How Far Is Jacksonville, FL From Atlanta? Your Practical Travel Guide

If you’re in Atlanta, Georgia and wondering how far it is to Jacksonville, Florida, you’re really asking two things:

1. What’s the actual distance?
2. What’s the easiest way to get there from Atlanta?

Here’s a clear breakdown tailored to Atlanta travelers.

The Basic Distance: Atlanta to Jacksonville

From Downtown Atlanta to Downtown Jacksonville:

• Driving distance: about 345–360 miles (depending on your exact start/end points)
• Driving time: typically 5 to 6 hours by car in normal traffic
• Straight-line (as-the-crow-flies) distance: roughly 270 miles

Most travelers use I‑75 South and I‑16 East to I‑95 South, or take I‑75 South to US‑82 through South Georgia. Both are common routes for Atlanta drivers heading to the Florida coast.

Main Ways to Travel From Atlanta to Jacksonville

1. Driving From Atlanta to Jacksonville

For most people in metro Atlanta, driving is the easiest and most flexible way to get from Atlanta to Jacksonville.

Typical driving route:

• Start in Atlanta (often from Downtown, Midtown, or Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport)
• Take I‑75 South toward Macon
• Connect to I‑16 East near Macon (or continue south and cut across via US routes, depending on your GPS)
• Pick up I‑95 South toward Jacksonville

Approximate driving time:

• 5 to 6 hours without extended stops
• Add extra time during:
  • Morning/evening rush hour leaving Atlanta (especially around the Downtown Connector and I‑75/I‑85)
  • Holiday weekends (spring break, summer beach trips, major holidays)

Pros of driving from Atlanta:

• Door-to-door control from your home, hotel, or neighborhood in Atlanta
• Easy if you’re bringing kids, pets, or beach gear
• You’ll have a car available in Jacksonville to get around

Cons:

• Long single stretch if you’re not used to 5+ hours of driving
• Potential delays around Atlanta, Macon, and approaching Jacksonville

Atlanta tips:

• If you live inside the Perimeter, consider timing your departure to avoid I‑75/I‑85 rush hour. Leaving before 7 a.m. or after 9 a.m. can make the first hour smoother.
• If you’re coming from areas like Alpharetta, Marietta, or Duluth, account for the extra time just to reach I‑75 South or I‑675.

2. Flying From Atlanta to Jacksonville

If you’d rather not spend hours on the road, flying is the fastest way from Atlanta to Jacksonville.

• Departure airport:
  Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320

• Arrival airport:
  Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
  About 13–15 miles north of Downtown Jacksonville

Flight details:

• Flight time: around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes in the air
• Total door-to-door time from Atlanta: often 3 to 4 hours, once you include:
  • Getting to ATL
  • Security and boarding
  • Taxiing and deplaning
  • Transit from JAX into Jacksonville

When flying makes sense from Atlanta:

• You’re already near ATL (Downtown, College Park, Hapeville, East Point)
• You’re on a tight schedule (same-day meetings, events, or a cruise departure)
• You prefer to avoid long drives or have mobility/health concerns that make long car trips harder

Ground options to ATL from around Atlanta:

• MARTA Rail:
  • The Airport Station is inside the Domestic Terminal
  • Convenient from Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and many east/west ITP neighborhoods
• Driving to ATL:
  • Long-term parking lots and off-airport parking are widely used by Atlanta residents

Once in Jacksonville, you can take taxis, rideshare services, rental cars, or airport shuttles to reach the city or beaches.

3. Bus or Train From Atlanta to Jacksonville

If you’d rather not drive or fly, bus and rail can connect Atlanta to Jacksonville, though options are more limited and slower than driving.

Bus options

Bus services typically run from central Atlanta locations (often downtown or near major transit corridors) to Jacksonville, with at least one stop along the way.

General expectations:

• Travel time: usually 7–9 hours, depending on route and stops
• Pros:
  • No driving stress
  • Budget-friendly alternative to flying
• Cons:
  • Longer travel time than driving
  • Less control over schedule and stops

Most Atlanta riders connect to intercity buses from Downtown or near MARTA stations, making it accessible if you don’t own a car.

Train options

There is no direct high-speed or daily commuter-style train between Atlanta and Jacksonville.

Amtrak routes in the Southeast can sometimes connect the two cities with transfers and longer travel times, so the train is generally chosen more for the experience than for speed or convenience from Atlanta.

Distance & Travel Time Overview

Here’s a simple summary for someone starting in Atlanta and going to Jacksonville, FL:

How the Distance Feels in Real Terms for Atlantans

To put the Atlanta to Jacksonville distance in local context:

• It’s farther than a drive from Atlanta to Savannah.
• It’s shorter than driving from Atlanta to Miami.
• Time-wise, it’s similar to a solid day trip to Panama City Beach or Destin, but to the Atlantic coast instead of the Gulf.

For many Atlanta residents, a weekend trip to Jacksonville or the nearby beaches (like Jacksonville Beach or Amelia Island) is very doable:

• Leave Friday afternoon or evening
• Arrive in time for a late dinner
• Spend Saturday and part of Sunday
• Drive or fly back to Atlanta Sunday evening

Planning Tips If You’re Leaving From Atlanta

Here are a few Atlanta-specific planning points to make the Jacksonville distance easier to manage:

Best times to depart Atlanta by car

• Aim to bypass the worst of Atlanta rush hour:
  • Morning: try to be past the Downtown Connector/I‑75 South before ~7 a.m., or wait until after ~9 a.m.
  • Evening: avoid departing 3:30–6:30 p.m. if possible.
• If you live in Cobb, Gwinnett, or North Fulton, factor in up to an extra 30–60 minutes just to clear metro traffic and reach open interstate.

Weather and seasonal considerations

• Summer thunderstorms can affect both driving visibility and flight schedules around Atlanta.
• Holiday weekends (especially summer and school breaks) can mean:
  • Heavier traffic heading south from Atlanta toward Florida
  • Busy check-in and security lines at Hartsfield‑Jackson

Using Atlanta transit connections

If you don’t want to leave a car at the airport or bus station:

• MARTA Rail gives you direct access to Downtown, Midtown, and ATL.
• Park-and-ride lots near outer MARTA stations can work well if you’re coming from the suburbs and want to avoid downtown parking.

Is Jacksonville Close Enough for a Day Trip From Atlanta?

Technically, yes—but it’s a long day.

• Driving-only day trip:
  • 5–6 hours each way = 10–12 hours on the road
  • Leaves limited time on the ground in Jacksonville

Most people in Atlanta treat Jacksonville as:

• A weekend getaway
• A stop on a longer Florida road trip
• A quick flight destination for an event, cruise, or business meeting

If you want a true beach day trip from Atlanta, closer options in Georgia or Alabama may be more realistic. But for a short escape with at least one overnight, Jacksonville is comfortably within range.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Travelers

• Distance: Around 345–360 miles by road, ~270 miles straight-line from Atlanta to Jacksonville.
• Driving: Plan on 5–6 hours one way; popular route uses I‑75, I‑16, and I‑95.
• Flying: About 1+ hour in the air from Hartsfield‑Jackson (ATL) to Jacksonville International (JAX), with total trip time commonly 3–4 hours.
• Other options: Buses are available but slower; trains are possible with extra time and transfers.
• For someone starting in Atlanta, Jacksonville is a realistic weekend destination, but it’s a bit long for a casual same-day round trip by car.