Interstate 285
Atlanta Metropolitan Perimeter — 64-Mile Loop
Interstate 285 encircles Atlanta in a 64-mile loop, carrying one of the highest truck volumes of any US beltway. Known locally as 'The Perimeter,' I-285 connects every major interstate entering the Atlanta metro — I-20, I-75, I-85, and I-285 itself form a series of interchange complexes that concentrate freight from across the southeast into a single high-speed urban loop. The combination of extreme traffic density, aggressive Atlanta driving culture, complex multi-level interchanges, and around-the-clock congestion makes I-285 consistently one of the most accident-prone interstates in the country.
Length
64 miles
64 miles
Risk Rating
HIGH
HIGH
Risk Factors
Extreme 24/7 traffic density
Aggressive urban driving culture
Multiple complex high-volume interchanges
Limited shoulder and recovery space
High-speed merge conflicts at I-85/I-285 interchange
Notorious Segments
- I-285/I-85 interchange (northwest Atlanta)
- I-285/I-75 interchange (northwest and south)
- I-285/I-20 interchange (east and west)
Connected Hubs
Regions
United States
South
Georgia