How Far Is Maryland From Atlanta? Travel Distances, Times, and Best Ways to Get There

If you’re in Atlanta, Georgia and planning a trip to Maryland—maybe to visit family, tour Washington, D.C.–area attractions, or head to Baltimore for a weekend—you’ll want a clear sense of how far it is, how long it takes, and the best way to travel.

Below is a practical guide tailored to travelers starting in or near Atlanta.

How Far Is Maryland From Atlanta?

Because Maryland is a state, not a single city, distances vary depending on your exact destination. But from Atlanta to the closest parts of western Maryland, you’re looking at roughly:

• By road (driving):
  • About 550–750 miles one way from Atlanta to most major Maryland destinations
• By air (flying):
  • About 550–600 air miles to major Maryland-area airports

Approximate Distances From Atlanta to Key Maryland Areas

*Drive times assume normal conditions with minimal long stops; traffic, weather, and construction can extend these times.

Driving From Atlanta to Maryland

Main Driving Routes

Most drivers leaving Atlanta for Maryland use some combination of these major interstates:

• I-85 North out of Atlanta
• I-77 North through the Carolinas (if you cut northeast)
• I-95 North toward Richmond, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore
• I-81 North if you prefer a more inland, often less congested route

Two common patterns:

1. Atlanta → I-85 North → I-95 North
   • Often used if you’re heading toward Baltimore, Annapolis, or eastern Maryland
2. Atlanta → I-85 North → I-77 North → I-81 North → Maryland
   • Popular if you’re targeting western or central Maryland and want to avoid some I-95 traffic

Typical Drive Time From Atlanta

• Fastest realistic range: Around 9–10 hours to the western edge of Maryland
• Most common for major cities:
  • Atlanta to Baltimore: ~10–11 hours
  • Atlanta to Ocean City (Eastern Shore beach): ~11.5–13 hours

Plan for fuel, food, and rest stops—for most Atlanta drivers, Maryland tends to be a full-day drive or a split-into-two-days road trip, especially if traveling with kids.

Things Atlanta Drivers Commonly Consider

• Traffic chokepoints:
  • Leaving Atlanta via I-285/I-85 during rush hour
  • Approaching Charlotte, Richmond, and the Washington, D.C. beltway
• Weather:
  • In winter, mountain stretches on I-77 and I-81 can see snow or ice
• Tolls:
  • Parts of I-95 and certain bridges/tunnels near Maryland may have tolls, depending on your exact route

🚗 Tip: Many Atlanta drivers use rest stops and fuel stations around Greenville, SC, Charlotte, NC, and Roanoke, VA as predictable break points on the way north.

Flying From Atlanta to Maryland

If you prefer not to spend 10+ hours in the car, flying is usually the most efficient option.

Major Airports Serving Maryland From Atlanta

From Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the most common airports for reaching Maryland are:

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

  • Primary choice for Baltimore, Annapolis, and central Maryland
  • Located just south of Baltimore city

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

  • In Arlington, VA, very close to downtown Washington, D.C.
  • Convenient for southern and central Maryland suburbs (e.g., Prince George’s County)

• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

  • In Virginia, farther west of D.C.
  • Often used if you’re heading toward western Maryland or the I-270 corridor (Frederick, Hagerstown area)

All three airports are typically reachable nonstop or with a short connection from Atlanta, depending on the airline and schedule.

Flight Time From Atlanta to Maryland-Area Airports

• ATL → BWI: About 1.5–2 hours in the air
• ATL → DCA: About 1.5–2 hours
• ATL → IAD: About 1.5–2 hours

You should still factor in:

• Travel time to ATL from your location in metro Atlanta
• Security screening and boarding (often 1–2 hours before departure)
• Ground transportation from the Maryland-area airport to your final destination

For most travelers, door-to-door, a flight from Atlanta to Maryland usually amounts to 4–6 hours total travel time, which is significantly faster than driving.

Taking the Bus or Train From Atlanta to Maryland

If you’d like to avoid both driving and flying, bus and rail are alternatives, though they are generally slower.

Bus Travel (e.g., Greyhound, other carriers)

From Atlanta, long-distance bus services commonly run to the Washington, D.C. area and sometimes directly to Baltimore. From there, you can connect to local transit or regional buses into Maryland cities.

• Travel Time: Often 13–18 hours, depending on route, stops, and transfers
• Pros:
  • No need to drive or park
  • Can be cost-effective if you’re flexible on timing
• Cons:
  • Longer total time
  • More transfers and scheduling to manage

Buses commonly depart from or near the downtown Atlanta area, such as the vicinity of the Atlanta Bus Station on Forsyth St SW, making it accessible from MARTA rail and bus lines.

Train Travel (Amtrak)

Amtrak service from Atlanta can connect you to Maryland, usually via Washington, D.C. or nearby major hubs.

• The key Amtrak station in Atlanta is:
  • Peachtree Station – 1688 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

From Peachtree Station, travelers generally:

• Take a train heading north toward Washington, D.C., then
• Continue on to Maryland stops (such as Baltimore) or transfer to regional trains that serve additional Maryland cities

Travel Time:

• Often overnight or full-day travel, and can range from 12–18 hours or more, depending on connections and schedules.

🚆 Good to know for Atlantans: Train trips can be more relaxed, but you’ll need to plan around less frequent departure times compared to flights, and be ready for a significantly longer journey than driving straight through.

Choosing the Best Way to Travel From Atlanta to Maryland

When deciding how to go from Atlanta to Maryland, consider:

1. Time vs. Comfort

• Fastest:
  • Flying from ATL to BWI, DCA, or IAD is usually the quickest overall.
• More control over schedule:
  • Driving lets you leave Atlanta when you want, stop where you like, and carry more luggage easily.

2. Destination Within Maryland

• Baltimore / Annapolis / central MD:
  • Fly to BWI, or drive via I-85 to I-95.
• Southern Maryland or D.C. suburbs:
  • Fly to DCA or BWI, or drive up I-85/I-95.
• Western Maryland (Frederick, Hagerstown, Cumberland):
  • Consider driving via I-77/I-81, or fly to IAD or BWI and drive from there.

3. Budget

• Tighter budget:
  • Driving or long-distance bus from Atlanta can be cheaper, especially for groups.
• Moderate budget with time savings:
  • Flying from ATL is usually the best balance of cost and speed, especially if you book in advance or travel off-peak.

4. Traveling With Kids or Groups

• Many Atlanta families prefer to drive and split the trip with an overnight stop in cities like Charlotte, NC or Roanoke, VA, especially when heading to Maryland beaches or summer destinations.
• For quick weekend or short trips to Maryland (for work, events, or college visits), nonstop flights are often the top choice.

Quick Reference: Atlanta to Maryland Travel At a Glance

• Shortest distance (to western Maryland): Around 550 miles from Atlanta
• Typical drive to major Maryland cities (like Baltimore):~680 miles, about 10–11 hours
• Flight time from ATL to Maryland-area airports:1.5–2 hours in the air, about 4–6 hours door-to-door
• Slower alternatives:
  • Long-distance bus: ~13–18 hours
  • Train (Amtrak): often 12+ hours with connections

From an Atlanta traveler’s perspective, Maryland is a full-day’s drive or a short flight away, with multiple reasonable options depending on your schedule, budget, and exact destination in the state.