Where Is Bankhead in Atlanta? A Local Guide to Location, Landmarks, and Getting Around

If you live in Atlanta or you’re visiting and you keep hearing people talk about “Bankhead”, it can be confusing to pin down exactly where it is and what it includes today. The name shows up in music, on MARTA maps, and in conversations about the Westside—but what does that mean on an actual map?

This guide explains where Bankhead is in Atlanta, how the name is used today, and how to get to and around the area by car, MARTA, and nearby major roads.

What and Where Is “Bankhead” in Atlanta?

The short answer

In Atlanta, “Bankhead” usually refers to a historic Westside neighborhood area located northwest of Downtown Atlanta, centered around the corridor formerly known as Bankhead Highway.

Today, the main physical anchors most people mean when they say “Bankhead” are:

• The area around Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW (the new name for the old Bankhead Highway)
• The neighborhoods around the Bankhead MARTA Station on the Green Line
• The Westside communities just inside and just outside the I‑285 perimeter, northwest of Downtown

If you’re trying to place it on a map, Bankhead is generally:

• West of Midtown and Downtown
• North of I‑20
• South of the Chattahoochee River
• East of I‑285

It’s not a tightly drawn official boundary like a city council district, but more of a commonly understood Westside area with strong historical roots.

Key Streets, Boundaries, and Nearby Areas

While different Atlantans may draw the borders a bit differently, Bankhead is usually associated with parts of these corridors and neighborhoods:

Major streets tied to Bankhead

• Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW
  Formerly Bankhead Highway, this is the core east‑west road associated with the name. It runs from near Downtown out toward the city’s western edge and into unincorporated areas.

• Joseph E. Lowery Blvd NW, Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW, Hamilton E. Holmes Dr NW, and Holmes Dr NW
  These north‑south and east‑west routes connect Bankhead to Vine City, English Avenue, and other Westside neighborhoods.

• William H. Borders Sr. Dr NW / Chappell Rd NW / Hollywood Rd NW
  Often used as reference points when people describe the broader Bankhead/Westside area.

Nearby neighborhoods and landmarks

Bankhead is part of or closely associated with Atlanta’s Westside and Northwest neighborhoods, including:

• Bankhead / Bankhead Courts (historic references)
• Grove Park
• Center Hill
• Rockdale
• West Lake
• English Avenue (to the southeast)
• Vine City (southeast of Bankhead MARTA)

These areas sit between Downtown/Midtown and the western edge of the city, with the Bankhead name most strongly tied to the neighborhoods hugging Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW and the Bankhead MARTA Station.

Bankhead MARTA Station: The Easiest Reference Point

If you want a clear, official point on the map, use the Bankhead MARTA Station as your anchor.

Bankhead MARTA Station (Green Line)

• Name: Bankhead Station
• Rail Line: MARTA Green Line (western terminus)
• Location: On the city’s northwest side, off Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW
• Closest major highways:
  • North of I‑20
  • West of Downtown Connector (I‑75/I‑85)

From a practical standpoint, when locals say they’re “getting off at Bankhead,” they’re talking about this station and the immediately surrounding area.

If you’re navigating by transit or rideshare, using “Bankhead MARTA Station” is often the fastest way to get to the heart of what people mean when they say “Bankhead.”

How to Get to Bankhead From Around Atlanta

By MARTA Rail

Bankhead is one of the easiest Westside areas to reach by train, especially from Downtown and the Eastside.

From Downtown Atlanta (Five Points Station):

1. Go to Five Points MARTA Station.
2. Board a Green Line train heading to Bankhead.
3. Ride to the western terminus (Bankhead is the last stop).

From the Eastside (Decatur, Avondale, East Lake, etc.):

1. Take a Blue Line train toward Ashby / Hamilton E. Holmes.
2. Transfer at Five Points to the Green Line to Bankhead.
3. Stay on until the last stop.

From Midtown or Buckhead:

1. Take a Red or Gold Line train south to Five Points.
2. Transfer to the Green Line and ride to Bankhead Station.

Once you arrive, you’ll be in the core Bankhead area, with local bus routes and surface streets connecting you to surrounding neighborhoods.

By Bus (MARTA)

Several MARTA bus routes serve the Bankhead area, generally traveling along Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW and connecting to Bankhead Station or nearby rail stops.

While bus numbers and routes can change, buses in this area typically:

• Run along Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, connecting Bankhead to Downtown and further west.
• Link Bankhead to nearby neighborhoods like Grove Park, West Lake, and Vine City.
• Provide transfers to the Green Line at Bankhead and the Blue Line at Ashby.

When planning a trip, Atlantans commonly check:

• The latest MARTA rail and bus maps
• Real-time arrival tools or route planners that show the quickest connection to Bankhead Station or Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW

Driving Directions to Bankhead

If you’re driving, it helps to think of Bankhead in relation to three major pieces of infrastructure: Downtown Connector (I‑75/85), I‑20, and I‑285.

From Downtown / Midtown Atlanta

• Take Northside Dr NW or Northside Dr exit off the Downtown Connector.
• Head north or northwest to connect with Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW.
• Continue west on Donald Lee Hollowell; you’ll be in the traditional Bankhead corridor as you pass into the Westside neighborhoods.

From the Eastside (Decatur, East Atlanta)

• Take I‑20 West toward Downtown.
• Exit Downtown Connector (I‑75/85 North) or Northside Dr depending on your route.
• Work your way northwest via Northside Dr NW or Lowery Blvd NW to reach Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW and the Bankhead area.

From the West / Outside the Perimeter

• Take I‑20 East toward Atlanta.
• Use exits leading to I‑285 North or local westside roads depending on your starting point.
• From I‑285, exit onto Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW (SR 8) and drive east.
  As you approach the city limits, you’ll enter the Bankhead corridor.

Approximate Distance From Major Atlanta Landmarks

Travel times vary with traffic, but Bankhead is generally within a 10–25 minute drive from these major hubs, depending on time of day.

Why Is It Called “Bankhead”?

The name “Bankhead” in Atlanta comes from Bankhead Highway, a historic route that once ran across several Southern states. Over time, parts of this highway within Atlanta were renamed to Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW, in honor of a prominent civil rights attorney.

Even though the official street name changed, many locals still use “Bankhead” to describe:

• The area along and around this corridor
• The MARTA station that still carries the Bankhead name
• The historic identity of the neighborhood and surrounding Westside communities

So, if you see “Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW” on a street sign and someone calls it “Bankhead,” they’re talking about the same general corridor, just using the older, more familiar neighborhood name.

What People Usually Mean When They Say “Bankhead”

Because Bankhead is more of a local identity than a tightly drawn boundary, you’ll hear it used in a few common ways:

• Transit usage:
  “Get off at Bankhead Station and walk up Hollowell.”

• Neighborhood description:
  “I grew up in Bankhead, over by Grove Park.”

• General Westside reference:
  “He’s from the Westside, around Bankhead.”

In normal conversation, Atlantans use “Bankhead” to describe an area on the Northwest/Westside, not just a single block or one apartment complex. If you’re not sure what someone means, you can always ask, “Do you mean near Bankhead Station or farther out on Hollowell?”

Tips for Navigating Bankhead and the Westside

If you’re heading to Bankhead for the first time:

• Use a precise destination.
  Plug in a specific address, business, park, or Bankhead MARTA Station, rather than just “Bankhead,” to avoid confusion.

• Check your route before you go.
  Traffic patterns on the Westside can change quickly, especially around rush hours, major events, or construction zones.

• Use landmarks.
  Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Bankhead Station, and nearby interchanges with I‑285 or Northside Dr NW are common navigation touchpoints.

• If using MARTA, confirm transfer points.
  Most trips to Bankhead by rail run through Five Points, with a Green Line transfer there.

If You’re New to Atlanta or Visiting

If you’re trying to understand how Bankhead fits into Atlanta overall:

• It’s a historic Westside/Northwest area, not a separate city.
• It’s inside the City of Atlanta, well within the urban core.
• It’s easy to reach via MARTA Green Line and major roads like Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, I‑20, and I‑285.
• The name “Bankhead” ties into Atlanta’s cultural history, especially in music and local storytelling, and often represents the broader Westside experience as much as the physical place.

If your map app doesn’t highlight “Bankhead” as a labeled neighborhood, look for:

• Bankhead MARTA Station
• Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW
• Neighborhoods like Grove Park, Center Hill, Rockdale, and West Lake

All of these will put you in or around what Atlantans commonly mean when they say “Bankhead.”