For me, fast food has always been a way of life. From family trips to McDonalds as a child, to a steady diet of Burger King original chicken sandwiches in college all the way up to adulthood and my introduction to Chick-Fil-A in the south, fast food has been with me through mostly thick and rarely thin.

For many of you, however, fast food might just now becoming a factor in your life. Thanks to the Covid-19 coronavirus, fast food restaurants for many people, have become their only option for restaurant food. Using my extensive knowledge about fast food and the Atlanta interstate system, I’ve compiled a list of the best fast food exits on every freeway in the metro area.

In order to accomplish this, I had to set up some ground rules.

The first: in order to qualify, the restaurant must be located within one mile of the interstate exit. No one wants to drive more than that to get a meal.

Second rule: If you have to get out of your car to get your food, the restaurant doesn’t count. So, as much as I love Waffle House, they aren’t being considered for this list. The same goes for travelers’ favorites Quik-Trip and RaceTrac.

Third: I included Starbucks with drive-thru windows on this list. They have coffee, food and sweat treats, so I thought they should qualify.

Without further ado, here are the best fast food exits on every interstate. At the bottom of the list, you will find my Top 5 overall exits in Atlanta.

Best Exit on I-75 (North Side) 

Chastain Rd. (Exit 271) – It’s a tough call because there are a lot of great Fast Food Exits on I-75 but Chastain Rd. in Cobb County wins in a squeaker. Getting off Exit 271 provides you the opportunity to drive-true some classics like Arby’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Taco Bell, but it also provides some rarer establishments like Cookout and Panda Express. And for good measure there is a Starbucks as well.

Honorable Mention: 

Highway 92 (Exit 277): Dairy Queen, Arby’s, McDonalds, Zaxby’s, Hardees and Dunkin Donuts.

Barrett Parkway (Exit 269): Chick-Fil-A, Steak & Shake, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, Panda Express, McDonalds and Zaxby’s.

Howell Mill Road (Exit 252): Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Arby’s, Dunkin Donuts and Einstein’s.

Best Exit on I-75 (South Side) 

Highway 20/81 (Exit 218) – McDonough boasts one of the best fast food exits around. There is something for everyone with this lineup: McDonalds, Popeyes, Taco Bell, Zaxby’s, Chick-Fil-A, Freddy’s, Del Taco, Starbucks and Culvers! Amazing options.

Honorable Mention: 

Cleveland Avenue (Exit 241): Burger King, Krystal, Church’s, Popeyes, McDonalds and Chick-Fil-A.

Hudson Bridge Road (Exit 224): Zaxby’s, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Chick-Fil-A, Wendy’s, Starbucks, McDonalds.

Best Exit on I-85 (North Side) 

Jimmy Carter Boulevard (Exit 99) – There was some tough competition along I-85, as a result there was no clear-cut winner, but I decided to go with Jimmy Carter Blvd. because of The Varsity Jr. location. Other options include: McDonalds, Chick-Fil-A, Sonic, Dunkin Donuts and Burger King.

Honorable mention: 

North Druid Hills Road (Exit 89): Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, Arby’s, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.

Hamilton Mill Road (Exit 120): Zaxby’s, Wendy’s, TWO Chick-Fil-A’s, Dunkin Donuts.

Best Exit on I-85 (South Side) 

Highway 34 (Exit 47) – Wow. What an exit down on Newnan! Huge, amazing selection and variety including: Two Wendy’s, Arby’s, Steak & Shake, Captain D’s, Popeyes, Dairy Queen, two Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, Burger King, Culvers, McDonalds and Taco Bell! I could live on that exit!

Honorable mention: 

Highway 138 (Exit 64): McDonalds, Zaxby’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Steak & Shake, Taco Bell, KFC, Popeyes, Dunkin Donuts, Sonic and Captain D’s.

Senoia Road (Exit 61): Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Zaxby’s, Bojangles, Hardees, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell and Krystal.

Best Exit on GA-400 

Holcomb Bridge Road (Exit 7) – Roswell is known for it’s amazing restaurants in downtown, but the fast food options off of Holcomb Bridge Road are equally amazing. They include two McDonalds, Wendy’s, Zaxby’s, Dunkin Donuts, Krystal, Taco Bell, Hardees, Captain D’s, KFC, Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A!

Honorable mention: 

Peachtree Parkway (Exit 13): Chick-Fil-A, Wendy’s, Dunkin Donuts, Zaxby’s, Taco Bell and Culvers.

Old Milton Parkway (Exit 10): Two Starbucks, Popeyes, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Wendy’s, Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen and Zaxby’s.

I-20 on the West Side 

Fairburn Road (Exit 37) – Oh my. Douglas County boasts a handful of amazing fast food exits but Fairburn Road takes the title. Among the options available include Burger King, Krystal, Taco Bell, Martin’s, Chick-Fil-A, Checkers, McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Church’s and Wendy’s. No worries here.

Honorable Mention: 

Highway 5 (Exit 34): Dunking Donuts, McDonalds, Steak & Shake, KFC, Burger King, Sonic, Taco Bell, Martins and Zaxby’s.

Thornton Road (Exit 44): Burger King, Hardees, Bojangles, Chick-Fil-A, Dunkin Donuts, Sonic, Arby’s and Wendy’s.

I-20 on the East Side 

Highway 138 (Exit 82) – With apologies to Kevin Costner, heaven isn’t in a corn field in Iowa, it’s Highway 138 in Conyers. Dream exit for fast food lovers. Check out this selection: Checkers, Krystal, Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, Arby’s, Popeyes, Captain D’s, McDonalds, Zaxby’s, Dunkin Donuts, Freddy’s, Wendy’s and Sonic. Oh my, I have the vapors.

Honorable mention: 

Wesley Chapel Road (Exit 68): Two McDonalds, Popeyes, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, Church’s, Krispy Kreme, Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell and Checkers

Panola Road (Exit 71): KFC, Burger King, McDonalds, Cook Out, Checkers, Bojangles, Taco Bell, Popeyes and Wendy’s.

I-285 on the East Side

Lavista Road (Exit 37) – Sadly, there is literally not much cooking off of the east side perimeter. Lavista Road wins a tight one with Chick-Fil-A, Checkers, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and a Panda Express.

Honorable Mention: 

Bouldercrest Road (Exit 51): Wendy’s, Checkers, KFC and Hardees.

Chamblee Tucker Road (Exit 34): McDonalds, Wendy’s, KFC and Zaxby’s.

I-285 on the West Side 

South Cobb Drive (Exit 15) – What up Smyrna??? Hopefully your appetite. Great exit here in Cobb County includes: Bojangles, Zaxby’s, McDonalds, Krystal, Chick-Fil-A, Arby’s, Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Dunkin Donuts. Solid. Very solid.

Honorable Mention: 

Camp Creek Parkway (Exit 2): Chick-Fil-A, Popeyes, Taco Bell, Starbucks, McDonalds, Checkers and Zaxby’s.

Langford Parkway(Exit 5): Checkers, Captain D’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, KFC and Church’s.

I-285 on the North Side 

Buford Highway (Exit 32) – Better known for it’s amazing variety of excellent ethnic food, the Buford Highway exit off of I-285 is also the top fast food choice on the north side perimeter. Selections include: Zaxby’s, Chick-Fil-A, Checkers, McDonalds and Bojangles.

Honorable Mention: 

Roswell Road (Exit 25): Panda Express, Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts.

I-285 on the South Side: 

Old National Highway (Exit 62) – The only decent fast food exit on the southside of I-285. Old Nat El boasts Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Krystal, Bojangles and Wendy’s.

I-575 

Highway 92 (Exit 8) – Woodstock you are truly blessed. What an amazing selection of fast food bistros off of Highway 92. Options include: Checkers, Starbucks, Arby’s, Chick-Fil-A, Dunkin Donuts, Del Taco, Captain D’s, McDonalds, Burger King and Steak and Shake! Wowza.

Honorable Mention: 

Towne Lake Parkway (Exit 8): Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Chick-Fil-A and Zaxby’s.

I-675 

Highway 138 (Exit 1) – Stockbridge you had me at hello. Unreal fast food choices here. Chick-Fil-A, Krystal, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Burger King, KFC, Captain D’s, Zaxby’s, Popeyes and Dunkin Donuts. Amazing.

Honorable Mention: 

Anvil Block Road (Exit 8): Wendy’s, Popeeys and Hardees

I-985 

Mundy Mill Rd. (Exit 16) – Ohh. Emm. Gee. What an exit! Fifteen amazing options here in Hall County including: McDonalds, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, Cook Out, Burger King, Arby’s, Starbucks, KFC, Steak & Shake, Zaxby’s, Captain D’s, Wendy’s, Krystal, Chick-Fil-A and Sonic. No matter where you live in metro Atlanta, a trip to Mundy Mill Rd. is certainly worth the drive.

Honorable mention: 

Buford Drive (Exit 4): This was a tough call. Buford Drive also boasts 15 fast foot establishments. Including Del Taco, Panda Express, Bojangles and Hardees, all restaurants that are not located off of Mundy Mill Rd. In the end though, Buford Drive came up just short.

The Downtown Connector (I-75/85) 

North Avenue (Exit 249D) – The Varsity. Enough said. Aside from the Atlanta Landmark, you can also access Zaxby’s, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Dunkin Donuts and Popeyes off of North Avenue.

Honorable Mention: 

14th/10th Street (Exit 250): midtown options include Krystal, Cookout, Chick-Fil-A, Burger King and McDonalds.

TOP 5 EXITS IN ATLANTA: 

5. GA 400 – Holcomb Bridge Road

4. I-20 – Highway 138

3. I-85 – Highway 34

2. I-985 – Buford Drive

1. I-985 – Mundy Mill Road