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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - On Tuesday, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) reported I-75 North into Georgia was seeing a 280% increase in traffic, attributed largely to the evacuations in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.

GDOT posted the picture shown below on its Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon with the caption, “Significant increases in traffic volumes seen on Georgia interstates as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida’s west coast.”

On Monday, Georgia’s Peach Pass announced I-75 South Metro Express Lanes will run northbound “until further notice” in anticipation of the Hurricane Milton-related traffic.

Traffic cameras and social media videos showed I-75 sustaining bumper-to-bumper traffic for much of Monday and Tuesday.

RELATED: American Red Cross, metro Atlanta organizations preparing to respond to Hurricane Milton

Barry Durden, who evacuated to McDonough from Pasco County, Florida, said he saw droves of emergency vehicles driving into Florida as thousands were evacuating.

“It was very eerie. Seeing the first, of course it was the bucket trucks, the trucks for the power, and then all of a sudden it was a lot of ambulances coming from different counties,” Durden said.

Durden was able to book a hotel in Henry County.

“Pretty devastating leaving a new house you just bought. I got some pictures of it. Just hoping it’s going to look like that when we get back,” said Durden.

Atlanta News First talked to others who struggled to find a place to temporarily stay after fleeing Florida.

“There are no hotels around here. We’ve been looking for hotels and they’re all booked, so we’ve just been looking for a place to stay,” said Maribel, who was driving with her husband and four kids after leaving Bradenton, Florida.

Atlanta News First called a handful of hotels in Henry County.

The Best Western, Baymont by Wyndham, and Country Inn andamp; Suites in McDonough all told Atlanta News First they did not have any open rooms on Tuesday night, with most of their rooms filled with Florida evacuees.

RELATED: Gov. Kemp declares state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Milton

The Atlanta Motor Speedway opened its parking lot for evacuees. There is an area free-of-charge and an area where guests can pay $35 for a power hook-up.

“We know there is a need. We’ve worked with Henry County Emergency Management Services, and they’ve asked us to open up,” said Dustin Bixby, vice president of marketing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Farther north, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved a 50% discount for displaced Florida residents to stay at the Bald Ridge Creek Campground.

“A little scared because we don’t know if we’re going to get back and have our house,” said Maribel. “I don’t know, so it’s scary.”

MORE COVERAGE:

Hurricane Milton regains strength and returns to Category 5 on its way to the Florida coast

Atlanta Motor Speedway opens campground to Milton evacuees

Officials urge Floridians to find refuge in Georgia before Hurricane Milton

Gov. Kemp extends state of emergency for several Georgia counties after Hurricane Helene