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AAA's Top 5 Ways to Get Around Atlanta

Published: May 31, 2023

Written byAAA Travel Editor, CW

Whether you’re heading to Atlanta for work or pleasure, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: Atlanta offers more than enough to satisfy every taste and keep visitors coming back for more. Millions head to this New South metropolis every year to catch up on the biggest sporting events in the region, to absorb some of the city’s rich cultural heritage or even to make Atlanta their home.

With a population of half a million people and almost 140 square miles in area, the first challenge visitors to the area face is learning how to get around Atlanta. Luckily, between MARTA, the city’s excellent public transportation service, highly walkable areas and an easily-navigated street system, there are almost as many options for getting around town as there are for spending your time while visiting.

Here are AAA’s top ways to get around Atlanta.

istockphoto.com / Marilyn Nieves

MARTA Rail

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides rail, bus and streetcar services throughout Fulton, Clayton and DeKalb Counties, with additional services to nearby Cobb and Gwinnett Counties. MARTA Rail, Atlanta’s rapid transit system, began operation in 1979, one of the earliest such systems in the South and today is made up of four lines with 38 stations.

The Red, Blue, Green and Gold Lines intersect at Five Points station, the system’s major interchange. This makes MARTA Rail an easy way to cover ground while traveling north, east, west or south, including to the airport and downtown Atlanta.

Kristain Baty / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

MARTA Bus

With 100 lines and over 1,000 miles of routes throughout the city, MARTA Bus is by far the largest component in Atlanta’s public transportation system. If you’re wondering how to get around Atlanta on a budget, the bus system is an excellent option. Buses serve destinations throughout DeKalb and Fulton Counties from 5 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on weekdays and 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays, with the same fare rates as MARTA Rail.

Regular MARTA users typically use a Breeze Card for travel, available for $2 from station staff or online and transfers can only be purchased and used with a Breeze Card. If you’re planning a longer stay in Atlanta, it might be worth investing in a Breeze Card to use the rail system with cheaper transfers to local bus services. Atlanta’s bus system can be confusing at first, but you can download the MARTA On the Go app to work out routes and travel times and locate buses in real time.

Spmarshall42 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Atlanta Streetcar

The newest and most limited of MARTA’s services is the Atlanta Streetcar network. Consisting of one line with 12 stations running from Centennial Olympic Park to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, fares start at $1 for a one-way ticket or $3 for an all-day pass. Breeze Cards are also accepted on the streetcar service.

At just 2.7 miles, the streetcar line isn’t the best way to travel far around Atlanta. However, it offers a great scenic way to get from Downtown to Eastside Atlanta in just under half an hour, passing attractions like Ebenezer Baptist Church and the College Football Hall of Fame. Streetcars run about every 10 to 15 minutes from 8:15 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with connections to MARTA Rail’s Red and Gold lines at Peachtree Center station.

istockphoto.com / Ascent Xmedia

On Foot and By Bicycle

Atlanta features several areas which are easily traveled by foot, many of which are home to some of the city’s biggest attractions. Downtown alone is only four square miles, yet within its borders can be found the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. You can also join walking tours, led by local guides, for an up-close view of the city’s sights.

If you want to travel by bicycle, you can find rentals at many bike shops or one of the many HOPR rental bike stations around town. Getting to out-of-the-way destinations like the Atlanta History Center or the Buckhead neighborhood will require public transportation or a car journey, but you can also cycle around the city’s many parks, or head to the Atlanta BeltLine, one of the most comprehensive greenway networks in the country.

istockphoto.com / Marilyn Nieves

By Car

As a rule, getting around in Atlanta is easier using MARTA, since heavy traffic congestion and a sprawling street network can make car travel a challenge for newcomers to the city. However, driving is also a great way to get out of town and visit more distant attractions like Stone Mountain, Six Flags Over Georgia or nearby towns and cities.

For short journeys, you can take advantage of the local cab and ride-sharing services. Rental offices can be found at the airport and in several downtown locations. If you plan to travel by car in Atlanta, plan and make a reservation at least three months in advance. You can get the best deals when you reserve a car using your AAA membership for up to 20% savings on rentals, discounted fuel and other extras.

istockphoto.com / Cameris

Taxis and Rideshares

Atlanta, like most major cities, offers plenty of options if you want to get around using local taxis or rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. Taxis are a great way to travel between the airport to the business district, made up of Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead. Outside of that area, however, cabs tend to be slightly more costly. City ordinances fix waiting time charges at $24 per hour.

For trips outside the downtown area, a cheaper option is to use rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. Because these services base their rates on demand rather than fixed prices, they can help your money go a lot further. However, during high-demand periods such as major sporting events, surge pricing is applied, which can make them substantially more expensive.

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