Where NFL Teams Stay in Atlanta: A Local Fan’s Guide

When an NFL team comes to play in Atlanta, visiting fans often wonder: Where do the players and coaches actually stay? While teams and hotels usually keep exact plans low-key for security and privacy, there are clear patterns in where NFL teams stay in Atlanta and how those choices are made.

This guide explains how it works in Atlanta, which areas and types of hotels are typically used, and what you can realistically expect if you’re hoping to stay nearby or catch a glimpse of the action.

How NFL Team Hotels Work in Atlanta

NFL teams don’t pick hotels at random. In Atlanta, visiting teams generally look for:

• Proximity to Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Secure, controlled access for players, coaches, and staff
• Meeting space for walkthroughs, film sessions, and team meals
• High-end accommodations that can handle large groups
• Bus-friendly access for getting to and from the stadium

Because of this, NFL teams tend to stay at upscale, full-service hotels in central areas like Downtown, Midtown, and occasionally Buckhead, with strong event and security capabilities.

Teams also often return to the same few properties year after year, depending on existing contracts, preferences, and logistics. However, exact hotel assignments can change week to week and are not publicly guaranteed.

Main Areas Where NFL Teams Usually Stay in Atlanta

1. Downtown Atlanta (Closest to the Stadium)

For games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (1414 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313), Downtown is the most common base. It offers:

• Very short travel time to the stadium (often just a few minutes by bus)
• Large, convention-style hotels with ballrooms and meeting rooms
• Easy access to team buses, loading zones, and secure entrances

Well-known hotel clusters near the stadium include blocks around:

• Peachtree Street NW
• Marietta Street NW
• Andrew Young International Blvd NW

These areas are filled with large, high-rise hotels that are used constantly for major events, conferences, and pro sports teams. During NFL weekends, it’s common to see team buses lined up on the streets near these properties under police escort.

For an Atlanta resident or visitor, downtown is the area where you’re most likely to be near an NFL team hotel simply because of the stadium’s location and the concentration of suitable properties.

2. Midtown Atlanta (A Short Ride Away)

Some NFL teams prefer Midtown Atlanta, which is a quick drive down the connector (I-75/85) to the stadium. Midtown offers:

• A slightly quieter, more neighborhood-like feel compared to downtown
• High-end hotels with strong event and security capabilities
• Easy freeway access for buses heading to Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Midtown hotels are popular for teams that want fast stadium access without staying in the densest part of downtown. From Midtown, bus rides to the stadium usually take only a short time when routed with police escorts and preplanned timing.

For fans, Midtown can be a good compromise:

• Close enough to the stadium
• Walkable for restaurants, bars, and attractions
• Still a realistic place where a visiting NFL team might be based

3. Buckhead (More Distance, More Seclusion)

Buckhead, in the northern part of the city, is another area visiting pro teams sometimes use—especially if they prefer a more secluded, upscale environment. Buckhead is known for:

• Luxury, full-service hotels
• A bit more privacy and distance from the stadium crowds
• Easy access to major roads like GA-400 and Peachtree Road NE

The drive from Buckhead to Mercedes-Benz Stadium is longer than from Midtown or Downtown, but with police escorts and timed departures, teams can still move efficiently on game day.

Buckhead locations are especially likely when a team wants:

• A “retreat-style” atmosphere
• Extra privacy away from game-day party zones
• Familiar properties they’ve stayed at for other events or matchups

Do NFL Teams Always Use the Same Atlanta Hotels?

Not always. In Atlanta, several factors can cause teams to rotate hotels, including:

• Availability during major conventions, concerts, or other games
• Pre-existing contracts with certain hotel chains
• Security and privacy needs based on the opponent or timing
• Coaching preferences or long-standing relationships with specific properties

While some fans observe consistent patterns (certain teams sometimes favor the same parts of town), no single hotel is “the” NFL team hotel in Atlanta.

Teams also tend to keep their exact hotel quiet until after checkout to avoid large crowds of fans gathering outside.

Can Fans Find Out Where NFL Teams Are Staying in Atlanta?

You can sometimes guess the general area, but you usually won’t find official announcements. Here’s what to know:

• Teams and hotels do not typically publish where the team is staying before a game.
• Team buses and security are easy to spot in Downtown and Midtown near large hotels on game weekends.
• Game-day mornings, it’s common to see buses lined up with tinted windows and police cars nearby.

If you’re staying Downtown or Midtown around an NFL home game in Atlanta, you may unexpectedly bump into team staff or media, even if you don’t know exactly which team is in which building.

Common Questions Atlanta Fans Ask

Do NFL teams stay near the airport?

For regular-season NFL games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, visiting teams most often stay in Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, not right by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320).

Airport-area hotels are more common for quick layovers or other types of teams and events, not usually for NFL game weekends in Atlanta.

Are players allowed to go out in Atlanta while they’re here?

Policies vary by team and coach, but visiting NFL players are usually on a strict schedule that includes:

• Meetings and walkthroughs
• Team meals
• Curfews

While some may step out for a short walk or meal, most of their time is spent inside the hotel and on team buses, not freely exploring Atlanta, especially the night before a game.

Can I book the same hotel as an NFL team in Atlanta?

You might, but there’s no guarantee. A few things to understand:

• Hotels often block off floors or sections for the team and staff.
• Even if you’re in the same building, access-controlled floors and elevators mean you probably won’t be on the same levels.
• Rates may be higher in NFL game weeks, especially near the stadium.

If your goal is just to be in the middle of the game-day atmosphere, staying in:

• Downtown (closest to Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
• Midtown (short ride, lively but slightly less congested)

…will put you in the same general environment that NFL teams, media, and league staff frequently use.

How early do teams arrive in Atlanta?

For a typical Sunday game, visiting NFL teams usually arrive in Atlanta the day before, often on Saturday afternoon or evening. They then head straight to the hotel for:

• Meetings and film sessions
• Team dinner
• Curfew and wake-up schedules

They usually depart shortly after the game on Sunday, going directly from Mercedes-Benz Stadium back to Hartsfield-Jackson by bus.

At-a-Glance: Where NFL Teams Typically Stay in Atlanta

Tips for Atlanta Locals and Visitors on Game Weekends 🏈

If you live in or are visiting Atlanta and want to be near the action:

• Stay Downtown if:

  • You want to walk to Mercedes-Benz Stadium
  • You’d like the highest chance of being near NFL teams, media, and league staff

• Stay Midtown if:

  • You want more restaurants, bars, and nightlife within walking distance
  • You’re okay with a short rideshare or transit trip to the stadium

• Expect tighter security:

  • Large team hotels may have visible security and limited lobby access at certain times.
  • Don’t expect easy access to team floors or private areas.

• Plan your transportation:

  • Game days often mean road closures and police escorts downtown.
  • MARTA’s GWCC/CNN Center Station is the closest rail stop to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Staying along MARTA rail in Downtown or Midtown can make your trip much easier.

In Atlanta, visiting NFL teams almost always stay in major full-service hotels in Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, chosen for security, space, and quick access to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. While exact hotels aren’t publicly confirmed in advance, understanding these patterns can help you choose where to stay, how to plan your game weekend, and what to expect when the NFL comes to town.