Where You Can (and Can’t) Smoke at Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Airport

Travel days are stressful enough without wondering if you’ll be able to smoke before or between flights. If you’re flying through Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), it’s important to know that Atlanta’s airport is now effectively a non‑smoking facility indoors.

Below is a clear guide to where you can smoke, what’s banned, and what to expect when you land or connect in Atlanta.

Quick Answer: Is There Anywhere to Smoke Inside Atlanta Airport?

No. You cannot smoke anywhere inside Atlanta Airport.

That includes:

• Traditional cigarettes
• Cigars
• Pipes
• Vapes and e‑cigarettes
• Any other smoking or vaping devices

All previously designated indoor smoking rooms and lounges at ATL have been closed due to local ordinances and airport policy. Smoking and vaping are allowed only in certain outdoor areas.

Why There Are No Indoor Smoking Rooms Anymore

Hartsfield–Jackson used to have multiple smoking rooms throughout the terminals and concourses. However:

• Atlanta city regulations and updated airport policies prohibit indoor smoking and vaping in the terminal buildings.
• This includes:
  • Gate areas
  • Restaurants and bars
  • Restrooms
  • Lounges
  • Corridors and all other enclosed spaces

If you’ve seen older online posts or travel forums mentioning indoor smoking lounges at ATL, those are out of date. For current travelers, plan on going outside the secured area if you need to smoke.

Where You Can Smoke at ATL: Outdoor Options

To smoke at Atlanta Airport, you’ll need to go to a designated outdoor smoking area, all of which are outside security. That means you’ll have to exit the secure zone and re-clear TSA if you’re connecting.

Main Idea

You can smoke in:

• Marked outdoor smoking areas on the curbsides (arrivals or departures levels), away from doors and under posted signage.
• Some designated smoking zones in areas like:
  • The ground transportation center
  • Certain parking and shuttle areas

These spots are usually marked with “Smoking Area” signs and ashtrays or receptacles.

🚩 Important: You must be well away from terminal entrances. Atlanta’s smoke-free rules typically require you to stay a set distance from doors and windows (often posted on site).

Step‑by‑Step: How to Smoke During a Connection at Atlanta Airport

If you’re connecting through ATL and need a smoke, here’s how it generally works:

1. Decide if You Have Enough Time

Because you’ll be exiting and then re-clearing security, you should have ample layover time, usually:

• Minimum 1.5–2 hours is safer, especially during busy times.
• For tight connections (under 1 hour), leaving security to smoke is very risky.

2. Leave the Secure Area

From any concourse (A, B, C, D, E, F, or T):

1. Follow signs for Baggage Claim / Ground Transportation / Exit.
2. Take the Plane Train (airport train) to the Domestic Terminal (if you arrived on a domestic airline) or to the International Terminal (Concourse F) if needed.
3. Go up to the main terminal level and pass through the exit doors to the public side (pre-security).

3. Find an Outdoor Smoking Spot

Once you’re in the public area:

• Walk outside to the curbside roadway (arrivals or departures level).
• Look for:
  • Signs that indicate smoking is allowed in a specific section
  • Ashtrays or designated receptacles
• Move away from the building entrances, following any posted “No Smoking” distance rules.

Staff like airport police officers or airport information desks inside the terminal can usually point you toward the nearest designated outdoor area.

4. Re‑Enter and Clear Security Again

When you’re done:

1. Go back inside the terminal through the nearest entrance.
2. Proceed to the appropriate TSA security checkpoint:
   • Domestic Terminal North / South (for most U.S. carriers)
   • International Terminal / Concourse F checkpoint (for many international flights)
3. Clear security, then take the Plane Train back to your departure concourse.

Allow extra time, especially during peak travel periods or holidays.

Smoking at the Domestic vs. International Terminals

Hartsfield–Jackson has two main terminal complexes:

• Domestic Terminal (North and South)
• Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F)

The smoking rules are the same at both.

Domestic Terminal (North & South)

• Inside: No smoking or vaping anywhere.
• Outside:
  • You may smoke in designated outdoor sections along the curb, away from entrances.
  • Look for posted signs and ash receptacles on the arrivals and departures levels.

International Terminal (Concourse F)

• Inside (Concourse F gates, food court, and lounges): Completely smoke‑free.
• Outside (International Terminal front curb):
  • Designated smoking areas are typically found along the outside curb, again away from the doors.
  • Follow posted signs and instructions onsite.

If you’re arriving internationally and connecting, you’ll clear customs, collect bags (if required), and then move toward the public arrivals hall before you can step outside to smoke.

What About Vaping and E‑Cigarettes at Atlanta Airport?

Vaping is treated the same as smoking at ATL:

• No vaping or e‑cigarette use indoors, including:

  • Gate seating
  • Restrooms
  • Jet bridges
  • Shops, bars, or restaurants
  • Airline lounges

• Vaping is only allowed in the same outdoor smoking areas where cigarettes are permitted.

Keep your devices and e‑liquids stored when inside the terminal. Follow TSA rules for batteries and liquids as you would at any U.S. airport.

If You’re Being Dropped Off or Picked Up

If you’re an Atlanta local dropping someone off or picking them up and want to smoke near the airport:

• You can generally smoke in outdoor areas that:
  • Are not under “No Smoking” signage, and
  • Are away from terminal doors and walkways.
• Many locals choose to smoke:
  • In their vehicle before pulling up to the terminal
  • In the cell phone waiting lots or parking deck areas, as long as they respect posted rules

Always check signs in the specific lot you’re using; some areas may have stricter restrictions.

Quick Reference: Smoking at ATL

How This Affects Your Trip Planning in Atlanta

If you’re a smoker or vaper traveling through Atlanta:

• Plan your smoke breaks before security at departure.
• For connections:
  • Aim for longer layovers if you know you’ll want to go outside.
  • Factor in TSA lines on your way back in.
• If you live in Atlanta and use ATL often, it can help to:
  • Build in an extra 20–40 minutes each way if you routinely step outside to smoke.
  • Familiarize yourself with where the designated outdoor areas typically are in your usual terminal.

If you’re unsure where to go once you’re in the airport, you can ask:

• Airport Information Desks (Domestic or International terminals)
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport switchboard:
  • Main airport information: (800) 897‑1910 (commonly published general info line)

You can ask them directly: “Where are the current outdoor smoking areas?” for the terminal you’re using.

Key Takeaways for Smokers at Atlanta Airport

• There is no indoor smoking anywhere at Hartsfield–Jackson.
• All smoking and vaping must be done in designated outdoor areas, typically along the curbs or in certain outdoor zones.
• If you’re connecting, you must leave security to smoke and then go through TSA again, so allow plenty of time.
• Old information about indoor smoking lounges at Atlanta Airport no longer applies under current rules.

Knowing this ahead of time can help you manage your layover, reduce stress, and avoid fines or conflicts while traveling through Atlanta.