Getting Around Atlanta
Atlanta's transportation system combines public transit, ride-hailing, taxis, and walking, though most locals drive. For visitors, public transit and walking work well for accessing major attractions and neighborhoods, while understanding the city's layout and available options will help you move around efficiently.
Public Transit: MARTA
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) operates most public transportation in the city. MARTA's system includes heavy rail (subway), light rail (streetcar), and buses, serving primarily Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties.
Heavy Rail (Subway)
MARTA's heavy rail network consists of four service lines—the Red Line, Gold Line, Blue Line, and Green Line—that all meet at Five Points station in downtown Atlanta. Trains operate on elevated, ground-level, and underground tracks serving stations throughout the city and into surrounding areas. Many suburban stations have free daily parking and kiss-and-ride drop-off areas, making them convenient for commuters joining the system from outside the downtown core.
Light Rail (Streetcar)
The Atlanta Streetcar system opened at the end of 2014 and has been operated by MARTA since July 2018. It forms a 2.7-mile loop operating mainly in mixed traffic through downtown Atlanta, running from Centennial Olympic Park along Edgewood and Auburn avenues to the King Center, with a stop at MARTA's Peachtree Center station.
Bus System
MARTA operates an extensive bus network covering a wider area than the rail system, reaching into North Fulton, South DeKalb, and Clayton County. All bus lines stop at least one heavy rail station, allowing you to combine buses with rail for broader coverage. MARTA also maintains park-and-ride lots serviced only by bus routes for commuters joining from outlying areas.
Fares and Payment
A single MARTA ride costs $2.50 and includes transfers, allowing you to move between different buses or between bus and rail without paying again. Children 46 inches and under ride free (up to two per adult). MARTA uses wireless Breeze Cards to store fare value, and new cards are available for purchase.
Regional Commuter and Specialty Transit
Beyond MARTA, the Xpress bus system operates regional commuter routes connecting outlying cities and towns to downtown and midtown Atlanta. Emory University operates the Cliff shuttle bus system, and Georgia Institute of Technology runs the Stinger shuttles serving its campus and the Midtown MARTA station. CobbLinc and Ride Gwinnett offer local bus services in their respective areas.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
While the source material does not provide specific details about taxi and ride-hailing services in Atlanta, these options are widely available in major cities. For the most current information on pricing, availability, and how to book, consult local resources or ask at your hotel.
Walking and Neighborhoods
Atlanta's major downtown neighborhoods are quite walkable for visitors. The areas around Midtown, Downtown, Decatur, Buckhead, and the North Highland Avenue corridor in East Atlanta (including Virginia-Highland, Poncey Highland, and Little Five Points) are particularly pedestrian-friendly, with bars, restaurants, and shops within walking distance. Within these neighborhoods, walking times rarely exceed 10–20 minutes. However, walking between neighborhoods is more difficult and time-consuming; expect a 30–45-minute walk between Midtown and Virginia-Highland, for example.
Keep in mind that Atlanta has confusing street naming conventions. More than 70 streets include "Peachtree" in their name, and many thoroughfares change names at intersections. When someone refers to "Peachtree" without clarification, they mean Peachtree Street, a major north-south route through Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead—not West Peachtree Street, which parallels it a block away.
Getting from the Airport to Downtown
Atlanta is served by Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport (ATL), located about 8 miles south of downtown. The airport is the world's busiest and a major hub for Delta Air Lines. MARTA operates the main public transit system in the city. For current information on airport shuttle services, rental car facilities, taxi stands, and ride-hailing pickup locations, consult the airport's official website or contact information.
Driving
While most Atlanta residents drive, having a car as a visitor downtown can be a hindrance due to scarce parking and lengthy rush hours. Driving is often the fastest way to reach destinations difficult or impossible to access by public transit, and it opens up outlying attractions, but expect congestion during peak commute times.
The city is served by major interstate highways including I-75, I-85, and I-20, which cross through downtown. I-285, commonly called "The Perimeter," circles the city at a distance of about 10 miles out and connects with all major freeways and the airport. For real-time traffic information, dial 511 from anywhere in Georgia.