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Getting Here & Around

Atlanta Features

Getting Here & Around

By Air

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), the busiest passenger airport in the world, is served by more than 26 airlines, including AirTran, Continental and Delta. Although an underground train and moving walkways help you reach your gate more quickly, budget a little extra time for negotiating the massive facility. Because of the airport's size, security lines can be long, especially during peak travel periods. The airport typically suggests arriving two hours before your flight.

The airport is 13 mi south of Downtown. There are large parking facilities, which tend to fill up quickly. Check their current capacity, which is available on the airport's Web site. Locals know that MARTA, the regional subway system, is the fastest and cheapest way to and from the airport, but taxis are available. The fare to Downtown is about $35 for one person. From the airport to Buckhead, the fare is $38 for one person (though some politicians are trying to raise it). Buckhead Safety Cab and Checker Cab offer 24-hour service.

Airport Shuttles

Atlanta Airport Superior Shuttle vans run daily every 15 minutes between 6 AM and 11:30 PM to Perimeter Center offices, hotels, and residences. The trip can take 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the traffic. The cost typically ranges from $27 to $32 one-way. Atlanta Link operates vans every 15 minutes between 6 AM and midnight to Downtown, Midtown, and the Buckhead-Lenox area. Vans heading Downtown cost a minimum of $17 for the 20-minute trip. Vans to Midtown cost a minimum of $19 for the 40-minute trip, and vans to the Buckhead-Lenox area cost about $21 for the 45-minute trip.

Airport Metro Shuttle operates shuttles around-the-clock to destinations around the region. Reservation must be made at least 12 hours in advance. Typical fee is $48 for one passenger to Marietta.

By Bus

MARTA operates more than 100 routes covering more than 1,000 mi, but the bus system isn't popular among visitors. The fare is $1.75, and exact change or a Breeze card is required. Service is limited outside the perimeter of Interstate 285, except for a few areas in Clayton, DeKalb, and north Fulton counties.

By Car

The city is encircled by Interstate 285. Three interstates also crisscross Atlanta: Interstate 85, running northeast-southwest from Virginia to Alabama; Interstate 75, running north-south from Michigan to Florida; and Interstate 20, running east-west from South Carolina to Texas.

Some refer to Atlanta as the "Los Angeles of the South," because driving is virtually the only way to get around. Atlantans have grown accustomed to frequent delays at rush hour—the morning and late-afternoon commuting periods seem to get longer every year. The South as a whole may be laid-back, but Atlanta drivers are not; they tend to drive faster and more aggressively than drivers in other Southern cities. Rarely do Atlantans slow down at a yellow light.

If you plan to venture beyond the neighborhoods served by MARTA, you will want to rent a car. Many national agencies have branch offices all over the city, as well as at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

By Subway

MARTA has clean and safe subway trains with somewhat limited routes that link downtown with many major landmarks, like the CNN Center and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The system's two main lines cross at the Five Points station. MARTA uses a smart-card fare system called Breeze. The cards are available at RideStores and from vending machines at each station by using cash or credit cards. The one-way fare is $1.75, but the cards offer several options, including weekend, weekly, and monthly passes.

Trains generally run weekdays 5 AM to 1 AM and weekends and holidays 6 AM to 12:30 AM. Most trains operate every 15 to 20 minutes; during weekday rush hours, trains run every 10 minutes.

Locals take MARTA to and from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which has the traffic snarls common with larger airports. The $1.75 fare (plus a $0.50 charge for a Breeze Ticket or $5 for a reloadable Breeze Card) is a fraction of the amount charged by shuttles or taxis. Airport travelers should be careful about catching the right train. One line ends up at North Springs station to the north. The other at Doraville station, to the northeast. Daily parking is free at MARTA parking facilities. Long-term parking rates range from $4 to $7 daily. All stations do not have lots, however.

By Taxi

Taxi service in Atlanta can be uneven. Drivers often lack correct change, so bring along plenty of small bills. You can also charge your fare, as many accept credit cards. Drivers may be as befuddled as you may be by the city's notoriously winding streets, so if your destination is somewhere other than a major hotel or popular sight, bring along printed directions.

In Atlanta taxi fares begin at $2.50, then add 25¢ for each additional 1/8 mi. Additional passengers are $2. If you remain within the Downtown Convention Zone, the Midtown Zone, or the Buckhead Zone, a flat rate of $8 for one person and $2 for each additional passenger is charged to any destination.

You generally need to call for a cab, as Atlanta is not a place where you can hail one on the street. Buckhead Safety Cab and Checker Cab offer 24-hour service.

By Train

Amtrak operates daily service from Atlanta's Brookwood Station to New York; Philadelphia; Washington, DC; Baltimore; Charlotte, North Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; and New Orleans.

Tours

Gray Line of Atlanta has a four-hour "Georgia's Great" bus tour for $48 (includes the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, Martin Luther King Center, and the World of Coca-Cola) and a four-hour "All Around Atlanta" tour for $55 (includes the Margaret Mitchell House and Georgia Aquarium). The MARTA bus system links many of the city's top tourist sites, making do-it-yourself touring a more affordable option for many tourists.

The Atlanta Preservation Center runs several walking tours of historic areas and neighborhoods for $10 each; tours usually last one to two hours. Especially noteworthy are tours of Sweet Auburn, the neighborhood associated with Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders of Atlanta's African-American community; Druid Hills, the verdant, genteel neighborhood where Driving Miss Daisy was filmed; and the Fox Theatre, the elaborate 1929s picture palace.

Visitor Information

The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, which provides information on Atlanta and the outlying area, has several information centers in Atlanta: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in the Atrium; Underground Atlanta; and the Georgia World Congress Center.

Essentials

Airport Contacts

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL, 6000 N. Terminal Pkwy., Atlanta, 30320. 404/530-7300. www.atlanta-airport.com).

Bus & Train Contacts

Amtrak (Brookwood Station, 1688 Peachtree St., Buckhead, 30309. 404/881-3060 or 800/872-7245. www.amtrak.com).

Subway Contact

MARTA (404/848-5000. www.itsmarta.com).

Taxi & Shuttle Contacts

Atlanta Airport Superior Shuttle (404/766-5312. atlsuperiorshuttle.com). Atlanta Link (404/524-3400. www.theatlantalink.com). Airport Metro Shuttle (404/766-6666. airportmetro.com). Buckhead Safety Cab (404/233-1152). Checker Cab (404/351-1111).

Tour Contacts Atlanta Preservation Center (404/688-3353; 404/688-3350 for tour hotline. www.preserveatlanta.com). Gray Line of Atlanta (770/449-1806 or 800/593-1818. www.americancoachlines.com).