Many thanks. I copied out this post and printed it for my travel records.
Yes, I come down on I-85 then head west on I-20.
It makes a difference if you come through during the day or at night. I wouldn't go down there at night on a bet, but I regularly drive the Connector and I-20 during the day. I even get off the highway in the West End when I need to stop by the bank. Of course, I know exactly where to go and where not to go.
Coming down I-85, you are pretty much o.k. anywhere down to the Connector (where I-85 merges with I-75 for the trip through town). Once you pass 17th-14th St. exit on the Connector you should not get off or stop your car -- it's dicey in that area, some parts are o.k. but others (east of the Connector) are quite dangerous and you don't want to go there. Once you pass the Grady curve and head west on I-20, you are in a truly rotten part of town and you should drive straight ahead without stopping until you get past Six Flags Road. The jail is immediately on your right as you turn onto I-20, it is nothing but trash and thugs all the way out to Fulton County Airport. Parts of the West End are o.k. but they're islands in a sea of crud.
Going around the Perimeter won't help you because the whole west side below the river is thug territory. Back when MLK was shot, the rioters were heading for the river and the Atlanta police told the Cobb police they couldn't stop them. Certain military veterans of my acquaintance set up a defensive perimeter on the west end of the bridge. They tossed a couple of flares out in the travel lanes and nobody tried to cross . . . which was a good thing because there was some significant (elderly, but significant) firepower focused on the area.