Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), one of the world's busiest airports, features flights to every corner of the globe. It has a large food coart and numerous gift shops for activity that only dies down late at night. Though its a very large airport, a convenient Automated People Mover transports you underground between 6 concourses and the north and south terminals. The  bi-level roadway generally speeds departures and returns to airport property. For those who are traveling to only one location Downtown, Midtown, Lenox Square or Buckhead, MARTA subway also departs from ATL Airport with frequent service.

MARTA ATL Airport Station

The Ground Transportation Center (GTC) located near baggage claim, houses all ground transportation including buses, taxis, shuttles, car rentals, limousines and MARTA transit. ADA compliant services are available. Taxis are plentiful at ATL ground transportation level, as well as Downtown, Midtown, Lenox Square and Buckhead hotels. Super Shuttle (800-258-3826) is available for the 10-mile ride to downtown Atlanta. Car Rentals include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. Upon leaving the GTC, exit ATL Airport to I-85 Freeway for the 10-mile drive north towards Downtown. If traveling to Dunwoody or Marietta during rush hour, consider exiting to I-85 Freeway South, then take I-285 Perimeter Freeway.

The small Amtrak train station entrance is located next a bridge crossing over I-85 Freeway at 1688 Peachtree Street, NE in Midtown. At that station, you may board one daily passenger train route:

Amtrak Crescent: NYC-Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington-Charlottesville-Greensboro-Charlotte-Atlanta-Birmingham-New Orleans

Atlanta and the state of Georgia are finalizing plans for an intermodal transportation center to be located at Five Points in Downtown. When built, it will host High Speed Rail, MARTA subway, commuter rail, streetcars, bus rapid transit and taxis. Birmingham-Atlanta-Charlotte-Greensboro-Durham-Raleigh-Richmond-DC, is listed as a U.S. High Speed Rail Corridor by the U.S. Department of Transportation. See this important article about Interstate High Speed Rail.

MARTA: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority provides heavy rail transit (subway) service to 36 regional stations extending over 45-track miles. During commute hours, you can conveniently ride quicker on MARTA than driving to many business locations. Commute hour service runs in 8-minute intervals, other service runs in 15-minute intervals from 5a-1a Monday-Friday. Service runs 5a-12:30a on weekends. Fare costs about $2 for ages 6 and over. 

Visitors can purchase MARTA 1 to 6 day pass passes that cost $7-$12. Another Visitors Pass allows unlimited travel for groups of 15 or more. A minimum of 21 days' notice is required to order group passes.

All lines intersect at the Five Points Station located Downtown, next to The Underground entertainment district. There is a FREE shuttle bus from the MARTA Five Points Station 90 minutes before and after each Atlanta Braves baseball game. The subway lines are:

South - Downtown to ATL airport and points north
West - Downtown to Georgia Dome and Atlanta University Complex
East - runs close to Martin Luther King Memorial Complex & Decatur
North - Downtown to Midtown, Buckhead and Dunwoody
Northeast - runs to Midtown, Lenox Square and Chamblee

Atlanta Freeway Network features a “wheel and spoke” network of 6 freeways. Each freeway has 8-14 lanes. A tollway originating in Midtown travels directly north. Every device to increase traffic capacity is in use: HOV lanes, ramp metering, well designed intersections and exit/entry lanes. Nevertheless, the freeway network is a victim of Atlanta's decades of job growth and lack of residential density (fewer residents per square mile than any major metro area). That means freeways and boulevards take a real beating during commute hours, since people have to travel longer distances to work, shop, dine and be entertained. Before you player hate, remember that’s why Atlanta appears so green.

TIP: before using the freeways, note on a map whether your destination is located in the NW, NE, SE, SW quadrants that emanate from Peachtree Street downtown. Familiarize yourself with these freeways and one tollway:

  20    Interstate from points East to Downtown to points West
  75    Interstate from points Northwest to downtown to points South
  85    Interstate from points Northeast to Downtown to ATL Airport
166    East-west connector between I-75/85 & I-285
285    The Perimeter circling Atlanta that connects other freeways
400    State tollway from I-85 to Lenox Square and points north
675    Interstate from I-285 beltway to points southeast