How to Get Around Atlanta Without a Car: A Local’s Guide

You can get around Atlanta without a car—but how easy it feels depends on where you’re going, where you’re staying, and how flexible you are with time and modes of transportation. Atlanta is still car-heavy, but its transit, walkable pockets, and rideshare options make car-free living or visiting possible, especially if you plan ahead.

Below is a practical, Atlanta-specific guide to navigating the city without driving.

Is It Realistic to Get Around Atlanta Without a Car?

In Atlanta, going car-free is most realistic if:

• You live, work, or stay in intown neighborhoods (like Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, West Midtown, or along the BeltLine).
• You mostly travel along major corridors served by MARTA rail or frequent bus routes.
• You’re comfortable mixing transit + walking + rideshare/scooters.

It’s more challenging if:

• You need to travel often to far-flung suburbs or office parks.
• You work very early/late shifts outside MARTA’s usual service hours.
• You need to reach areas with limited sidewalks or no nearby bus or rail stops.

For most visitors and many residents in central Atlanta, the answer is yes—you can get around without a car, especially if you use MARTA, the Atlanta Streetcar, walkable districts, and on-demand options like rideshare and scooters.

Key Car-Free Transportation Options in Atlanta

Quick Comparison: Main Ways to Get Around Without a Car

Getting Around on MARTA Rail

MARTA rail is the backbone of car-free travel in Atlanta.

Where MARTA Rail Goes

MARTA rail connects:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport directly to:
  • Downtown Atlanta (Five Points, Peachtree Center, CNN Center/GWCC)
  • Midtown (Midtown, Arts Center)
  • Buckhead (Lindbergh Center, Buckhead, Lenox)
  • Decatur (Decatur station, East Lake)
  • Parts of South, West, and East Atlanta

If you stay near a MARTA station, you can usually get to most major visitor spots without a car.

Major Attractions You Can Reach by Rail

• Airport – Airport Station (inside the domestic terminal)
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium / State Farm Arena / CNN Center – GWCC/College Football Hall of Fame station
• Georgia Aquarium / World of Coca-Cola / Centennial Olympic Park – Georgia State or GWCC station plus a short walk
• Midtown museums and theaters – Midtown or Arts Center stations
• Buckhead malls and offices – Lenox, Buckhead, or Lindbergh Center stations
• Downtown hotels – Five Points, Peachtree Center stations

How to Use MARTA Rail

• Fares: You’ll need a Breeze Card or Breeze Ticket, which can be purchased at all rail stations.
• Service hours: Typically early morning through late night; service is usually more frequent on weekdays and during major events.
• Official Contact (general info):
  Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
  Headquarters: 2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
  Customer information (main line often listed on MARTA signage and materials).

For up-to-date schedules, fare details, and maps, check MARTA’s official customer service channels or posted station information before you travel.

Getting Around on MARTA Buses

MARTA buses connect areas that don’t have rail service or sit between stations.

When Buses Are Useful

• Getting from a rail station into a specific neighborhood (for example, from Midtown Station to parts of the Westside or Virginia-Highland).
• Reaching areas like Grant Park, East Atlanta Village, West End, and some job centers that are not right on a rail line.
• Connecting suburbs such as Sandy Springs, Doraville, or College Park with MARTA rail.

What to Know About Bus Service

• Coverage is wide but uneven. Intown routes are more frequent than some outer routes.
• Evenings and weekends can mean longer waits; planning is important.
• Fares are integrated with rail (you can usually transfer with your Breeze Card).

If you’re planning to live car-free in Atlanta, it’s worth looking at bus routes near your home and work to see how realistic your commute would be.

The Atlanta Streetcar: Short Trips Around Downtown

The Atlanta Streetcar is a small streetcar loop operating in Downtown.

Where the Streetcar Goes

The loop connects:

• Centennial Olympic Park / CNN Center area
• Peachtree Center
• Sweet Auburn and Edgewood Avenue
• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park area

It’s handy for:

• Visitors staying in Downtown hotels who want to see the King Historic District without a car.
• Short connections between attractions without relying on rideshare.

The Streetcar has its own posted hours and fare system; use on-vehicle information, station signage, or official customer service lines for current details.

Walking in Atlanta: Where It Works (and Where It Doesn’t)

Atlanta is not uniformly walkable, but some areas work very well on foot.

Best Walkable Neighborhoods for Car-Free Living or Visiting

• Downtown: Hotels, major attractions, offices, and the Atlanta Streetcar all within walking distance.
• Midtown: Sidewalks, bike lanes in some areas, restaurants, Piedmont Park, and proximity to MARTA stations.
• Inman Park / Old Fourth Ward: Dense mix of homes, restaurants, and the Eastside BeltLine Trail.
• Virginia-Highland, Poncey-Highland, Little Five Points: Compact, pedestrian-friendly commercial districts.

These neighborhoods make it realistic to run many errands on foot if you live nearby—or to explore easily if you’re visiting.

Safety and Practical Considerations

• Sidewalks: Not every street in Atlanta has continuous sidewalks, especially in more suburban areas.
• Crossing major roads: Some arteries (like parts of Piedmont Road or Northside Drive) can be challenging for pedestrians; use crosswalks and signals where available.
• Time of day: Many residents prefer to avoid long walks late at night in quieter or poorly lit areas, especially when carrying valuables.

If you’re staying in a hotel, ask the front desk which nearby areas are most comfortable to walk and which are better to reach by transit or rideshare.

The Atlanta BeltLine: A Car-Free Super-Path

The Atlanta BeltLine is a growing paved trail system built on old rail corridors, connecting several intown neighborhoods.

How the BeltLine Helps Without a Car

On sections like the Eastside Trail, you can:

• Walk or bike between Inman Park, Krog Street Market, Ponce City Market, Old Fourth Ward, and Midtown-adjacent areas.
• Access restaurants, shopping, parks, and housing without needing a car.
• Use it as a fast, direct walking or cycling route that avoids traffic.

Many people in these neighborhoods combine BeltLine access + MARTA + occasional rideshare to live mostly car-free.

Rideshare, Taxi, and Car Services

Even if you rely mostly on transit, rideshare is often the “glue” that makes car-free Atlanta work.

When Rideshare or Taxis Make Sense

• Early morning or late-night rides when transit is less frequent.
• Areas with no nearby MARTA station or bus.
• Tight schedules, such as getting to the airport or an appointment on time.
• Trips involving heavy luggage, groceries, or mobility limitations.

Traditional taxi service is most available at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Downtown, and some major hotels, while app-based rideshare is widely used throughout the metro area.

Biking, Scooters, and Micromobility

Depending on your comfort level, bikes and scooters can replace many short car trips.

Where Micromobility Works Best

• Downtown and Midtown: Short trips between offices, hotels, parks, and transit stops.
• Around the BeltLine Eastside Trail: A popular corridor for bikes and scooters.
• Neighborhood connectors: Some streets have bike lanes, but facilities vary.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Helmets and visibility: Especially important if you’re riding at dusk or near high-traffic corridors.
• Sidewalk rules: In many areas, riding on sidewalks is discouraged or restricted; scooters and bikes are generally expected to use roads or designated trails.
• Parking zones: Shared scooters and bikes often must be parked in designated areas; improper parking can block sidewalks and lead to fines.

If you plan to rely on biking regularly, choosing housing near the BeltLine or a bike-friendly street grid can make a major difference.

Regional Transit to and from Atlanta Without a Car

If you live in or are visiting outside the city but don’t want to drive in, there are regional transit options that connect to Atlanta’s core.

Common Regional Options

• Xpress (Georgia’s state-supported commuter buses):
  Serves park-and-ride lots in various suburbs and brings riders into key areas such as Downtown and Midtown during commuting hours.
• County Transit Systems:
  Some neighboring counties operate local bus routes that connect with MARTA at boundary stations.

These are most useful for commuters who live in the suburbs and work in central Atlanta, or for occasional visitors who want to park once and ride in.

Information about specific routes and park-and-ride locations is usually available at major Xpress and local county transit hubs, and through official customer service phone lines posted at stops and on vehicles.

Planning a Car-Free Trip If You’re Visiting Atlanta

If you’re flying into Hartsfield-Jackson, you can visit without renting a car by planning around MARTA and walkable neighborhoods.

Smart Strategies for Visitors

1. Stay near a MARTA rail station.
   Downtown, Midtown, and parts of Buckhead are ideal for car-free stays.
2. Use MARTA rail from the airport.
   The Airport Station is directly connected to the Domestic Terminal.
3. Choose attractions along rail lines or in walkable clusters.
   For example:
   • Downtown cluster: Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center, State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
   • Midtown cluster: Piedmont Park, High Museum of Art, Fox Theatre area.
4. Use rideshare only as needed.
   For late nights, rainy days, or trips to less transit-friendly spots like some parts of the Westside or specialized attractions beyond central Atlanta.

If you plan your hotel and activities around rail and walkable zones, your need for a car drops dramatically.

Living in Atlanta Without a Car

Living car-free in Atlanta is possible, but it often requires intentional choices.

Where Car-Free Living Works Best

• Near MARTA rail stations such as:
  Midtown, North Avenue, Arts Center, Five Points, Peachtree Center, Inman Park/Reynoldstown, King Memorial, Lindbergh Center, Decatur, and parts of Buckhead.
• Along or near the BeltLine Eastside or Westside Trails.
• In dense, mixed-use neighborhoods with grocery stores, pharmacies, and services nearby.

Many residents in these areas rely on a mix of:

• MARTA rail and bus for commuting
• Walking and the BeltLine for local errands
• Rideshare a few times a week or month for special trips

Things to Consider Before Going Car-Free as a Resident

• Work location and hours:
  Check if your job is reachable within a reasonable travel time using transit at your actual shift times, not just peak hours.
• Grocery and essentials:
  Look for nearby grocery stores, pharmacies, and clinics that you can reach by transit or on foot.
• Weather and hills:
  Atlanta can be hot and humid in summer, and some neighborhoods are hilly, so factor in your comfort with walking in those conditions.
• Backup plan:
  Consider how you’ll handle late-night emergencies, bad weather, or sudden schedule changes without a car.

Practical Tips for Navigating Atlanta Without a Car

Here are some focused tips that help visitors and residents alike:

• 🚆 Start with rail:
  When in doubt, try to anchor your routes around MARTA rail stations, then branch out with bus, walking, or rideshare.
• 🗺️ Learn a few key stations:
  Remember names like Airport, Five Points, Peachtree Center, Midtown, Arts Center, Lindbergh Center, Decatur, and Buckhead—these are common transfer and destination points.
• 🚌 Check service hours before late trips:
  Evening and weekend bus or rail headways can be longer than weekday rush hours.
• 🚶 Choose housing or hotels intentionally:
  Being within a 5–10 minute walk of a rail station or the BeltLine can be the difference between car-free being easy versus frustrating.
• 📞 Keep official contact info handy:
  For schedule or route assistance, use MARTA customer service information posted at stations and on vehicles and regional transit customer lines.

In Atlanta, you can get around without a car—especially if you stay or live near rail, pick walkable neighborhoods, and are willing to combine transit, walking, and on-demand rides. With planning, many daily trips, commutes, and sightseeing itineraries can be managed comfortably and reliably without owning or renting a car.