Residence Inn by Marriott Atlanta Perimeter Center/Dunwoody: What to Know Before You Book

If you’re looking for an extended-stay style hotel around Atlanta’s Perimeter Center / Dunwoody area, the Residence Inn by Marriott Atlanta Perimeter Center/Dunwoody is one of the better-known options. This guide walks through what it’s like to stay there, how the location fits into Atlanta life, and what to consider if you’re visiting for work, family, or medical reasons.

Where the Residence Inn Perimeter Center/Dunwoody Fits in Atlanta

The hotel sits in the Perimeter Center corridor, near Dunwoody on the north side of metro Atlanta. This part of town is a major hub for:

• Corporate headquarters and office parks
• Shopping and dining (especially around Perimeter Mall)
• Easy access to interstates and MARTA rail

For locals, this area is a familiar mix of suburban neighborhoods and dense commercial development. For visitors, it often serves as a base for business trips, medical visits to nearby hospitals, or longer stays when relocating to Atlanta.

Nearby landmarks and everyday conveniences

Within a short drive of the hotel, you’ll typically find:

• Perimeter Mall – large shopping center with department stores and restaurants
• Big-box stores (grocery, pharmacy, household goods) along Ashford Dunwoody Rd and Perimeter Center Pkwy
• Corporate offices in the Central Perimeter business district
• Medical facilities such as Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Northside Hospital Atlanta in the nearby Pill Hill area

If you live elsewhere in metro Atlanta and need a hotel up this way—say you work in Perimeter or have early morning appointments—this Residence Inn is positioned to minimize cross-town traffic.

What Type of Hotel Is Residence Inn?

Residence Inn is Marriott’s extended-stay brand. In Atlanta terms, that usually means:

• Suites instead of standard rooms
• Kitchen or kitchenette (fridge, cooktop, microwave, basic cookware)
• A layout aimed at guests staying several nights to several weeks

This makes the Perimeter Center/Dunwoody location useful if you:

• Are relocating to Atlanta and need a place while you house-hunt
• Have a long work assignment in the Perimeter or Sandy Springs area
• Need to be close to Northside/Emory/Saint Joseph’s hospitals for ongoing care or to support a family member
• Want a more “apartment-style” setup than a traditional hotel room

Rooms and Amenities You Can Typically Expect

While exact features can vary over time, guests at Residence Inn Perimeter Center/Dunwoody usually see:

Suite layout and in-room features

Most suites are designed to feel like a small apartment, often including:

• Separate living and sleeping areas in many room types
• Kitchenette or full kitchen, often with:
  • Refrigerator (usually full or mid-size)
  • Microwave
  • Stovetop and basic cookware
  • Sink and dishwasher in some layouts
• Workspace/desk for remote work
• Sofa (sometimes a sofa bed) for extra sleeping space
• In-room Wi‑Fi
• TV with common streaming or cable options

This layout tends to work well for:

• Families needing a bit of separation for sleep schedules
• Professionals working remotely between meetings
• Anyone trying to cook at least some of their meals instead of eating out every time

On-site amenities commonly offered

Residence Inn properties around Atlanta, including Perimeter Center/Dunwoody, typically offer:

• Fitness center – practical for business travelers and longer stays
• Outdoor or indoor pool (varies by property and season)
• Self-serve laundry – key for extended stays
• Lobby or lounge seating for casual work or meetups
• Breakfast options (often included, but always check current details)
• On-site parking – availability and cost can differ, so it’s worth confirming if you’re driving

If you’re an Atlanta resident booking for visiting family, these amenities can reduce how much back-and-forth you have to do if guests can work out, eat breakfast, and wash clothes on-site.

Location: Getting Around Perimeter and the Rest of Atlanta

Perimeter Center sits at the intersection of several key transportation options, which directly affects how convenient your stay will be.

By car

The hotel area is usually close to:

• I‑285 (Perimeter highway) – loops around Atlanta, connecting to:
  • GA‑400 (north-south route to Buckhead, Midtown, and Alpharetta)
  • I‑75 and I‑85 via the northern arc
• Major surface streets like Ashford Dunwoody Road and Perimeter Center West/East

This is good for:

• Commuting to Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, or Peachtree Corners
• Reaching Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport via I‑285 and I‑85 (plan extra time during rush hours)

Be aware that I‑285 and GA‑400 can be heavily congested, especially weekday mornings and late afternoons. If you’re scheduling appointments in Atlanta, it helps to:

• Avoid 7:00–9:30 a.m. and 4:00–6:30 p.m. for cross-city drives
• Factor in extra travel time for downtown or Midtown events

By MARTA (Atlanta’s rail and bus system)

Perimeter Center is one of the more transit-accessible suburbs in metro Atlanta. The nearest MARTA rail options typically include:

• Dunwoody Station (Red Line)
• Sandy Springs Station (Red Line)
• Medical Center Station (Red Line)

Depending on your exact starting point at the hotel, you may:

• Walk (if distance and sidewalks are practical)
• Take a short rideshare or taxi to the station
• Use local shuttle services if the hotel offers them (this varies and should be confirmed directly with the property)

From the Red Line, you can ride directly to:

• Buckhead
• Arts Center (for Midtown)
• North Avenue, Civic Center, Peachtree Center (for downtown Atlanta)
• Airport Station (with a transfer at Five Points if needed, depending on routing)

For visitors unfamiliar with Atlanta traffic, using MARTA for trips to downtown events, State Farm Arena, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, or Georgia World Congress Center can be more predictable than driving.

Who This Hotel Tends to Suit in Atlanta

Different travelers use the Residence Inn at Perimeter Center/Dunwoody for different reasons. It’s worth considering how it fits your situation.

1. Business travelers in the Perimeter / Central Perimeter area

If your meetings or office are around:

• Perimeter Center Parkway
• Ashford Dunwoody Road
• Corporate campuses in Dunwoody or Sandy Springs

then staying close by can significantly cut commute time compared to staying in Buckhead or Midtown.

Benefits for business travelers:

• Extended-stay style rooms to spread out, work, and cook
• Proximity to major corporate offices
• Reasonable access to MARTA Red Line for downtown client visits
• Easy connection to GA‑400 and I‑285 for regional travel

2. Families and groups visiting Atlanta

Families often choose this type of property if they want:

• Suite-style layouts so kids and adults aren’t packed into one room
• Kitchen access for simple meals or dietary needs
• Pool and common areas to burn off energy without leaving the property

For Atlanta-based families hosting relatives, having visitors stay here can:

• Keep them close to Dunwoody, Brookhaven, or Sandy Springs neighborhoods
• Provide a home-like feel without completely rearranging your house

3. Medical visits to “Pill Hill” and nearby hospitals

The Pill Hill medical district (near Glenridge Drive and Peachtree-Dunwoody Road) includes:

• Northside Hospital Atlanta
• Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite

If you or a family member have multiple appointments at these facilities, staying at an extended-stay hotel such as Residence Inn Perimeter Center/Dunwoody can be more manageable than commuting repeatedly from farther suburbs or downtown.

People in this situation often prioritize:

• Kitchen facilities to keep special diets or simple comfort meals
• Laundry access for longer hospital stays
• A quieter, more residential-feeling area than right in the middle of downtown

What’s Around: Dining, Groceries, and Everyday Errands

The Perimeter/Dunwoody area offers a full range of routine services that can be important on a longer stay.

Dining options

Within a short drive of the hotel, you’re likely to find:

• Casual and fast-casual chains along Ashford Dunwoody Rd and around Perimeter Mall
• Sit-down restaurants, including regional and national brands
• Coffee shops and bakeries suitable for working or casual meetings

If you’re used to in-town neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland or Inman Park, the vibe is more suburban-commercial here, but the variety is broad and convenient for a longer hotel stay.

Groceries and essentials

For guests using the in-room kitchen, nearby options commonly include:

• Full-service grocery stores (often within a few minutes’ drive)
• Pharmacies along the main commercial corridors
• Big-box retailers for toiletries, clothing, or household items you didn’t pack

This is especially helpful for:

• Extended business trips
• Families with kids
• Out-of-town guests attending events like Perimeter-area weddings or sports tournaments

Comparing Perimeter Center/Dunwoody to Other Atlanta Areas (Location-Only)

If you’re deciding whether to stay at the Residence Inn Perimeter Center/Dunwoody or closer in-town, it helps to understand the tradeoffs in location, not brand.

High-level location comparison:

The Perimeter/Dunwoody Residence Inn hits a middle ground: not as central as Midtown, but more convenient than far-north suburbs for moving around the city.

Practical Tips for Staying at Residence Inn Perimeter Center/Dunwoody

A few Atlanta-specific considerations can make your stay smoother:

1. Plan around traffic

🚗 Tip: If you have downtown or Midtown plans, consider:

• Leaving well before evening events (games, concerts, theater)
• Using MARTA Red Line where possible to avoid parking and traffic stress
• Checking for I‑285 construction updates, since this corridor is frequently under improvement

2. Think about parking and car needs

Perimeter is generally car-friendly, but:

• Confirm whether the hotel charges for parking and whether it’s surface or garage
• If you’re relying on MARTA for downtown trips, you might still want a car for groceries and local errands, as some stretches near the hotel are easier to navigate by car than on foot

3. If you’re local booking for guests

Atlanta residents often book this type of hotel for:

• Out-of-town wedding guests
• Relatives visiting from out of state
• Short-term housing during home renovations

For your guests, it may help to:

• Send them a short note with directions from Hartsfield–Jackson and which MARTA stations are closest
• Flag nearby grocery stores and pharmacies so they can get settled quickly
• Highlight how long it realistically takes to reach downtown, Stone Mountain, or the airport from Perimeter, so they plan accordingly

How to Confirm Current Details

Because hotel amenities, services, and policies can change, it’s wise to:

• Call the front desk to confirm:
  • Current breakfast options
  • Parking availability and cost
  • Whether there is a local shuttle to MARTA or nearby offices
  • Pet policies, if you’re bringing a dog or cat
• Double-check check-in/check-out times and any early check-in or late checkout possibilities if you’re coordinating with flight schedules

If you’re coordinating care or support at Northside, Emory Saint Joseph’s, or Scottish Rite, you can also ask the hotel if they have any special arrangements or common patterns they see—many front-desk teams in Perimeter are familiar with guests in medical situations and can help suggest the most practical transportation options.

Staying at the Residence Inn by Marriott Atlanta Perimeter Center/Dunwoody places you in one of Atlanta’s busiest suburban hubs, with strong access to corporate offices, major medical centers, and the broader metro area via I‑285, GA‑400, and MARTA. For extended stays, relocations, or family visits, its apartment-style layout and Perimeter location often fit well into how Atlantans actually live, work, and get around the city.