How Far Is Atlanta Airport? Travel Times From Popular Atlanta Areas

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is one of the busiest airports in the world and a major gateway for Atlanta residents and visitors. How far it is from you depends a lot on where in metro Atlanta you’re starting, the time of day, and how you choose to travel.

This guide breaks down typical distances and travel times to Atlanta Airport from key neighborhoods and suburbs, plus your options for driving, rideshare, and MARTA.

Key Facts About Atlanta Airport’s Location

• Airport address:
  Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  6000 N Terminal Parkway
  Atlanta, GA 30320

• General location: Just south of downtown Atlanta, straddling the cities of Atlanta, College Park, and Hapeville.

• Main access roads:I‑85, I‑75, and Camp Creek Parkway feed into the airport area.

In everyday terms, ATL is very close to central Atlanta by distance, but traffic can easily double or triple your actual travel time.

How Far Is Atlanta Airport From Major Atlanta Areas?

Distances and times below are approximate driving estimates in light to moderate traffic. Rush hour, accidents, or construction can add significant delays.

Quick Distance & Time Snapshot

*Times assume normal, non-rush-hour conditions. During peak commute periods, plan on extra buffer time.

How Far Is Atlanta Airport From Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead?

These core intown areas are where many visitors stay and where a lot of residents live or work.

From Downtown Atlanta

• Distance: About 10–11 miles
• Typical driving time:15–25 minutes

Most routes use I‑75/85 South (the Downtown Connector) directly to the airport. Traffic can quickly build during weekday rush hours and after major events at State Farm Arena or Mercedes‑Benz Stadium.

Good to know:

• If traffic is light, this is one of the quickest routes to ATL.
• If there’s a crash on the Connector, side streets are often also backed up, so build in extra time.

From Midtown Atlanta

• Distance: Around 12–14 miles
• Typical driving time:20–30 minutes

From Midtown, you’ll generally:

• Take I‑75/85 South to the airport exits, or
• Use MARTA’s Red/Gold Line directly to the Airport Station.

Because Midtown is slightly farther north than Downtown, travel times are a bit longer, especially during evening rush hour.

From Buckhead

• Distance: About 17–20 miles
• Typical driving time:25–40 minutes

Driving options from Buckhead:

• I‑85 South → merge onto I‑75/85 South, then follow airport signs.
• GA‑400 South → I‑85 South (depending on your exact starting point).

🚇 MARTA is often more predictable from Buckhead:

• Board the Red Line at Buckhead, Lenox, or Lindbergh Center.
• Transfer to the Gold Line if needed.
• Ride directly to Airport Station (inside the Domestic Terminal).

Distances From Popular Intown Neighborhoods

Westside / West Midtown

• Distance: About 12–15 miles
• Drive time:20–35 minutes

Common route:

• Use Northside Drive, Howell Mill, or Marietta Street to reach I‑75/85 South, then head to the airport.

Traffic near Georgia Tech and Midtown can slow things down during peak times.

East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Edgewood, Inman Park

• Distance: Roughly 12–15 miles
• Drive time:20–35 minutes

Typical routes:

• Take surface streets like Moreland Ave, Boulevard, or Pryor Rd to connect to I‑20 and then I‑75/85 South, or
• Use I‑20 West directly to reach the Connector.

MARTA can be convenient from:

• Inman Park/Reynoldstown, Edgewood/Candler Park, or King Memorial via the Blue/Green Line, transferring to Red/Gold for the airport.

Decatur (City of Decatur and Nearby)

• Distance: About 14–17 miles
• Drive time:25–35 minutes

Usual routes:

• I‑20 West → I‑75/85 South, or
• Local roads such as Candler Rd or Moreland Ave depending on your location.

From Decatur Station (MARTA Blue Line), you can:

• Ride to Five Points and transfer to Southbound Gold/Red to the airport.

How Far Is Atlanta Airport From North Atlanta Suburbs?

The farther north you go, the more traffic tends to impact arrival times, especially on GA‑400, I‑285, and I‑75.

Sandy Springs

• Distance: Around 24–28 miles
• Drive time:30–45+ minutes

Most travelers:

• Use GA‑400 South → I‑85 South → I‑75/85 South, or
• Hop on MARTA from North Springs, Sandy Springs, or Dunwoody stations.

Dunwoody / Perimeter Center

• Distance: About 24–28 miles
• Drive time:30–45+ minutes

Traffic around the I‑285 / GA‑400 interchange can be heavy.

MARTA option:

• Board at Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, or Medical Center and ride south (Red Line) toward the airport, transferring to Gold if needed.

Roswell and Alpharetta

• Roswell distance:30–35+ miles
• Alpharetta distance:35–40+ miles
• Drive time:40–60+ minutes, often longer at peak commute times

Typical driving:

• GA‑400 South → I‑85 South → I‑75/85 South, then follow signs to the airport.

Many travelers from these areas:

• Park at or get dropped at North Springs or Doraville MARTA Stations to avoid the most congested parts of GA‑400 and I‑85, then take MARTA directly to the airport.

Marietta and Kennesaw

• Marietta distance:30–35 miles
• Kennesaw distance:35–40+ miles
• Drive time:35–60+ minutes

Primary routes:

• I‑75 South → I‑285 East or West → I‑85 or I‑75/85 South to the airport.

Traffic around the Cobb Cloverleaf (I‑75/I‑285) can be significant, especially weekday mornings and late afternoons.

How Far Is Atlanta Airport From Southside and Eastside Suburbs?

These communities are closer in miles, but traffic lights and local congestion still matter.

College Park, East Point, Hapeville

These cities border or sit very close to the airport.

• Distance: Often within 2–6 miles
• Drive time:5–15 minutes, depending on exact location and gate/terminal.

Local surface streets such as Airport Blvd, Virginia Ave, and Camp Creek Pkwy provide quick access.

Fayetteville and Peachtree City

• Fayetteville distance: About 22–28 miles
• Peachtree City distance: Around 30–35 miles
• Drive time:30–50+ minutes

Common approach:

• Routes typically use GA‑85, GA‑314, or I‑85 to reach the airport area.

McDonough and Henry County

• Distance: About 28–32 miles
• Drive time:30–45+ minutes

Most travelers:

• Take I‑75 North toward Atlanta, then connect to I‑285 or continue to I‑75/85 depending on the route to ATL.

Stone Mountain and East DeKalb

• Distance: Around 25–30 miles
• Drive time:30–45+ minutes

Typical routes:

• US‑78 (Stone Mountain Fwy) → I‑285 → I‑20 or I‑75/85, then to the airport exits.

How To Get To Atlanta Airport: Main Options

1. Driving Yourself

Many Atlanta residents and frequent fliers drive to ATL.

Pros:

• Flexible timing.
• Easier with lots of luggage or kids.

Consider:

• Parking: On-site parking at ATL includes economy, daily, and hourly options at the Domestic and International (Maynard H. Jackson Jr.) terminals.
• Off-site lots: Numerous off-airport lots near Camp Creek Parkway, Virginia Ave, and surrounding areas offer shuttle service.
• Traffic: Build in extra time for:
  • Weekday morning (6:30–9:30 a.m.) and evening (3:30–7:00 p.m.) rush.
  • Weekends before and after major holidays or events.

2. Rideshare and Taxis

Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) and taxis are widely used in Atlanta.

• Pickup and drop-off areas are clearly signed at both the Domestic and International terminals.
• From Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead, rideshare can be 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.

💡 Tip: During busy times, request your ride a little earlier than you think you need, especially from densely populated areas where drivers may take longer to reach you.

3. MARTA (Metro Atlanta’s Rail System)

MARTA is often the most predictable way to get to Atlanta Airport from many parts of the city.

• Airport Station is located inside the Domestic Terminal, at the west end near baggage claim.
• The Red and Gold lines run directly to the airport:
  • Red Line: North Springs ↔ Airport
  • Gold Line: Doraville ↔ Airport

From major MARTA hubs:

• Five Points: ~15 minutes to the airport
• Midtown Station: ~20–25 minutes to the airport
• Lindbergh Center / Buckhead area: ~25–30 minutes to the airport
  (travel times vary slightly by time of day and schedule)

MARTA is especially useful if:

• You’re staying in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Perimeter, or along the North Springs/Doraville corridors.
• You want to avoid parking fees and highway traffic.

Domestic vs. International Terminal: Does It Change Distance?

ATL has two main terminal complexes:

1. Domestic Terminal

   • Address: 6000 N Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30320
   • Houses most domestic carriers, including many flights within the U.S.

2. International Terminal (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal)

   • Address: 2600 Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30354
   • Used for many international arrivals and departures.

Driving difference:

• Both terminals are on the same airport property, but they have separate highway exits:
  • Domestic is primarily reached via I‑85.
  • International is often accessed via I‑75 and Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Blvd.

In terms of how far they are from the rest of metro Atlanta, the difference is usually just:

• A couple of extra miles, or
• A small detour depending on your route.

If you arrive at the wrong terminal, there is an internal shuttle system that connects Domestic and International, but this can add 15–30 minutes or more during busy periods.

How Much Time Should You Allow To Reach Atlanta Airport?

Even if the raw distance is short, Atlanta-area drivers know that timing is everything.

General Time Guidelines (From Most Intown Areas)

• Domestic flights: Aim to arrive at the airport 1.5–2 hours before departure.
• International flights: Aim to arrive 2.5–3 hours before departure.

Then, add travel time to get to the airport, based on where you’re coming from:

• From Downtown/Midtown/Buckhead:
  Plan at least 45–60 minutes total (including highway traffic and getting from curb or parking to your check-in area), especially at peak times.

• From northern suburbs (Alpharetta, Roswell, Marietta, Kennesaw):
  Plan at least 1.5–2 hours before your recommended check-in time, particularly during weekday rush hours.

• From nearby southside communities (College Park, East Point, Hapeville, Forest Park):
  You can sometimes get by with 30–45 minutes before your recommended check-in arrival, but giving yourself extra cushion is still wise.

When “How Far” Really Means “How Long”

In Atlanta, distance and time rarely match perfectly:

• A 10-mile trip from Downtown can be 15 minutes at mid-day or 40+ minutes at rush hour.
• A 30-mile trip from Alpharetta or Marietta might be faster at 5 a.m. than a 15-mile trip at 5 p.m.

For anyone living in or visiting Atlanta, the most important questions are:

• Where am I starting from?
• What time of day am I traveling?
• Am I driving, using MARTA, or taking rideshare?

Once you answer those, the information above can help you estimate how far and how long it really is to get to Atlanta Airport and plan with less stress.