Map of MARTA Atlanta: How to Read It, Plan Trips, and Get Around the City

If you’re trying to understand the map of MARTA in Atlanta, you’re really asking two things:

1. What does the system look like? and
2. How do I use it to actually get where I’m going?

This guide walks through the rail lines, bus routes, key transfer points, and major Atlanta destinations, plus where to find official maps and how to read them quickly.

Understanding the MARTA System at a Glance

MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) is Atlanta’s main public transit system. The MARTA map you’ll see online, at stations, and on printed brochures usually includes:

• Rail map (color-coded lines: Red, Gold, Blue, Green)
• Bus routes (numbered, often overlaid or shown on separate neighborhood maps)
• Key landmarks (airports, stadiums, universities, major job centers)
• Accessibility icons (elevators, park-and-ride lots, etc.)

For everyday use in Atlanta, most people rely on the rail map plus a few key bus routes near where they live, work, or stay.

The MARTA Rail Map: Lines and Major Stops

MARTA’s rail network is built around two main corridors that cross downtown:

• North–South (Red & Gold Lines)
• East–West (Blue & Green Lines)

They intersect at Five Points Station in Downtown Atlanta, which is the main transfer hub.

North–South Lines: Red and Gold

Both lines share central stations through Downtown and Midtown, then split as you go farther north and south.

Shared core stations (from north to south):

• Arts Center
• Midtown
• North Avenue
• Civic Center
• Peachtree Center
• Five Points
• Garnett
• West End

Red Line highlights

North end:

• North Springs Station – big park-and-ride lot, access to GA 400/Perimeter area.
• Sandy Springs / Dunwoody – near Perimeter Center offices and Perimeter Mall.
• Medical Center – hospitals and medical offices.

South end:

• Airport connection is on the Gold Line, so if you’re on the Red Line southbound, you transfer at Lindbergh Center to the Gold Line for Hartsfield-Jackson.

Gold Line highlights

North end:

• Doraville Station – near Buford Highway corridor and international dining.

Central:

• Lindbergh Center – major transfer point, buses, and park-and-ride.

South end:

• Airport Station – directly inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Domestic Terminal, near baggage claim). This is one of the most-used points on the MARTA map for travelers.

East–West Lines: Blue and Green

The Blue Line runs from the far east suburbs through Downtown and out to the west.
The Green Line overlaps in the middle and then ends a bit earlier on each side.

Shared core stations (roughly west to east):

• Ashby
• Vine City (near Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena)
• Dome/GWCC/State Farm Arena/CNN Center
• Five Points (transfer to Red/Gold)
• Georgia State
• King Memorial
• Inman Park/Reynoldstown

Blue Line extensions

East:

• Edgewood/Candler Park – residential areas, bus connections to Little Five Points.
• East Lake – near neighborhoods and golf course.
• Decatur – access to downtown Decatur, restaurants, and Emory shuttles.
• Avondale – park-and-ride, buses to Stone Mountain area.
• Kensington, Indian Creek – eastern end of the line, large commuter lots.

West:

• West Lake, Hamilton E. Holmes – westside neighborhoods, I-20 access.

Green Line extensions

West:

• Bankhead Station – near Westside neighborhoods and some newer development.

East:

• The Green Line stops at Edgewood/Candler Park and does not go farther east.

Key MARTA Stations for Popular Atlanta Destinations

Here are some of the most useful stations on the MARTA map and what they connect to.

On the rail map, these destinations are often marked with icons or labels. If you’re standing at a station, look at the wall maps or overhead line diagrams inside the train to see which direction you need.

MARTA Bus Map: How It Works with the Rail

The system-wide bus map looks more complex than the rail map, but you don’t need to know every route. Focus on:

• Your home or hotel area
• Your workplace or main destination
• The nearest rail station

Most MARTA buses are:

• Identified by route number and name (for example: Route 110 – Peachtree Road)
• Shown on local neighborhood maps at rail stations and on printed fold-out maps
• Timed to connect with nearby rail stations where possible

Typical way to use the bus + rail map

1. Find your starting point on the MARTA bus map.
2. Locate the nearest rail station that connects to your destination.
3. Check which bus route number runs between the two.
4. Use the rail map to see which line and direction you need.

If you live in Atlanta, you’ll quickly get used to a handful of routes that matter most to you rather than the entire bus network.

Where to Get Official MARTA Maps in Atlanta

You can access a MARTA map of Atlanta several ways:

1. At Rail Stations

Most major stations display:

• Large wall maps near the gates and on concourse levels
• Printed pocket maps at service counters (when available)
• Line diagrams inside the platforms showing only that line’s stations and transfer points

Examples of big hubs where maps are usually easy to find:

• Five Points Station – 30 Alabama St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Lindbergh Center Station – 2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
• Airport Station – inside Hartsfield-Jackson (Domestic Terminal)
• North Springs Station – 7010 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

2. At the MARTA Headquarters / Main Offices

MARTA’s main administrative offices typically maintain information desks and printed materials, including:

• MARTA Headquarters (One Marta)
  2424 Piedmont Rd NE
  Atlanta, GA 30324
  Main phone (customer information is often routed through this system): 404‑848‑5000

Office hours and exact locations for customer service can vary, so calling ahead can help if you specifically need printed maps.

3. On Buses

Some buses display:

• Route maps near the front of the bus
• Combined route and timetable sheets for the specific route you’re riding

These will not show the full city-wide map, but they help you understand where that particular route fits into the MARTA network.

How to Read the MARTA Map Quickly

When you’re standing in front of a MARTA system map, use this quick method:

1. Locate “You Are Here”
   Many station maps have a small indicator or you can identify the station you’re in by name.

2. Identify your destination station or area
   Look for the nearest rail station to where you’re going: for example, Midtown, Decatur, or Airport.

3. Follow the line color
   Check the color of the line that serves your current station and your destination (Red, Gold, Blue, or Green). If they are different, find where those colors cross—usually Five Points or Lindbergh Center.

4. Check direction names
   Directions on MARTA trains are usually the end-of-line station names, not north, south, east, west.

   • Red northbound: North Springs
   • Gold southbound: Airport
   • Blue eastbound: Indian Creek
   • Green westbound: Bankhead

5. Count stops if needed
   The map lists stations in order. This can help if you’re new to the system and want to know when to get off.

Planning Trips Across Atlanta with the MARTA Map

Here are a few common trip examples that show how to use the map in real life.

Example 1: Airport to Midtown

1. At Airport Station, board the Gold Line northbound (toward Doraville).
2. On the MARTA rail map, follow the Gold Line through stations: College Park, East Point, etc.
3. You’ll see that Midtown Station is on both the Red and Gold Lines, so stay on the Gold Line until Midtown.
4. Exit at Midtown to walk to hotels, offices, and restaurants in that district.

Example 2: Downtown Atlanta to Buckhead

1. From Peachtree Center or Five Points, go north on either the Red or Gold Line.
2. On the rail map, look for Buckhead (Red only) and Lenox (Gold only).
3. If your train isn’t on the right color line, you can transfer between Red and Gold at Lindbergh Center, which appears on the map as a major shared station.

Example 3: Decatur to Mercedes-Benz Stadium

1. From Decatur Station on the Blue Line, head west toward Downtown.
2. At Five Points, transfer to the westbound Blue or Green Line.
3. On the east–west portion of the map, you’ll see Vine City and Dome/GWCC/State Farm Arena/CNN Center near the stadiums.
4. Get off at either station depending on which side of the stadium you need.

Using the Map for Park-and-Ride and Commuting

If you live outside central Atlanta, the MARTA map is especially helpful for park-and-ride planning:

• Look for end-of-line and outer stations with parking icons, such as:
  • North Springs (Red)
  • Doraville (Gold)
  • Hamilton E. Holmes (Blue)
  • Indian Creek (Blue)
• Many commuters drive to these stations, park, and take the train into Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or the Airport.

When you look at the system map, park-and-ride lots are often marked with “P” symbols or similar icons.

Accessibility and Special Features on the MARTA Map

The MARTA map usually includes symbols for:

• Elevator access at stations
• Accessible entrances/exits
• Transit centers where multiple bus routes converge
• Rail–bus transfer points

If accessibility is important for you or your group, look for these icons when choosing which station to use.

When the MARTA Map Changes

MARTA occasionally:

• Adjusts bus routes or frequencies
• Opens or renovates stations
• Updates park-and-ride facilities

Because of that, printed maps and some posted maps may not always show the absolute latest bus routing, even though the rail lines change less frequently. When planning a new or unfamiliar trip:

• Double-check the station names and line colors on the map.
• Look at current route numbers posted at bus bays and platforms.
• If in doubt, use the station’s customer information area or call MARTA Customer Service: 404‑848‑5000 for route details.

Using the map of MARTA in Atlanta effectively comes down to three things: knowing the line colors, recognizing the main transfer hubs (especially Five Points and Lindbergh Center), and identifying the closest station to your destination. Once those pieces click, the system map becomes a practical tool for moving around Atlanta by rail and bus.