Here's BR's route, which was buried in one of the first posts I wrote here (which is why I remembered it). Use at your own risk, though, since it's obviously now a very popular way to get to the beach.
Southbound:
Take I-85 South
Exit 16mm Waugh Rd./Mt. Meigs;left over bridge;right@US 80
Left @Cty. Hwy. 85/Pike Rd./Ware's Ferry/Carter Hill Rd.
Turn right and immediate left at Hwy. 82/US 231
In Troy turn right at Hwy. 87
Stay on 87 by bearing to right at Hwy. 87/167
Stay on 87 by turning left in downtown Elba-COPS!
Then Hwy. 87 turns right at Veterans Memorial
In Samson turn right onto Hwy. 52
Turn left onto Hwy. 153 (becomes 83 at the FL line)
In DeFuniak Springs right@US 90;quick left@US 331
In Freeport stay on US 331 by turning left@Hwy. 20
Stay on 331 by taking a right
At US 98@331 take a left
Take a right at Hwy. 395 which dead-ends on 30-A
Mermaid - I did this last night from Marietta and it is a preferred route for me when I return to the island.
Whiteyfunn has lots of great things to say about you and Merman!!!
When leaving, I prefer the route through 331, Andalusia, Georgiana and north on I-65 - if going in that direction toward B'ham. I have never liked 331.