Interstate 85 is best-known as a commuter route. Folks east of Montgomery travel to and from their jobs in the state’s capital.
It used to be known as the road to the dog racing track in Shorter. That is no more.
It is known as the road to Auburn, especially on big game days – football and basketball.
It is known as the road to Atlanta.
Interstate 85 is one of only three federal interstate highways that begin in Alabama, starting at its juncture with I-65 in Montgomery, just west of downtown. A second interstate with an Alabama beginning is I-65, which starts in Mobile at its juncture with I-10. A third is I-22, the former Corridor X, that begins at I-65 in Fultondale, north of Birmingham — the road to Memphis.
Montgomery’s intersection of I-85 and I-65 is a maze of overpasses and ramps that reminds travelers of roads in Atlanta, including their frequent heavy traffic and wrecks.
Interstate 85 was first envisioned for Alabama in the 1950s as a faster roadway for travelers on U.S. Highway 80 East, which it tracks from Montgomery to Tuskegee. At that point, the highways go different directions. Highway 80 heads southeast to Phenix City and Columbus, Georgia. I-85 continues northeast to Lanett, the Georgia state line, Atlanta and the Southeastern United States.
Highway 80 goes all across the state, from the Mississippi/Alabama line near Livingston to Montgomery where I-85 starts.
Interstate 85 goes eastward from Montgomery but more northeasterly, crossing the state line at Lanett/West Point, Georgia.
Notice that I-85 carries an odd number. For that reason, it is officially a north/south road like all odd-numbered interstates. (I-65, I-75, I-95 – all north/south). Lanett is east of Montgomery, but travelers go there by going on I-85 North.
Montgomery does have a true north-south interstate, I-65. It causes some confusion that I-85 north actually goes east. I-85 south goes west. Confusing? Remember, the interstates are named and numbered by the federal government, the U.S. Department of Transportation. No wonder it is confusing.
Interstate 85 stretches about 668 miles from Montgomery to Petersburg, Virginia. It crosses five states—Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Official records cite I-85 as being 666 miles long. The number 666 is avoided in Alabama and much of the Bible Belt because it is connected in scripture to Last Days prophecies of the Anti-Christ. I elected to go with the estimate of 668 miles.
I-85 passes through or by Alabama cities — Montgomery, Pike Road, Shorter-Tuskegee, Auburn-Opelika and Lanett-Valley.
As I-85 goes east out of Montgomery County, you can see on your right the remnants of the Macon County Dog Racing Track. Due to changes and the enforcement of Alabama laws, it is no longer operating. It had drawn large crowds, mostly on I-85, from Montgomery on its west and from Auburn and Georgia on its east.
I-85 hit the big time in 2022. It acquired a Buc-ees super convenience store at the western exit in Auburn. For traveling families, Buc-ees has become a mandatory stop on I-85. You will experience the cars exiting and entering I-85 at Buc-ees. Since you have to slow down for the Buc-ees traffic, you may as well pull off yourself and visit.
I-85 crosses the state line at Lanett/West Point, Georgia. This area for decades was a large textile manufacturing center, but foreign imports hit the textile industry hard, and the mills all cut back and some completely closed. There is not much traffic on I-85 from textile workers anymore.
In Georgia, I-85 continues northeast. On your left side, you can see the giant Kia manufacturing plant, which Georgia won over Alabama. Hundreds of Alabama residents commute on I-85 to their jobs at Kia. Georgia keeps the state income tax.
I-85 intersects with I-185 near LaGrange. I-185 is a connector interstate to Columbus and Fort Benning.
Nearing Newnan, I-85 takes you through Lewis Grizzard territory and for a spell is named “The Lewis Grizzard Highway.” Writer and comedian Grizzard was born and raised in Moreland, Georgia to the south of I-85. A lot of his humor occurred in Moreland, all supposedly true. His favorite barbeque joint, Sprayberry’s, is in Newman still serving BBQ and the Lewis Grizzard Special – BBQ sandwich and Brunswick (Georgia) Stew. Alabama folks, including me, are often in Sprayberry’s but won’t admit that it competes with Alabama BBQ.
Grizzard had a pig valve transplanted into his faulty heart. He famously said, “I get tears in my eyes every time I pass a barbeque joint.”
I-85 merges with I-75 for a few miles in Atlanta, forming the ‘Downtown Connector’ and spawning a lot of traffic jams, referred to as “progress.”
In downtown Atlanta, you can see the giant "V" on your right side, denoting the famous Varsity Restaurant near Georgia Tech University. Alabama folks like to eat at the Varsity for hot dogs, onion rings and frosted orange drinks. It is now non-cash, so take your credit or debit card. Alabama patrons say the Varsity is not any better than Chris’ Hot Dogs in Montgomery. It is just different.
“…send those Yellowjackets to a watery grave.” — Alabama Fight song
North of Atlanta, I-85 connects with I-985 toward Gainesville before entering South Carolina. These are the Lake Lanier people, Atlanta’s version of Lake Martin.
In South Carolina, I-85 serves the Upstate region. You cross portions of Lake Hartwell, which abuts Clemson University. Lewis Grizzard said Clemson “is just Auburn on the lake.”
I-85 links Townville, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg. It provides access to the BMW manufacturing plant near Spartanburg and the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.
In North Carolina, I-85 enters near historic Kings Mountain, passing through Gastonia and Charlotte, where it intersects with I-77. I-85 continues through Concord, Salisbury, Greensboro, and Durham, often paralleling US 29 and US 70. It briefly merges with I-40 between Greensboro and Hillsborough before heading northeast toward Virginia.
In Virginia, I-85 enters near Bracy, passing through South Hill and McKenney before ending at an interchange with I-95 in Petersburg. That is the road to Washington. To drive from Montgomery or from most of southern Alabama to Washington, you go I-85.
An interesting irony that no one has thought about before this article is that I-85 has a major federal prison on both ends. At Montgomery’s southern end, it has the Maxwell Federal Prison Camp. In Petersburg, Virginia’s northern end, it has the Petersburg FCI (Federal Correctional Institute). What is the significance of this little-known fact? Nothing. It is I-85 trivia. Just like this entire article.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama — her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
