Nearest Airport to Atlanta: Your Guide to Flying In and Out of the City

If you’re planning a trip to or from Atlanta, Georgia, the first thing you’ll probably ask is: “What’s the nearest airport to Atlanta?” The answer is straightforward—but there are a few other nearby options that might matter depending on where you’re coming from, your budget, and your destination.

This guide walks you through Atlanta’s primary airport, other nearby airports, and how to choose the best one for your needs as a resident, visitor, or frequent traveler.

The Main Airport Near Atlanta: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

The nearest and primary airport serving Atlanta is:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320
General Information: (800) 897-1910

Located just south of downtown Atlanta, ATL is the city’s main commercial airport and one of the busiest air hubs in the world. For almost any trip involving Atlanta, this is the airport you’ll use.

How close is ATL to downtown Atlanta?

• Distance from Downtown (Five Points area): About 10 miles
• Drive time (no heavy traffic): Typically 15–25 minutes
• Drive time (rush hour): Often 30–45 minutes or more

The airport sits along Interstate 85 and is integrated directly with Atlanta’s MARTA transit system, making it very convenient whether you’re a local or a visitor.

Why ATL Is the Best Airport for Most Atlanta Travelers

For almost every situation where you’re looking for the nearest airport to Atlanta, ATL will be the best and most practical choice. Here’s why:

1. Most Flight Options

ATL is a major hub, which means:

• Nonstop flights to a large number of U.S. cities
• Extensive international connections to Europe, Latin America, and beyond
• Multiple airlines competing on popular routes, often giving more pricing and timing flexibility

If you live in Atlanta or are visiting the metro area, ATL almost always offers the widest choices for departure times and destinations.

2. Strong Ground Transportation Options

From ATL, you can reach many parts of Atlanta and the metro area fairly easily:

MARTA Rail (Public Transit)

• Station: Domestic Terminal, inside the Ground Transportation Center
• Line: MARTA Red and Gold Lines
• Connects directly to: Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and up through Sandy Springs and Doraville
• Good option if you’re staying near a MARTA station and want to avoid driving or parking

Rideshare and Taxis

• Designated areas for Uber, Lyft, and taxis at both the Domestic and International Terminals
• Useful for direct trips to neighborhoods like Inman Park, West Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Decatur, College Park, and others

Rental Cars

• Rental Car Center (RCC) at 2200 Rental Car Center Pkwy, College Park, GA 30337
• Accessed via the SkyTrain, an automated train from both the Domestic Terminal and the MARTA station
• Ideal if you plan to drive to suburbs like Alpharetta, Marietta, Peachtree City, or Stone Mountain

3. Domestic vs. International Terminals

ATL has two main passenger terminal complexes:

• Domestic Terminal

  • Split into North and South sides, each serving different airlines
  • Primarily for flights within the United States

• Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F)

  • Address: 2600 Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30354
  • Handles most international arrivals and departures
  • Has its own parking and access roads separate from the Domestic Terminal

Travelers often underestimate the time it takes to move between these two areas by shuttle, so it’s helpful to know which terminal your airline uses before you arrive.

Other Airports Near Atlanta You Might Consider

Although ATL is the main commercial airport, there are other airports near Atlanta that some travelers use—especially for private flights, regional trips, or specific low-cost options. These are generally farther from central Atlanta and much smaller in scale.

Here’s a simplified overview:

DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (PDK)

Location:
2000 Airport Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341 (often considered Chamblee/Doraville area)

• About 10–12 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta
• Not a large commercial airport—no typical airline service for the general public
• Used heavily for:
  • Private jets
  • Corporate aviation
  • Flight schools and helicopter operations

If you see references to “Atlanta’s second airport,” they are often talking about PDK, but for everyday airline travel, it will not replace ATL.

Fulton County Airport – Brown Field (FTY)

Location:
3952 Aviation Cir NW, Atlanta, GA 30336

• Roughly 7–10 miles west of downtown
• Primarily a general aviation and charter airport
• Commonly used for:
  • Charter flights serving western Atlanta and Cobb/Fulton industrial areas
  • Business aviation and small private aircraft

Again, this is not a commercial passenger airport in the way most travelers expect.

Cobb County International Airport – McCollum Field (RYY)

Location:
1723 McCollum Pkwy NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144

• About 25 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta
• Serves Cobb County and the northwest metro
• Another general aviation field used for:
  • Private aircraft
  • Business travel
  • Charters and flight training

Residents in Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, and surrounding areas might use this airport for private or corporate flights, but not for typical airline trips.

When ATL Isn’t Your Only Option

For most people flying to or from Atlanta, ATL is the obvious answer. Still, there are a few specific situations where another airport could enter the picture.

1. Private or Corporate Flights

If you’re booking a private jet or charter, you might fly into:

• DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (PDK) – convenient to Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, and the Perimeter area
• Fulton County Airport (FTY) – convenient to West Midtown, Austell, or industrial areas west of Atlanta
• Cobb County International (RYY) – convenient to Marietta, Kennesaw, and Acworth

These airports are often chosen to avoid ATL’s traffic and congestion and to get closer to specific suburbs or business districts.

2. Regional Alternatives Outside the Atlanta Metro

In limited cases, someone searching “nearest airport to Atlanta” might be considering nearby regional cities if:

• They’re staying far south of Atlanta or combining trips with another Georgia city
• They’re looking at special fares or specific airline routes

A few examples:

• Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) – near Macon, GA, about 85 miles from Atlanta
• Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) – in Chattanooga, TN, roughly 120 miles from Atlanta
• Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) – in Birmingham, AL, around 150 miles from Atlanta

These are not practical for most Atlanta residents or visitors, but occasionally they can make sense if you’re traveling to or from another region and combining stops.

Choosing the Best Airport for Your Atlanta Trip

To keep it simple, here’s how to decide:

If you are:

• Flying on a major airline (domestic or international):
  ➜ Use Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

• Taking a typical vacation, business trip, or visiting family in the Atlanta metro:
  ➜ Use ATL

• Arriving from another country or connecting internationally:
  ➜ Use ATL, typically via the International Terminal

• Flying on a private jet, charter, or corporate aircraft and want something closer to your specific suburb:
  ➜ Consider PDK, FTY, or RYY, depending on your side of town and what your operator recommends

• Staying well outside metro Atlanta and combining multiple cities (like Macon or Chattanooga) in your plan:
  ➜ ATL may still be best, but you could compare with MCN, CHA, or BHM based on your route

Getting To and From ATL from Different Parts of Atlanta

Because ATL is the airport almost everyone uses, it helps to know rough travel patterns from common parts of the city.

From Downtown Atlanta

Areas: Five Points, South Downtown, Castleberry Hill

• Drive/Rideshare: 15–25 minutes in light traffic via I-75/85 South
• MARTA: Direct from stations like Five Points on the Red/Gold Line to Airport Station

From Midtown Atlanta

Areas: Midtown, Georgia Tech, Atlantic Station

• Drive/Rideshare: Often 20–30 minutes, longer in peak times
• MARTA: Board at North Avenue, Midtown, or Arts Center stations → take Red/Gold Line to Airport

From Buckhead and North Atlanta

Areas: Buckhead, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Chamblee

• Drive/Rideshare: Typically 25–45 minutes, depending on traffic on GA-400 and I-85
• MARTA: Board at stations like Lindbergh Center, Buckhead, Medical Center, Dunwoody → connect to Airport Station on the same line

From East Atlanta and Decatur

Areas: East Atlanta Village, Decatur, Kirkwood, Avondale Estates

• Drive/Rideshare: Usually 25–40 minutes, depending on route
• MARTA: Board on the Blue Line (e.g., Decatur, Avondale), then transfer to the Gold/Red Line downtown toward Airport

From South Metro (College Park, East Point, Riverdale)

• Drive/Rideshare: Often 10–20 minutes, very close to ATL
• MARTA: Stations like College Park and East Point are just a few stops from Airport Station

Key Takeaways for Travelers in Atlanta

• The nearest and primary airport to Atlanta is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), located about 10 miles south of downtown.
• For almost all commercial airline travel, ATL is the airport you’ll use.
• Other nearby airports like DeKalb–Peachtree (PDK), Fulton County (FTY), and Cobb County International (RYY) serve mainly private, charter, and corporate flights, not regular airline passengers.
• ATL is well-connected to the city by interstates, MARTA rail, rideshare services, taxis, and rental cars, making it the most practical choice for residents and visitors across the Atlanta metro area.

With that in mind, if you’re asking “What is the nearest airport to Atlanta?” for normal airline travel, the clear answer is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).