Where Is Atlanta Located? A Local’s Guide to the City’s Place on the Map

Atlanta is more than just a big dot on a map of the South—it’s a major transportation hub, economic center, and cultural anchor for the entire region. Understanding where Atlanta is located helps you make sense of travel times, airport connections, weather, and even how the city itself is laid out.

This guide walks through exactly where Atlanta sits geographically, how it connects to nearby cities and states, and what that means for getting here and getting around once you arrive.

Atlanta’s Location in Georgia and the Southeast

Atlanta within the State of Georgia

Atlanta is located in north-central Georgia, roughly in the upper half of the state—not on the coast and not in the mountains, but in the rolling Piedmont region between the Appalachian foothills and the flatter plains to the south.

• State: Georgia
• Region of Georgia: North-central / Piedmont
• Status: Capital city of Georgia and largest city in the state

Atlanta is the seat of Fulton County, and parts of the city extend into DeKalb County on the east side.

Atlanta in the U.S. Southeast

On a map of the United States, Atlanta sits in the Southeastern region, making it a convenient crossroads city.

Atlanta is:

• North of Florida
• West of South Carolina and North Carolina
• East of Alabama
• South of Tennessee

Because of this central Southeastern location, Atlanta often serves as:

• A connecting point for flights across the country and the world
• A starting point for road trips to the coast, the mountains, or neighboring states
• A regional headquarters city for many businesses and organizations

Quick Location Snapshot

Here’s a simple reference for where Atlanta is located:

How Atlanta Relates to Nearby Cities and Landmarks

If you’re trying to picture Atlanta’s location relative to other familiar places, these rough road distances can help:

• About 90–100 miles southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee
• About 140–150 miles southeast of Birmingham, Alabama
• About 145–160 miles southwest of Greenville / Spartanburg, South Carolina
• About 200–250 miles inland from the Georgia and South Carolina Atlantic coast
• About 250–300 miles north of the Florida border, depending on your route

Within Georgia, Atlanta is:

• About 60–70 miles southeast of Rome
• About 70–80 miles northwest of Macon
• About 100–120 miles southwest of Athens (home of the University of Georgia)

These distances can shift slightly by route, but they give a practical sense of how centrally located Atlanta is for drivers in the region.

The Metro Atlanta Area vs. the City of Atlanta

When people say “Atlanta,” they might mean either:

1. The City of Atlanta (the official city limits), or
2. The Atlanta metropolitan area (the broader region of surrounding suburbs and cities)

City of Atlanta

The official City of Atlanta includes neighborhoods like:

• Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead
• Old Fourth Ward, Virginia-Highland, Inman Park
• West Midtown, Cascade, East Atlanta, and many more

This is the area governed by City of Atlanta leadership and services, headquartered at:

• Atlanta City Hall
  55 Trinity Ave SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303

Metro Atlanta

The Atlanta metropolitan area spreads across several counties around the city. Many residents who say they’re “from Atlanta” may actually live in a nearby city or suburb, such as:

• Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek (mainly north)
• Decatur, Stone Mountain, Tucker (east)
• College Park, East Point, Union City (south)
• Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Douglasville (west)

From a “where is it?” standpoint, it’s helpful to know whether someone is referring to the city proper or the greater metro—especially when planning routes, transit, or meeting points.

Atlanta’s Exact Position: Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation

If you’re using a GPS device or mapping tool, these approximate coordinates will help you pinpoint Atlanta:

• Latitude: around 33.75° North
• Longitude: around 84.39° West

The city sits at a relatively high elevation for the Southeast—around 1,000 feet above sea level in many areas. This is one reason Atlanta’s climate can feel a bit different from coastal Southern cities: typically hot summers, mild winters, and occasionally a light snowfall.

Where Is Atlanta’s Airport Located?

Because the airport is such a major part of how people get to and from the city, it’s useful to understand where it sits in relation to Atlanta.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

• Location: Just south of the City of Atlanta
• Primary Cities Served: Atlanta, College Park, Hapeville, and the broader metro region

The main airport address is:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  6000 N Terminal Pkwy
  Atlanta, GA 30320

From Downtown Atlanta, the airport is roughly:

• 7–10 miles south, depending on your exact starting point
• Around 15–25 minutes by car in light traffic
• Accessible via MARTA (Atlanta’s rail system) from stations like Peachtree Center, Five Points, and Midtown

This close distance between downtown and the airport is a key part of Atlanta’s appeal as a transportation hub for business and leisure travel.

Major Highways and How Atlanta Sits on the Road Network

If you look at a highway map, Atlanta is a major intersection point for several important interstates that connect across the Southeast and beyond.

Key Interstates Running Through or Around Atlanta

• I-75: Runs north–south

  • North toward Chattanooga and beyond
  • South toward Macon, Florida, and the Gulf Coast

• I-85: Also runs north–south

  • North toward Greenville, Charlotte, and the Mid-Atlantic
  • South toward Montgomery and further south Alabama

• I-20: Runs east–west

  • East toward Augusta and Columbia
  • West toward Birmingham and northern Mississippi

• I-285: The Perimeter, a loop around the city

  • Connects major suburbs and serves as a key reference point: “Inside the Perimeter” (ITP) vs. “Outside the Perimeter” (OTP)

Because of this highway junction, Atlanta often serves as a midpoint for long-distance road trips and regional freight traffic.

How to Tell Where You Are in Atlanta

Once you’re in the city, understanding location often comes down to a few common reference points.

Inside vs. Outside the Perimeter

Locals often describe locations as:

• ITP (Inside the Perimeter):
  • Areas within I-285, including Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and many intown neighborhoods
• OTP (Outside the Perimeter):
  • Suburbs and cities outside I-285, like Marietta, Alpharetta, and Stone Mountain

This helps people quickly understand how close a place is to central Atlanta and what traffic or commute might be like.

Cardinal Directions Around the City

You’ll also hear areas described as:

• North Atlanta / North Metro: Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Dunwoody
• East Atlanta / East Metro: Decatur, Stone Mountain, Tucker
• South Atlanta / South Metro: College Park, East Point, Union City, Forest Park
• West Atlanta / West Metro: Smyrna, Marietta, Mableton, Douglasville

These labels help narrow down where a place is relative to Downtown Atlanta, which serves as the city’s central point for orientation.

Key Civic and Visitor Locations in Atlanta

If you’re trying to understand where important city spots are physically located, here are a few anchors you can use when navigating:

• Georgia State Capitol
  206 Washington St SW
  Atlanta, GA 30334

  • Located just south of Downtown, near the Five Points area

• Downtown Atlanta (Central Business District)
  Roughly around:

  • Peachtree St NW & Marietta St NW
  • Near MARTA Five Points, Peachtree Center, and Georgia State stations

• Midtown Atlanta
  A few miles north of Downtown along Peachtree St and around 10th St NE

  • Centered near the Midtown MARTA station

• Buckhead
  Farther north along Peachtree Rd NE

  • Centered near the Buckhead and Lenox MARTA stations

Knowing these anchors makes it easier to picture where you are relative to the core of the city.

Using Maps and Local Assistance to Confirm Your Location

If you need official or in-person help figuring out where something is in Atlanta, you can use:

• City of Atlanta information desks at public buildings like City Hall and the Atlanta City Hall Annex
• MARTA station agents, who can help with directions around the city and to/from the airport
• State visitor welcome centers located along major highways entering Georgia, which often have maps and Atlanta information

When asking for directions locally, it often helps to mention:

• The neighborhood name (for example, “Inman Park,” “Grant Park,” “Buckhead”)
• Whether you are inside or outside the Perimeter (I-285)
• Your nearest MARTA station or major road (like I-75/85, I-20, or I-285)

In summary, Atlanta is located in north-central Georgia, in the heart of the U.S. Southeast, serving as the state capital, a major transportation hub, and the anchor of a large metro area connected by interstates, rail, and one of the world’s busiest airports. Understanding Atlanta’s spot on the map—and how the city and its suburbs are laid out—makes it much easier to plan your visit, commute, or move around day to day.