What Is the Name of the Atlanta Airport? A Local’s Guide to ATL ✈️

If you’re flying into or out of Atlanta, the main airport you’re looking for is:

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

You’ll also see it called:

• Atlanta Airport
• Atlanta International Airport
• Hartsfield–Jackson
• ATL (its official airport code)

All of these names refer to the same airport on the south side of Atlanta.

The Basics: Names, Codes, and Location

Official name and airport code

• Full official name: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Common short name: Atlanta Airport or Hartsfield–Jackson
• IATA code (what you see on tickets and baggage tags):ATL
• ICAO code (used in aviation): KATL

If you’re booking flights, calling a rideshare, or searching maps, “ATL” or “Atlanta Airport” will get you to the right place.

Where is Atlanta airport located?

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

• Distance from downtown Atlanta:
  Typically about 10–15 minutes by car from Downtown (without heavy traffic).

ATL sits just south of the city of Atlanta, near Interstate 75 and Interstate 85, in the area often referred to as College Park and Hapeville.

Why Is It Called Hartsfield–Jackson?

The airport’s name honors two longtime Atlanta mayors:

• William B. Hartsfield – Often credited with helping develop Atlanta into a major aviation hub.
• Maynard H. Jackson Jr. – Atlanta’s first Black mayor, who oversaw major expansions of the airport and helped shape it into a global gateway.

Locals usually shorten the name in conversation. You’ll hear people say:

• “I’m headed to Hartsfield.”
• “I land at ATL at 4.”
• “I’m flying out of Atlanta airport tonight.”

All of these mean Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Terminals and Sides: North, South, and the “Domestic vs. International” Question

One thing that can confuse visitors to Atlanta is how people describe the airport’s “sides.”

Here’s how it works at ATL:

Main areas of ATL

1. Domestic Terminal

   • Split into:
     • North Terminal
     • South Terminal
   • Used for flights within the United States and some U.S. territories.

2. International Terminal – Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal

   • Sometimes just called:
     • “The International Terminal”
     • “Terminal F”
   • Handles most international arrivals and departures.

Quick reference: which side to use?

Airlines can shift between terminals over time, so it’s safest to check your airline and flight details before you go.

Contact Information for Atlanta Airport

If you need official information or help, these central contacts are useful:

• General airport information (main switchboard):
  (800) 897-1910 or (404) 530-7300

• Mailing / physical address:
  Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  6000 N Terminal Parkway
  Atlanta, GA 30320

If you’re dealing with something airline-specific (like lost baggage or flight changes), you’ll usually need to contact your airline’s customer service directly, not the airport.

How to Get to Atlanta Airport from Around the City

For anyone living in or visiting Atlanta, ATL is generally straightforward to reach, but traffic can be intense at peak times.

By car

• From Downtown/Midtown Atlanta:
  Take I-75/I-85 South and follow the signs for Domestic or International.
• From the north suburbs (e.g., Sandy Springs, Roswell):
  Use GA-400 South to I-85 South, then follow airport signs.
• From the west (e.g., Douglasville):
  Take I-20 East to I-285 South or Downtown Connector (I-75/85) toward the airport.
• From the east (e.g., Decatur, Stone Mountain):
  Use I-20 West to I-75/85 South or I-285 around to the south and follow signs.

🕒 Local tip: Atlanta traffic is highly variable. Many locals leave at least 1 extra hour beyond normal drive time for busy periods, especially weekday mornings and late afternoons.

Rideshare and taxis

Services like Uber and Lyft, along with authorized taxis, are widely used:

• Domestic Terminal: Rideshare pick-up is usually in a designated area in the Ground Transportation section.
• International Terminal: Rideshare pick-up is near the arrivals level, again in Ground Transportation areas.

Look for posted signs inside the terminal; they’re fairly clear once you arrive.

MARTA (Atlanta’s public transit)

If you’re commuting or visiting without a car, the MARTA rail system is one of the most direct ways to reach ATL:

• Take any Red or Gold line MARTA train to the Airport Station.
• The Airport Station is attached directly to the Domestic Terminal, near baggage claim.

From there, you can:

• Walk straight into the Domestic Terminal.
• Use airport shuttles or the Plane Train to connect to your concourse or the International Terminal.

For International Terminal access, many passengers ride MARTA to the Domestic Terminal, then transfer via airport-provided shuttle buses between Domestic and International.

Inside ATL: Concourses and Plane Train

Once you’re at the right terminal, one more layer helps to understand how ATL is laid out.

Concourses at ATL

ATL has multiple concourses, labeled:

• T, A, B, C, D, E, F

Most domestic flights use T through D, some use E, and a lot of international flights use E and F.

Getting between concourses

ATL uses an underground train system called the Plane Train:

• Runs between all concourses plus the Domestic and International terminals.
• Trains arrive frequently and are clearly signed.
• You can also walk through the underground passages between concourses if you prefer.

For locals and frequent travelers, this setup is one of the reasons ATL handles large volumes of passengers while still being relatively efficient.

Is There More Than One Airport in Atlanta?

When people say “Atlanta airport,” they almost always mean Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

However, the metro Atlanta area does have several smaller airports and general aviation fields. These are mainly used for:

• Private planes
• Corporate flights
• Flight training
• Some regional services

Examples include:

• DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (often called PDK) – In Chamblee, north of Atlanta.
• Fulton County Airport (Brown Field) – In northwest Atlanta.

If you’re booking commercial airline tickets, your flights will almost always go through ATL, not these smaller airports.

What Locals and Visitors Should Keep in Mind About ATL

Here are some quick, Atlanta-specific tips:

• Always verify terminal and concourse
  Airlines can use both the Domestic and International terminals and multiple concourses, so check your boarding pass before you leave home.

• Plan extra time for peak hours
  Morning departures (around 6–9 a.m.) and evening arrivals can be especially busy, both on the roads and inside the airport.

• Domestic vs. International check-in
  If you’re flying internationally, confirm if your airline wants you at the International Terminal from the start. Some carriers still check in on the Domestic side for certain routes or codeshares.

• Parking choices
  ATL offers:

  • Short-term garages near terminals
  • Long-term and economy lots
  • Off-airport private parking services via shuttles

  Many local travelers compare drive time, parking cost, and security before choosing where to park.

Quick Summary: The Name of Atlanta’s Airport

• The main airport serving Atlanta is called Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
• The airport code is ATL, and locals commonly say “Atlanta airport” or “Hartsfield–Jackson.”
• It’s located at 6000 N Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30320, just south of Downtown.
• For nearly all commercial flights in and out of Atlanta, this is the airport you’ll use.