Getting Around Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs is a suburban city in northern Fulton County, Georgia, within the Atlanta metropolitan area. It sits just north of Atlanta, and much of what a visitor needs to know about getting around comes down to one thing: this is a car-oriented city with a rail line running through it. If you plan to spend most of your time in the City Springs downtown district or along the MARTA rail corridor, you can manage without a car. If you want to explore the residential neighborhoods, the corporate campuses, or the shopping districts, you will almost certainly want to drive or use ride-hailing.
MARTA Rail
Sandy Springs is served by MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), which operates both the rapid rail and bus networks in Fulton and DeKalb counties. The rail system is the backbone of public transit in the area, and it is the mode most visitors will use.
The rail network is made up of two principal lines that form a cross. One line runs north-south across the city, and the other runs east-west. The north-south line runs from a southern terminus at Hartsfield-Jackson airport through downtown and midtown Atlanta before splitting into two northern branches. One of those branches terminates in Sandy Springs at the North Springs station; the other terminates at the Doraville station. The east-west line runs from a western terminal at Hamilton E. Holmes to an eastern terminal at Indian Creek.
The Five Points station in downtown Atlanta is the only station where passengers can change trains between the north-south and east-west lines, so if your trip involves both, plan to transfer there.
Trains run from 5AM until 1AM Monday through Friday, and from 5AM until 12:30AM on weekends and holidays. During peak periods, trains run on all lines every 10 minutes, reducing to every 20 minutes on Sundays. On weekends, MARTA has a tendency to run slower, with typical train wait times around 30 minutes, so build extra time into your plans.
Buses and Other Public Transport
MARTA also operates a large bus network, with many routes running approximately every 20 minutes. Bus service on some lines, generally including the most popular tourist areas, runs from 5AM until 1:30AM Monday through Friday and from 5AM until 1AM on weekends and holidays. On weekends, bus waits can stretch up to an hour.
Several bus routes serve Sandy Springs specifically, connecting the area to nearby transit hubs and park-and-ride lots. Buses are a useful complement to the rail line for reaching destinations that are not within walking distance of a station.
Beyond MARTA, other regional transit operators serve the Atlanta area, including CobbLinc and Gwinnett County Transit, as well as the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority's Xpress buses, which provide express commuter service with frequent stops in Sandy Springs. These are primarily geared toward commuters rather than visitors, but they can be useful for reaching certain suburban destinations.
Fares and Tickets
A single ride on MARTA costs $2.50, and the fare includes transfers. Single-use Breeze Cards are sold in vending machines at all rail stations or at RideStores at the airport. If you are starting your journey by bus, swipe the card at the fare post next to the driver. If you are starting by train, swipe the card at the fare gate; the now-depleted card acts as your transfer. When transferring to a bus, give the operator your Breeze Card. When transferring to a train, swipe the transfer ticket through the reader on the turnstile.
For visitors planning multiple trips, a 30-day unlimited pass is available and covers both buses and trains. MARTA also offers reduced fares for students, seniors, and people with disabilities, and some employers offer subsidized or pre-tax transit passes.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Most MARTA destination stations have taxi service available for local trips, which makes it easy to complete a journey that starts on rail. Ride-hailing services are widely used in the area as well, and are a practical option for reaching destinations that are not near a station, particularly at night.
For visitors who need to travel alone at night, taxis, hotel buses, or a rental car may be a better choice than MARTA, as the system often becomes empty or rowdy at nighttime and travel may feel unsafe to those who do not know the city.
Walkability
Sandy Springs is a suburban city, and walking is practical mainly in specific districts rather than as a general way to get around. The City Springs district and downtown Dunwoody have walkable access to MARTA stations. Outlying areas generally require driving to park-and-ride lots rather than walking to transit.
There are several trails throughout Sandy Springs for biking and walking that connect different parts of town, which can be a pleasant way to move between nearby areas, but they are not a substitute for a car for most trips.
Driving and Parking
Cars are the most popular form of transport for getting around the city and experiencing its shopping and events. If MARTA rail does not service all the areas you need, renting a car is recommended. Rush hour runs almost continuously but peaks 6-10AM and 3-7PM on weekdays, often resulting in congestion when traveling intown in the mornings and outbound in the afternoons. Downtown, Midtown, and major shopping districts such as Buckhead also get crowded on weekends.
Most restaurants and shops in the area offer complimentary or low-cost valet services, with a $1-3 tip expected. On the rare occasion where parking is scarce, public lots are usually nearby for a fee. Several major car rental companies operate in the area, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, E-Z Rent-A-Car, Enterprise, Hertz, and Thrifty.
Getting from the Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson airport is the terminus of the southern branch of the MARTA rail system, which makes it a convenient and economical way to reach downtown, midtown, or northern Atlanta, including Sandy Springs. A one-way ticket costs $2.50. Most MARTA stations have taxi stations to help complete the journey, and some hotels offer free shuttles that will collect from either the airport or the nearest MARTA station on telephone request.
If you are arriving by intercity bus, Greyhound provides service to Atlanta from many locations throughout the United States, arriving and departing from the Greyhound terminal at 232 Forsyth Street, directly beneath MARTA's Garnett Station. If you are arriving by train, Amtrak's Crescent train runs daily and serves New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, and New Orleans. In Atlanta, the Amtrak station is located at 1688 Peachtree St. N.W., several miles north of the airport and downtown. There are no direct connections between MARTA trains and Amtrak, but MARTA Bus routes 23 and 110, which can be transferred at the Buckhead Station and the Arts Center Station, stop in front of the Amtrak Station.
Practical Tips
- Buy a Breeze Card at a rail station vending machine or at the RideStore at the airport; the $2.50 fare includes transfers.
- Allow extra time on weekends, when train waits can reach 30 minutes and bus waits up to an hour.
- Use Five Points station in downtown Atlanta to transfer between the north-south and east-west rail lines.
- If you are staying outside the City Springs or Dunwoody walkable areas, plan on driving or using ride-hailing for most trips.
- For late-night travel, consider taxis, hotel shuttles, or a rental car rather than relying on MARTA.