Luggage Storage at Atlanta Airport: What You Can (and Can’t) Do

If you’re flying through Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and wondering, “Does Atlanta Airport have lockers?”, the short answer is:

However, there are still practical ways to manage your bags if you have a long layover, an early checkout from your hotel, or time to explore Atlanta before or after your flight. This guide explains what’s available in and around ATL, what travelers typically do instead, and how Atlanta locals can plan for guests and visitors who need baggage help.

Why Atlanta Airport Doesn’t Have Lockers

Many large U.S. airports, including ATL, do not provide public lockers. That’s mainly due to:

  • Security and screening requirements
  • Space limitations in busy terminals
  • Operational complexity of monitoring and managing storage areas

Instead of traditional coin lockers, airports like Atlanta focus on secured, controlled-access areas for staff and airlines, and encourage travelers to use off-airport or private luggage storage options.

For now, if you’re looking for luggage lockers at ATL, you won’t find self-service units in the Domestic or International terminals, or in the concourses (T, A, B, C, D, E, F).

What Are Your Options If ATL Has No Lockers?

Even without lockers inside the airport, you still have several realistic options:

  • Use your hotel’s luggage storage
  • Use off-airport luggage storage services in Atlanta
  • Store bags with friends, family, or at your home (for locals)
  • Pack light and use carry-on only
  • Use your rental car or rideshare strategically

Here’s what each option looks like in practice.

1. Using Hotel Luggage Storage in Atlanta

If you’re staying in a hotel before or after your flight, this is usually the easiest solution.

Most Atlanta hotels will hold your bags

Many hotels in areas like:

  • Downtown Atlanta
  • Midtown
  • Buckhead
  • Near the airport along Virginia Avenue or Old National Highway

offer complimentary luggage storage for guests before check-in or after checkout. Policies vary, but common patterns include:

  • You check out in the morning, leave bags with the front desk or bell desk, explore the city, then return to pick them up before heading to ATL.
  • If you arrive early, you can often store bags until your room is ready.

Tip: When you book your hotel, ask directly:

Even budget hotels around Airport Boulevard, Sullivan Road, or Virginia Avenue near ATL often provide this, but it’s always best to confirm.

2. Off-Airport Luggage Storage in the Atlanta Area

While there are no lockers inside the airport, travelers passing through Atlanta sometimes use private luggage storage services in the city.

These may be:

  • Dedicated luggage storage facilities
  • Local shops, cafes, or rental businesses that partner with bag-holding platforms
  • Tourist-focused storage centers near major attractions

Common areas where such services tend to appear in Atlanta include:

  • Downtown Atlanta – near attractions like Centennial Olympic Park, State Farm Arena, Georgia World Congress Center
  • Midtown – near MARTA stations and cultural sites
  • Buckhead – close to shopping and hotels

Because these services and their exact locations can change:

  • Check current operating hours
  • Confirm pricing, bag size limits, and ID requirements
  • Make sure the address works with your transportation plan (MARTA, rideshare, or taxi to ATL)

🔎 Good use case: Long layover and you want to explore the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, or the National Center for Civil and Human Rights without hauling bags.

3. Options Near Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

There are no airport-run lockers, but you may find:

Airport-area hotels with day-use and storage

Hotels near ATL (for example, on Virginia Avenue, Phoenix Boulevard, or Camp Creek Parkway) sometimes offer:

  • Day-use rooms, which allow you to keep luggage in the room while you rest between flights.
  • Bell desk storage for guests.

This can be useful if:

  • You have a very long layover and want a place to nap and shower.
  • You’re traveling with kids or lots of luggage and want a base of operations close to ATL.

Call the hotel directly and ask:

4. Using MARTA, Rideshare, and Rental Cars Strategically

Because ATL is well connected to the city, you can plan your transport around your luggage.

MARTA (Train) from Atlanta Airport

The MARTA Airport Station is directly connected to the Domestic Terminal (South) near baggage claim.

  • From ATL, you can ride MARTA to Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead.
  • If you’re using an off-airport storage location in the city, MARTA is often the cheapest and most direct way to get there.

However, MARTA itself does not provide luggage lockers at stations. You’ll still need a separate storage arrangement.

Rental cars

If you’ve rented a car from the ATL Rental Car Center (ConRAC):

  • You can keep your bags in the trunk while you make short stops.
  • This works best if:
    • You’re comfortable leaving items in the car.
    • You park in a well-lit, attended, or structured parking area.

Avoid leaving valuables in plain sight, especially in busy urban areas.

Rideshare and taxis

If you only have a few hours and light luggage, you might:

  • Keep everything with you.
  • Use rideshare to go straight to one or two key attractions, then back to ATL.

This isn’t ideal with large suitcases, but can work with small carry-ons or backpacks.

5. Tips for Atlanta Locals Hosting Visitors

If you live in Atlanta and are helping friends or family who fly in and ask about airport lockers, here’s how to help them:

  • Offer your place as storage if you’re near a MARTA station or on their route.
  • Suggest they book a hotel that clearly offers luggage holding if they have a late flight home.
  • Help them identify a central storage option in Downtown or Midtown if they want to explore without bags.
  • For early-morning flights from ATL, consider:
    • Storing luggage at your home overnight.
    • Driving them straight to ATL or to a MARTA station that connects easily to the airport.

6. Planning Around No-Locker Travel at ATL

Even without lockers at Atlanta Airport, you can usually manage your trip smoothly with some planning.

Here’s a quick reference summary:

SituationLocker Reality at ATLPractical Options
Long layover, want to explore AtlantaNo lockers in terminalsOff-airport storage in Downtown/Midtown, hotel day-use room, carry minimal luggage
Early hotel checkout, late-night flightNo airport storage deskLeave bags at hotel bell desk, return later, then head to ATL
Atlanta local picking someone upCan’t store at ATLKeep bags at your home, suggest hotel with storage, or arrange same-day plans
Short layover, never leaving ATLNo need for storageKeep luggage with you; use airport seating and amenities
Family with lots of bagsNo family lockersAirport-area hotel day room + storage, or minimize luggage brought into the city

7. Practical Packing and Timing Tips for ATL Travelers

To make the lack of lockers less of an issue:

  • Pack lighter when possible. If you know you’ll be moving around Atlanta between flights, aim for a carry-on and personal item you can comfortably manage.
  • Build in extra travel time. If you’re dropping bags at a hotel or storage spot in the city, add:
    • Time for MARTA or rideshare there and back
    • Security and check-in time at ATL (the airport is busy, especially during morning and evening peaks)
  • Use airport amenities wisely. While ATL doesn’t have lockers, it does have:
    • Plenty of seating
    • Dining options in every concourse
    • Business centers or quiet areas in some terminals
    • Airline lounges (if eligible) where handling your bags is more comfortable

8. Who to Contact for the Most Current Airport Information

Policies and services can change over time. For up-to-date information about luggage services at ATL, you can contact:

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport – General Information

  • Main Phone: (404) 530-7300
  • Address: 6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320

When you call, you can ask:

Even though ATL has not historically provided public lockers, checking before a complex trip is wise.

Key takeaway for anyone traveling through Atlanta:
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport does not have public luggage lockers, so plan ahead with hotel storage, off-airport options, or light packing to keep your time in Atlanta smooth and bag-stress free.