Where Is West Midtown Atlanta? A Local Guide to Location, Borders, and Landmarks

West Midtown is one of Atlanta’s most talked-about intown areas, but it doesn’t have officially drawn lines like a city neighborhood on a zoning map. Instead, “West Midtown” is a commonly used name for a growing district on the northwest side of the city, just west of the traditional Midtown core.

If you live in Atlanta, visit often, or are moving here, here’s how to understand where West Midtown actually is, how to find it, and what’s around it.

The Short Answer: Where Is West Midtown Atlanta?

In everyday Atlanta usage, West Midtown is the area immediately west and a bit northwest of Midtown, centered around:

• Howell Mill Road NW
• Marietta Street NW
• The rail and industrial corridor running between them

Most people think of West Midtown as the cluster of neighborhoods and developments around:

• Westside Provisions District (around 14th St NW & Howell Mill Rd NW)
• Georgia Tech’s west side of campus and the Marietta Street corridor
• The industrial-to-mixed-use zones stretching north toward I-75 and south toward Northside Drive NW and Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW

It’s entirely inside the City of Atlanta and inside the I-285 Perimeter.

How Locals Describe West Midtown’s General Boundaries

There is no single official city map that labels “West Midtown” with exact borders. But in practice, many Atlantans describe it roughly like this:

• East: The western edge of Midtown/Georgia Tech campus (near Northside Drive NW or the rail lines behind campus)
• West: Areas approaching I-75 and sometimes just beyond, depending on who you ask
• North: Roughly around Collier Road NW and parts of Berkley Park
• South: Toward Northside Drive NW, Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, and the Marietta Street Artery near downtown

Think of it as the “west side of Midtown,” not downtown and not Buckhead, but connected to all three by major corridors.

Key Streets and Corridors That Signal You’re in West Midtown

One of the easiest ways to understand West Midtown’s footprint is by looking at the main streets that define it.

Major North–South Streets

• Howell Mill Road NW

  • Often considered the main spine of West Midtown
  • Runs north–south, with dense development between 10th St NW and Collier Rd NW
  • Westside Provisions District, newer apartments, and many restaurants are clustered along this stretch

• Northside Drive NW

  • Runs parallel to Howell Mill to the east
  • Forms more of an edge of West Midtown near Georgia Tech and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium/Westside areas

Major East–West Streets

• 14th Street NW

  • A key connector between conventional Midtown and West Midtown
  • Crossing the I-75/85 Connector and heading west on 14th brings you directly into the heart of West Midtown near Howell Mill

• 10th Street NW

  • A main link from classic Midtown to the Howell Mill and Marietta corridor

• Marietta Street NW

  • Important older industrial corridor connecting downtown, Georgia Tech, and the Westside
  • Many lofts, studios, and adaptive reuse buildings line this street

How West Midtown Relates to Other Atlanta Neighborhoods

Understanding West Midtown is easier when you see how it fits among nearby neighborhoods and districts.

Nearby Districts and Neighborhoods

• Midtown Atlanta (to the east)

  • More high-rise and office-heavy
  • Centered around Peachtree St NE, Piedmont Park, and the Midtown/downtown connector

• Downtown and Georgia Tech (to the southeast)

  • Downtown begins as you move further down Marietta St and Northside Dr toward Centennial Olympic Park and the government/business core
  • Georgia Tech sits between Midtown and West Midtown; its west campus effectively touches West Midtown along Northside Dr NW and Marietta St NW

• Upper Westside / Bolton / Riverside (to the northwest and west)

  • Past the dense West Midtown core, moving along Marietta Blvd NW and Chattahoochee Ave NW, many locals now refer to this area as part of the Upper Westside
  • These areas edge closer to the Chattahoochee River and the northwestern border of the city

• Home Park and Berkeley Park (within or adjoining West Midtown)

  • Home Park sits between Midtown and the West Midtown/Georgia Tech area
  • Berkeley Park lies north of I-75 near Howell Mill and Collier Rd
  • Many people consider these part of the broader West Midtown ecosystem or directly adjacent

Quick Orientation: What’s “In” West Midtown vs. Nearby

Below is a simple reference-style overview of how locals commonly classify nearby areas:

How to Get to West Midtown From Popular Atlanta Spots

If you’re visiting or moving around the city, it helps to know the practical routes.

From Midtown

• By car:

  • Take 10th St NW or 14th St NW west across the I-75/85 Connector
  • Continue straight until you hit Howell Mill Rd NW or Marietta St NW

• By bus (MARTA):

  • Several bus routes run along Northside Dr, Howell Mill Rd, and Marietta St that connect from the Midtown or Arts Center rail stations
  • Route details can change, so check current information from MARTA before you go

From Downtown

• By car:

  • Take Northside Dr NW north or Marietta St NW northwest out of downtown
  • You’ll pass near Georgia Tech and enter the West Midtown corridor as you move away from the central business district

• From Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

  • By car: Follow I-85 north to the downtown connector, then use exits for 17th St NW, 14th St NW, or 10th St NW and head west
  • By MARTA rail: Ride north to Midtown or Arts Center stations and transfer to a bus or rideshare into West Midtown

Is West Midtown an Official Atlanta Neighborhood?

No. West Midtown is generally understood as an informal district name, similar to how Atlanta residents talk about:

• The Westside
• The Upper Westside
• The Old Fourth Ward (which is partially formal, partially colloquial)

The City of Atlanta officially recognizes many neighborhoods and Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs). Parts of what people call West Midtown overlap with neighborhoods such as:

• Home Park
• Berkeley Park
• Knight Park/Howell Station
• Portions near Georgia Tech and the Marietta Street Artery

If you’re dealing with permits, zoning, voting, or city services, the city will usually refer to:

• Your official neighborhood name
• Your NPU (such as NPU-E, NPU-D, etc.)

You can confirm your official neighborhood and NPU using the City of Atlanta’s planning resources or by calling:

• City of Atlanta Department of City Planning
  • 55 Trinity Avenue SW, Suite 3350
  • Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Main phone: 404-330-6070

Landmarks That Help You Know You’re in West Midtown

If you’re still unsure whether you’re actually in West Midtown when you get there, these visual and destination cues can help.

Many locals associate West Midtown with:

• Converted warehouses and industrial buildings turned into offices, studios, and venues
• Rail lines and old industrial corridors running behind or alongside newer developments
• Mixed-use developments with restaurants, boutiques, and apartments clustered along Howell Mill and Marietta

Commonly mentioned landmarks and zones include:

• The 14th St NW & Howell Mill Rd NW intersection area
• The Howell Mill corridor from about 10th St up past Collier Rd
• The Marietta St NW corridor near Georgia Tech and west of downtown

You don’t need to hit every landmark to “be” in West Midtown, but seeing this blend of old industrial and new mixed-use is a good sign you’re in the right place.

West Midtown vs. “Westside” and “Upper Westside”

You’ll hear several related terms in Atlanta, which can be confusing.

• West Midtown

  • Usually means the denser, more commercial and mixed-use area immediately west of Midtown
  • Heavily associated with Howell Mill/Marietta/14th corridor

• Westside

  • Broader cultural and geographic term that can stretch further south and west
  • Can include historic Westside neighborhoods beyond the commercial core of West Midtown

• Upper Westside

  • A term commonly used for areas farther north and west of West Midtown’s core, along Marietta Blvd NW, Chattahoochee Ave NW, and near the Chattahoochee River
  • More former industrial areas transitioning into mixed-use, retail, and residential

When someone says “West Midtown”, they’re typically talking about the closest west-of-Midtown commercial and residential cluster, not the entire Westside of Atlanta.

Navigating Addresses and Directions in West Midtown

Because West Midtown is more of a district label than an official neighborhood, addresses will usually read:

• “Atlanta, GA 30318” (or nearby ZIPs in the 303xx range), often with:
  • NW designation (e.g., Howell Mill Rd NW, Marietta St NW)

If you’re using GPS or a map app:

• Entering “West Midtown Atlanta” usually centers you around the Howell Mill Rd NW & 14th St NW area
• You can also search for Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 or Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 as reference points

If you’re scheduling a delivery, rideshare, or appointment, rely on the street address and ZIP code, not just the “West Midtown” label, since the boundaries are informal.

When Does It Stop Being West Midtown?

Because West Midtown isn’t officially defined, locals don’t always agree exactly where it stops. But a few common patterns show up in how people talk about it:

• Heading north:

  • Once you travel past Collier Rd NW and start pushing deeper into residential areas near Moores Mill Rd NW, many people feel you’re edging toward Upper Westside or northwest neighborhoods rather than the West Midtown core

• Heading south:

  • Driving down Marietta St NW or Northside Dr NW toward the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the downtown core, most would say you’ve left West Midtown for downtown/Westside

• Heading east:

  • As you approach Peachtree St NE, high-rises, and Piedmont Park, you’re solidly back in Midtown

• Heading west:

  • Crossing under I-75 and moving toward the Chattahoochee River places you in the broader Upper Westside and northwest Atlanta area

In everyday practice, if you’re near Howell Mill Rd or Marietta St between about 10th and Collier, most Atlantans will comfortably call that West Midtown.

Who to Contact If You Need Official Information About Your Area

If you live or plan to live in what’s commonly referred to as West Midtown and need official answers about zoning, permits, neighborhood meetings, or property questions, the “West Midtown” label won’t be what the city uses. You’ll typically work through:

• Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs)
• Recognized neighborhoods such as Home Park, Berkeley Park, and others in the west-central part of the city

Useful starting points include:

• City of Atlanta Department of City Planning

  • 55 Trinity Avenue SW, Suite 3350
  • Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Phone: 404-330-6070

• City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services

  • For help connecting with your council district or neighborhood contacts
  • City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW
  • Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Main City Hall phone: 404-330-6000

You can give them your address, and they can tell you your official neighborhood, NPU, and City Council district, which matter more for city services than the “West Midtown” label.

In everyday Atlanta life, West Midtown means the lively, rapidly developing area just west of Midtown, centered on Howell Mill Rd NW and Marietta St NW, inside the City of Atlanta and well within the Perimeter. It’s not an official neighborhood with hard borders, but a widely used local term for a distinct, recognizable slice of the city’s west-central side.