
2) Is there any chance that we can get a hotel room in Athens for the Friday and Saturday nights? If so, where do you recommend?
3) If not right in Athens, is it worth it to stay closer to Athens than Atlanta? Where?
4) If we stay in Atlanta, what is the drive and traffic like before and after the game?
5) Other advice is welcome.
Thanks
We will be flying in from out of town to Atlanta and are trying to figure out what we should do about hotels and driving. Here are the questions:
1) Should we stay in Athens or Atlanta? Why?
2) Is there any chance that we can get a hotel room in Athens for the Friday and Saturday nights? If so, where do you recommend?
3) If not right in Athens, is it worth it to stay closer to Athens than Atlanta? Where?
4) If we stay in Atlanta, what is the drive and traffic like before and after the game?
5) Other advice is welcome.
Thanks
5
Posted on 3/31/13 at 6:14 am to Halifax
Athens already mostly booked up. So if you want to stay in Athens, you better book now.
The drive from Atlanta is very heavy and very slow. You would be better off staying in Jefferson or Commerce, if Athens is sold out.
The drive from Atlanta is very heavy and very slow. You would be better off staying in Jefferson or Commerce, if Athens is sold out.
Posted on 3/31/13 at 6:15 am to Halifax
1) It depends if you want to see some attractions in downtown Atlanta. If you can still hang with the college crowd, I would recommend spending a night partying in Downtown Athens, nothing like it IMO.
2) If you want a hotel room in Athens, book it yesterday.
3) You could stay anywhere off Highway 316, but it's still a drive
4) If you stay in Atlanta, I-85 will be clear, but once you hit 316 you're screwed. I would have a 2 hour buffer on your schedule.
5) Yes, spend a night in downtown Athens, that's all
2) If you want a hotel room in Athens, book it yesterday.
3) You could stay anywhere off Highway 316, but it's still a drive
4) If you stay in Atlanta, I-85 will be clear, but once you hit 316 you're screwed. I would have a 2 hour buffer on your schedule.
5) Yes, spend a night in downtown Athens, that's all
Posted on 3/31/13 at 6:22 am to Glory, Glory
quote:
2) If you want a hotel room in Athens, book it yesterday.
Getting in and out of Athens on Gameday is brutal, btw. Getting out, especially. Not as bad as Clemson though.
I'm warning you UGA fans going to Clemson. We literally sat dead still for two hours. This has happened to me twice that I've went up there. There's a reason the free parking lots are free, the season pass parking and paid parking get to leave first.
Posted on 3/31/13 at 7:04 am to CNB
We've stayed in Atlanta a bunch, and always have a good time there.
However, based on the answers, I think we should stay near Athens. I hate game day traffic, and I have been in the parking lot on the way to Clemson. If it's anything like that, then I want no part of it.
I figured there would be no rooms in Athens itself. It looks like the next best thing is Commerce, so I'll try to book there (recommendations welcome).
We're in our 40's and aware of our terribleness, i.e.; we do not think we are cool to college kids when we are in town. But we'll still have some beers and food at night. We'll plan to go out and enjoy the sights and sounds, and have to work out a way to get back to the hotel.
However, based on the answers, I think we should stay near Athens. I hate game day traffic, and I have been in the parking lot on the way to Clemson. If it's anything like that, then I want no part of it.
I figured there would be no rooms in Athens itself. It looks like the next best thing is Commerce, so I'll try to book there (recommendations welcome).
We're in our 40's and aware of our terribleness, i.e.; we do not think we are cool to college kids when we are in town. But we'll still have some beers and food at night. We'll plan to go out and enjoy the sights and sounds, and have to work out a way to get back to the hotel.
Posted on 3/31/13 at 8:00 am to Halifax
I'm willing to bet that all hotels in Athens are already booked. The next closest is Commerce. But luckily for you, if you're flying into Atlanta, Commerce is about an hour and a half North off I-85.
Online sites indicate that all Athens hotels are sold out, but I'd get a list of some and call them personally just to be sure.
If you don't want to drive that far to Commerce for a hotel (which is about 30 minutes North of Athens), there may be some options in Winder, which is about 30 minutes WEST of Athens on 316.
But like others have said, you have to book ASAP because even the Commerce hotels that have rooms will book up soon.
Online sites indicate that all Athens hotels are sold out, but I'd get a list of some and call them personally just to be sure.
If you don't want to drive that far to Commerce for a hotel (which is about 30 minutes North of Athens), there may be some options in Winder, which is about 30 minutes WEST of Athens on 316.
But like others have said, you have to book ASAP because even the Commerce hotels that have rooms will book up soon.
This post was edited on 3/31/13 at 8:01 am
Posted on 3/31/13 at 8:42 am to Glory, Glory
Never,ever go 316 from Atl to Athens...78 to Athens bypass is ALWAYS a much better alternative
Posted on 3/31/13 at 8:57 am to Halifax
quote:
I figured there would be no rooms in Athens itself. It looks like the next best thing is Commerce, so I'll try to book there (recommendations welcome).
If you don't care about being near Atl/Gwinnett/I-85 - 316 corridor, consider heading down I-20E & stay in the Madison/Lake Oconee Area.
Plenty of Hotels and B&B's, solid restaurants, scenic, historic town, good golf & most important easy to get to Athens(25 miles)...
Posted on 3/31/13 at 9:22 am to dallasga6
I would second staying in Madison. Beautiful town with some solid food options and it is a hell of a lot easier driving into Athens from the South than from the north or West
ETA: Plus, driving in from the South means you have a very easy hop onto the 10 Loop for the College Station Rd exit for free parking at the East Campus Village dorms and apartments
ETA: Plus, driving in from the South means you have a very easy hop onto the 10 Loop for the College Station Rd exit for free parking at the East Campus Village dorms and apartments
This post was edited on 3/31/13 at 9:24 am
Posted on 3/31/13 at 9:23 am to CNB
quote:
We literally sat dead still for two hours
So you didn't even move a single inch for two hours? I find that very difficult to believe.
Posted on 3/31/13 at 9:25 am to LiterallyPolice
Given how small a town Clemson is, I'm willing to believe him
Toured Clemson in High School and I don't see how people a.) take it seriously or b.) don't lose their minds. Maybe I'm just jaded something awful having grown up around Athens, but Clemson is the pits in comparison.
Toured Clemson in High School and I don't see how people a.) take it seriously or b.) don't lose their minds. Maybe I'm just jaded something awful having grown up around Athens, but Clemson is the pits in comparison.
This post was edited on 3/31/13 at 9:26 am
Posted on 3/31/13 at 9:27 am to LiterallyPolice
quote:
So you didn't even move a single inch for two hours? I find that very difficult to believe.
Like I said in my post, they let the season pass parking and paid parking leave. Then they let the free parking go. Ask any Gamecock fan, they will tell you the same thing. Two hours. I even posted the night of the game in the game thread about my experience. We just got out and threw the football at one point. Others started grilling again
ETA: If you mean did I LITERALLY not move an inch, yes of course I did.
This post was edited on 3/31/13 at 9:29 am
Posted on 3/31/13 at 10:30 am to RD Dawg
quote:
Never,ever go 316 from Atl to Athens...78 to Athens bypass is ALWAYS a much better alternative
This. Coming from Atlanta take I85 to 78 (Jefferson Highway) and come in the back side of Athens.
Posted on 3/31/13 at 1:25 pm to gatorhata9
There are also B and Bs out Watkinsville way.
Posted on 3/31/13 at 2:39 pm to Halifax
#1- Stay in Jefferson off I-85 at Highway 129 (exit 137). It is a solid 25 minutes to downtown Athens from there, and only about 40 minutes north of Atlanta. That's a better choice than Commerce (but commerce has more hotels, if the ones in Jefferson are booked).
#2- Stay in Braselton (2 exits from the Jefferson Exit on I-85). You are 30 minutes from Athens. There are several hotels there, and a fancy winery place that is probably already booked.
3#- Madison/Lake Oconee area. This is off I-20, south of Athens, about 30 minutes. About an hour from the ATL airport. There are hotels, motels, lake house rentals, etc.
#4- If you stay in Atlanta, it is 1 hour 15 minutes to Athens, with no traffic. With traffic, on a gameday, it is 2.5 hours. From downtown ATL, I recommend reverse psychology. Drive north on I-85 to Jefferson, which seems longer and more out of the way on paper, then you'll drive south on highway 129 straight into downtown Athens. Highway 129 becomes "Prince Avenue" in Athens.
#2- Stay in Braselton (2 exits from the Jefferson Exit on I-85). You are 30 minutes from Athens. There are several hotels there, and a fancy winery place that is probably already booked.
3#- Madison/Lake Oconee area. This is off I-20, south of Athens, about 30 minutes. About an hour from the ATL airport. There are hotels, motels, lake house rentals, etc.
#4- If you stay in Atlanta, it is 1 hour 15 minutes to Athens, with no traffic. With traffic, on a gameday, it is 2.5 hours. From downtown ATL, I recommend reverse psychology. Drive north on I-85 to Jefferson, which seems longer and more out of the way on paper, then you'll drive south on highway 129 straight into downtown Athens. Highway 129 becomes "Prince Avenue" in Athens.
Posted on 4/18/13 at 2:34 pm to Halifax
Update: As antincipated, all rooms are booked in Athens.
We have rooms booked at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, in Commerce, GA, for Friday and Saturday nights.
Waddayathink?
Posted on 4/18/13 at 2:50 pm to Halifax
well done, you guys just gonna drive from there and then back? just be prepared for the zoo that is athens after a game. may want to just sit back and relax or go out on the town for a few hours to let the traffic die down. luckily, though, yall went with commerce so that way won't be nearly as bad traffic wise. and hey, you got some outlets there for the little lady
Posted on 4/18/13 at 2:56 pm to Halifax
quote:
Update: As antincipated, all rooms are booked in Athens.
We have rooms booked at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, in Commerce, GA, for Friday and Saturday nights.
Waddayathink?
That'll work. You'll do fine.
But you probably could have flown into Augusta for less money and stayed in Greensboro or Madison and come-out a lot better in the long run.
Posted on 4/18/13 at 2:57 pm to Damn Good Dawg
Chuckles at the little lady comment. Bed, Bath and Beyond...Probably not gonna get there...
We expect game day traffic and will plan to chill out in Athens after the game - maybe grab something to eat.
Driving on Friday and Saturday nights will suck, but we don't have a choice. I realize it is a long shot, but are cabs totally out of the question?
Got our game tix earlier this week.
Posted on 4/18/13 at 3:10 pm to Halifax
quote:
Driving on Friday and Saturday nights will suck, but we don't have a choice. I realize it is a long shot, but are cabs totally out of the question?
most will likely be taking advantage of the heavy crowds in town and shuffling them about but I can't give you a 100% answer on this. My gut says no but I've heard weirder. You can always hire a car, maybe, but i think driving may be your only bet. Walking downtown from the stadium isn't bad so may not be a bad idea to grab some food and just mellow for a little bit after.
and very nice on the tickets
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