What Time Is It in Atlanta? A Local’s Guide to Atlanta Time

If you’re asking “What time is it in Atlanta?”, you’re really asking two things:

1. What time zone is Atlanta in right now?
2. How does Atlanta’s time change throughout the year (especially with daylight saving time)?

Here’s a clear, Atlanta-focused guide so you always know what time it is here—and how it compares to where you are.

Atlanta’s Time Zone: Eastern Time, All Year Long

Atlanta, Georgia follows the Eastern Time Zone.

• In the fall and winter, Atlanta is on Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• In the spring and summer, Atlanta switches to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

On clocks, phones, and computers, you’ll usually just see this shown as ET (Eastern Time).

Key point:
➡️ Atlanta is always in the Eastern Time Zone, but whether it’s EST or EDT depends on the time of year.

Does Atlanta Observe Daylight Saving Time?

Yes. Like most of Georgia, Atlanta observes daylight saving time (DST).

Here’s how it works in Atlanta:

• Starts: Second Sunday in March

  • Clocks spring forward 1 hour at 2:00 a.m. (become 3:00 a.m.)
  • Atlanta moves from EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)

• Ends: First Sunday in November

  • Clocks fall back 1 hour at 2:00 a.m. (become 1:00 a.m.)
  • Atlanta moves from EDT (UTC−4) back to EST (UTC−5)

This affects everything from MARTA train schedules to Atlanta airport departures, so if you’re planning travel around those dates, double-check your timings.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Time vs. Other Major Cities

If you’re coordinating with people outside Atlanta, this simple table helps:

💡 Tip: Most smartphones automatically adjust for Atlanta’s time zone when you arrive, as long as Location Services and automatic time settings are turned on.

How to Check the Exact Local Time in Atlanta Right Now

If you’re not physically in Atlanta, the easiest ways to see the current local time in Atlanta are:

• On a smartphone:

  • Add “Atlanta” as a city in your World Clock or Clock app.
  • Make sure your phone’s time zone setting is set to Automatic or “Set time zone by location.”

• On a computer:

  • In most operating systems, you can add another clock and set it to Eastern Time (US & Canada) or directly to Atlanta, Georgia if available in your settings.

• By calling someone in Atlanta:

  • If you’re coordinating with family, friends, or a business in Atlanta, simply ask them, “What time is it there right now?” to double-check time zone differences, especially around daylight saving time changes.

Atlanta Time and Hartsfield–Jackson Airport (ATL)

If you’re flying into or out of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), all listed times are in local Atlanta time (ET).

This means:

• Boarding, departure, and arrival times on your ticket are all in Atlanta’s time zone for flights starting or ending here.
• If you’re flying in from another time zone (for example, Los Angeles or London), adjust your watch or phone to Eastern Time once you land so you don’t miss connections or MARTA trains.

Common travel tip:
➡️ When connecting through ATL, always plan your layover according to local Atlanta time, not your home time zone.

Atlanta Time and Local Daily Life

Knowing what time it is in Atlanta is also about understanding how the city runs:

• Government offices like Atlanta City Hall and Fulton County offices typically operate on standard business hours (roughly 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET on weekdays).
• MARTA trains and buses run on schedules posted in local Eastern Time at all stations.
• Events and venues like State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the Fox Theatre list show and game times in Atlanta local time, even when teams or artists are from other time zones.

If you’re new to the city or visiting, assume any posted time you see in Atlanta is Eastern Time unless it clearly says otherwise.

What If You’re Calling or Meeting with Someone in Atlanta?

If you’re outside Georgia and trying to schedule a call, delivery, or appointment with a person or business in Atlanta, keep these points in mind:

1. Confirm that you are referencing Eastern Time (ET).

   • Say something like: “Let’s meet at 3 p.m. Eastern / 2 p.m. Central.”

2. Adjust for daylight saving time.

   • In the summer, remember Atlanta is on EDT (UTC−4), not EST.

3. Check the business’s stated hours.

   • Many Atlanta businesses include “ET” or “Eastern Time” in their hours of operation, especially if they serve customers nationwide.

How Atlanta’s Time Affects Commutes and Schedules

For people living in or around Atlanta, time awareness often ties into traffic and commutes:

• Morning rush hour is typically tied to the 8:00–9:00 a.m. ET work start window.
• Evening rush often peaks between 4:30–6:30 p.m. ET, especially around downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and major interstates like I‑285 and I‑75/I‑85.

If you’re planning meetings or travel within Atlanta, consider:

• Avoiding tight scheduling during peak traffic hours.
• Allowing extra time when moving between neighborhoods like Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and Perimeter Center, even if they look close on a map.

All of this is still based on Atlanta’s Eastern Time, but planning around local patterns can keep you on schedule.

Simple Summary: Time in Atlanta, Georgia

Here’s the quick, at-a-glance version:

• Time zone: Atlanta is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
• Standard time (roughly Nov–Mar):EST (UTC−5)
• Daylight saving time (roughly Mar–Nov):EDT (UTC−4)
• DST observed: Yes—clocks move forward in March and back in November.
• All public services, transportation, events, and businesses in Atlanta use local Eastern Time.

Whenever you need to know, “What time is it in Atlanta?”:
➡️ Think Eastern Time, then check your phone or world clock set to Atlanta, Georgia for the exact current local time.