What Is Atlanta’s Latitude? A Local’s Guide to Where the City Sits on the Map
Atlanta, Georgia sits at a latitude of about 33.75° North (often written as 33.749° N).
If you plug “Atlanta latitude” into a GPS or mapping app, you’ll usually see something close to:
That point lines up with Downtown Atlanta, near the heart of the city’s government and business districts.
Atlanta’s Exact Latitude: What You Need to Know
The core coordinates
For most practical purposes, you can think of Atlanta as being at:
- Latitude: ~33.75° North
- Longitude: ~84.39° West
These numbers describe Atlanta’s position on the globe:
- Latitude tells you how far north or south you are from the equator.
- Longitude tells you how far east or west you are from the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England.
Atlanta’s latitude means the city is:
- In the Northern Hemisphere
- In the mid-latitudes of the United States
- A bit closer to the equator than cities like Washington, D.C. or New York City
Why Atlanta’s Latitude Matters in Everyday Life
You might just be curious about the number, but Atlanta’s latitude actually affects a few real-world things you’ll notice if you live in or visit the city.
1. Daylight hours and seasons
Because Atlanta is around 33.75° N:
- Summers have longer days, with early sunrises and later sunsets.
- Winters have shorter days, but Atlanta still gets more daylight than cities much farther north.
This is why:
- Summer evenings in Atlanta often stay bright well past 8:30 p.m.
- Winter days can feel short, with sunset before 6:00 p.m.
You’ll see this show up in:
- Event times at places like Piedmont Park or the Atlanta BeltLine
- Driving visibility during rush hour
- Outdoor dining and patio hours at local restaurants
2. Atlanta’s climate and weather
Atlanta’s mid-latitude position helps explain its humid subtropical climate:
- Hot, often humid summers
- Mild to cool winters, with only occasional snow
- Four distinct seasons, but less extreme cold than many northern cities
The latitude doesn’t tell the whole story (elevation and distance from the ocean also matter), but it’s a big reason why you can:
- See dogwoods and azaleas blooming in early spring
- Enjoy fall color in the trees, especially in neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, and around Emory
- Experience occasional icy conditions, but not months of snow and ice
How Atlanta’s Latitude Compares to Other Cities
Here’s a simple comparison to give you a better sense of where Atlanta sits north–south relative to other major cities:
| City | Approx. Latitude | How It Compares to Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 33.75° N | — (your baseline) |
| Miami, FL | 25.76° N | Much farther south (warmer, more tropical) |
| Orlando, FL | 28.54° N | South of Atlanta |
| Dallas, TX | 32.78° N | Slightly south |
| Los Angeles, CA | 34.05° N | Almost the same latitude |
| Raleigh, NC | 35.78° N | Farther north |
| Washington, D.C. | 38.91° N | Clearly farther north |
Two useful takeaways:
- Atlanta and Los Angeles are at almost the same latitude, even though their climates feel very different.
- Atlanta is significantly north of South Florida, which is why Atlanta has more seasonal change.
Latitude Within Atlanta: Different Spots, Slightly Different Numbers
Atlanta covers a large metro area, and the latitude can shift slightly depending on where you are:
- Downtown / Georgia State Capitol area:
Around 33.749° N - Midtown (near Piedmont Park, Georgia Tech):
Roughly 33.78° N - Buckhead:
Around 33.84° N - Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL):
About 33.64° N
These differences are small, but they matter if you’re:
- Setting up a precise GPS device
- Logging aviation or drone flight coordinates
- Doing geocaching, mapping, or surveying
Using Atlanta’s Latitude for Travel and Navigation
For visitors flying into Atlanta
If you’re flying into Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, you’re landing just south of the city’s central latitude:
- ATL approximate coordinates:
33.6407° N, 84.4277° W
Knowing that the airport is just below central Atlanta on the map can help you:
- Understand travel times into Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead
- Visualize why major interstates like I‑75, I‑85, and I‑285 connect the airport the way they do
For driving and GPS use around the city
Most mapping apps will show you your exact latitude and longitude if you:
- Drop a pin on a location in Atlanta
- Check the location details or “about” section for a point of interest
This can be useful when:
- Meeting someone in a large area like Stone Mountain Park or Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
- Marking exact locations for hiking trailheads along the Chattahoochee or PATH trails
- Reporting precise locations to emergency services or roadside assistance
🚗 Tip: If you’re in an unfamiliar part of metro Atlanta (like far South Fulton or North Gwinnett), sharing your GPS coordinates from your phone can help services find you faster than a vague street description.
Why Latitude Matters for Life in Atlanta
Beyond basic geography, Atlanta’s latitude influences a few daily-life details you might notice:
Outdoor activities and sports
Because of Atlanta’s position:
- Spring and fall are usually comfortable for outdoor events like:
- Braves games at Truist Park
- Atlanta United matches at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium (even with a roof, pre‑ and post‑game time is outside)
- Festivals in Piedmont Park, Grant Park, and Old Fourth Ward
- Summer heat and humidity can be intense in the afternoon, leading many Atlantans to:
- Exercise outdoors early in the morning or later in the evening
- Use shaded trails like parts of the BeltLine or Silver Comet Trail
Sunrise and sunset planning
Atlanta’s mid-latitude position is helpful when planning:
- Photography sessions around popular viewpoints like:
- Jackson Street Bridge (for skyline shots)
- Kennesaw Mountain or Stone Mountain overlooks
- Commuting schedules if you prefer to drive in daylight
- School and work routines, especially in winter when it may be dark during early trips
Sunrise and sunset times shift through the year, but at roughly 33.75° N, you get:
- Summer days that can feel long and bright
- Winter days that are short but not as extreme as cities farther north
How to Look Up Latitude for Any Location in Atlanta
If you want the latitude for a specific spot in Atlanta—like your home, hotel, or business—here’s a simple approach using almost any modern smartphone or computer:
- Open a map app (such as the default maps app on your phone).
- Search for the address or move the map to your location in Atlanta.
- Press and hold (or right‑click on a computer) on the exact spot.
- Look for the coordinate readout—typically shown as something like
33.76, -84.39.
You can then:
- Share those coordinates with visitors
- Use them for navigation systems in rental cars
- Save them for hiking, cycling, or other outdoor planning around the Atlanta area
Quick Facts: Atlanta’s Latitude at a Glance
If you just need the basics:
- City: Atlanta, Georgia
- Approximate latitude (city center):33.75° North
- Approximate longitude (city center):84.39° West
- Hemisphere: Northern Hemisphere
- Region: Southeastern United States, mid-latitudes
- Effect on daily life:
- Four seasons, with warm to hot summers and mild winters
- Moderately long summer days, shorter winter days
- Daylight and climate well-suited to outdoor events for much of the year
With this, you not only know what latitude Atlanta is, but also how that number connects to the way the city feels, looks, and functions throughout the year.