Your Practical Guide to the Map of Atlanta (Neighborhoods, Landmarks, and Getting Around)

Looking at a map of Atlanta for the first time can feel a little overwhelming. The city has major interstates looping around downtown, neighborhoods that stretch far beyond the skyline, and suburbs that locals still casually refer to as “Atlanta.”

If you live here, are planning a visit, or just want to understand how the city fits together, this guide walks you through how Atlanta is laid out, what each area is known for, and how to navigate it efficiently.

How Atlanta Is Laid Out: The Big Picture

At a high level, Atlanta breaks down into four main ideas on a map:

• Downtown / Midtown / Buckhead: The central “spine” along Peachtree Street
• The Perimeter (I‑285): The big loop that circles much of the metro area
• Inside the Perimeter (ITP): The core city and close-in neighborhoods
• Outside the Perimeter (OTP): Suburbs and outlying communities

Think of Peachtree Street as a north–south backbone through the city, and I‑75 / I‑85 / I‑20 / I‑285 as the framework that helps you orient everything else.

Key Highways and Streets on an Atlanta Map

The Major Interstates

When you look at a road map of Atlanta, you’ll see four main interstates:

• I‑75: Runs northwest–south, connecting Marietta, Cobb County, and then heading south through the city.
• I‑85: Runs northeast–south, merging with I‑75 through downtown.
• I‑75/85 “Downtown Connector”: The combined stretch that runs straight through the heart of Atlanta.
• I‑20: Runs east–west, cutting across downtown and connecting to places like Decatur and West Atlanta.
• I‑285 (“The Perimeter”): Forms a loop around the city, used as a major point of reference (inside vs outside the Perimeter).

On traffic maps or navigation apps, you’ll often hear people refer to areas as:

• Inside the Perimeter (ITP): In-town Atlanta and close neighborhoods.
• Outside the Perimeter (OTP): Suburban cities like Sandy Springs, Marietta, Smyrna, and others.

Important Arterial Roads

Some other names you’ll see frequently on a map of Atlanta streets:

• Peachtree Street / Peachtree Road: Runs from Downtown through Midtown into Buckhead.
• Ponce de Leon Avenue: An east–west corridor connecting Midtown to neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland and Decatur.
• North Avenue: A key east–west road near Georgia Tech and the Old Fourth Ward.
• Moreland Avenue: A north–south road on the east side, cutting through Little Five Points and East Atlanta.
• Metropolitan Parkway / Lee Street: Major roads on the south and southwest side of the city.

The Core of the City: Downtown Atlanta

On a city map of Atlanta, Downtown is the dense cluster south of Midtown, right along the I‑75/85 Connector.

What Downtown Atlanta includes:

• Government and civic buildings
  • Atlanta City Hall (55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303)
  • Fulton County Government Center (141 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303)
• Major attractions
  • Georgia State Capitol
  • Georgia State University campus
  • Centennial Olympic Park
  • State Farm Arena and Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
• Transit hub
  • Multiple MARTA rail stations (Five Points, Peachtree Center, GWCC/CNN Center)

Downtown is dense, walkable in pockets, and anchored by large venues and offices. On a map, it is framed by:

• I‑20 to the south
• I‑75/85 Connector running through it
• Midtown immediately to the north

Midtown: The Central Arts and Business District

Just north of Downtown, Midtown Atlanta appears as a long rectangle on most maps, hugging I‑75/85 and stretching east toward Piedmont Park.

Key features you’ll see mapped in Midtown:

• Piedmont Park and the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail
• Atlanta Botanical Garden
• Major arts institutions:
  • Woodruff Arts Center
  • High Museum of Art
  • Alliance Theatre
• Corporate offices and high‑rise residential buildings

Midtown is often considered the center of the “intown” map: from here, it’s relatively easy to head east toward Virginia-Highland and Inman Park or west toward Georgia Tech and West Midtown.

Buckhead: Atlanta’s Uptown District

Continuing north on Peachtree, you reach Buckhead, a major area often highlighted on a north Atlanta city map. It’s known for business, upscale shopping, and residential neighborhoods.

On a map, Buckhead is located:

• North of Midtown
• Just inside the Perimeter (I‑285) on the north side
• Centered along Peachtree Road and Georgia 400

Common Buckhead landmarks on a map:

• Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza (major shopping malls)
• Buckhead Village area
• Office clusters along Peachtree Road and near GA‑400

Neighborhoods Inside the Perimeter (ITP)

A more detailed map of Atlanta city neighborhoods will show a patchwork of distinct intown areas, each with its own feel.

Popular Intown Neighborhoods (By General Direction)

East / Northeast of Downtown & Midtown

• Virginia-Highland: Residential streets, restaurants, and close to Piedmont Park.
• Inman Park: One of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, near the BeltLine Eastside Trail.
• Old Fourth Ward: Near the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and the BeltLine.
• Kirkwood and Edgewood: Residential areas east of downtown with growing commercial pockets.
• Decatur (city of Decatur): Technically its own city but often included on in-town maps; known for its walkable downtown square.

West / Northwest

• West Midtown / Westside: Former industrial area turned into restaurants, shops, and lofts.
• Atlantic Station: Mixed-use area just northwest of Midtown.
• Vine City and English Avenue: Neighborhoods just west of the stadiums.
• Upper Westside / Riverside / Bolton: Residential neighborhoods near the Chattahoochee River.

South / Southeast

• Grant Park: Home to Zoo Atlanta and large historic homes.
• Ormewood Park and East Atlanta Village: South and east of I‑20, known for neighborhood feel and nightlife.
• Peoplestown, Summerhill, Pittsburgh: Neighborhoods just south of downtown and the stadium.

Seeing these on a neighborhood map of Atlanta helps you understand how close they are to each other and to the BeltLine, MARTA stations, and main roads.

Outside the Perimeter (OTP): Atlanta Metro on the Map

Many areas that people casually call “Atlanta” actually fall outside the I‑285 loop. Metro maps will often include:

• North OTP: Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek
• Northwest OTP: Smyrna, Marietta, Kennesaw
• West OTP: Douglasville
• East OTP: Tucker, Stone Mountain, Lithonia
• South OTP: East Point, College Park, Union City, Forest Park, Jonesboro (Clayton County)

If you’re planning commutes, school options, or flights into Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a greater Atlanta area map that includes these OTP communities is more useful than a simple city-center map.

Major Landmarks and Districts to Spot on the Map

Here is a quick reference that helps you locate key Atlanta destinations when you’re looking at a map:

When you open a digital or paper Atlanta city map, these landmarks can serve as anchors to orient yourself.

The Atlanta BeltLine: A New Kind of Map Line

The Atlanta BeltLine is not a highway, but it behaves like one on a modern city map. It’s a network of multi-use trails and future transit built on old railroad corridors, looping around the core of the city.

Sections to look for on the map:

• Eastside Trail: From Piedmont Park south through Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, and Reynoldstown.
• Westside Trail: Runs through West End, Adair Park, and toward Westview.
• Northside Trail: In the northwestern part of the in-town area, near Collier Hills.

If you’re exploring Atlanta by bike or on foot, a BeltLine map helps you connect multiple neighborhoods without driving.

Transit Maps: MARTA Rail and Bus Lines

If you’re not driving, a MARTA map is just as important as a road map.

MARTA Rail Lines

Atlanta’s heavy rail system has four main lines:

• Red Line: North–south from North Springs through Buckhead and Midtown to the airport.
• Gold Line: Similar to Red, with branches to Doraville on the north side.
• Blue Line: East–west line connecting Downtown to Decatur and beyond.
• Green Line: Shorter east–west line connecting west of downtown to the city center.

Key central stations you’ll spot on the map:

• Five Points (Downtown): Main transfer hub for all lines.
• Peachtree Center (Downtown)
• North Avenue, Midtown, Arts Center (Midtown corridor)
• Airport Station (directly at Hartsfield‑Jackson)

MARTA rail maps are especially helpful if you are:

• Commuting from the Perimeter or OTP into Downtown or Midtown.
• Going between the airport and central Atlanta.
• Getting to large venues like Mercedes‑Benz Stadium or State Farm Arena.

Where to Get Official Maps in Atlanta

If you prefer a printed or official map of Atlanta, there are several reliable places to look.

City and County Offices

• City of Atlanta – City Hall
  55 Trinity Ave SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Often provides city service area maps and planning documents.

• Fulton County Government Center
  141 Pryor St SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303

While these offices focus more on government services than tourism, they can help point you toward zoning, district, and neighborhood maps.

Transportation and Transit

• MARTA Headquarters / Five Points Station area
  30 Alabama St SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303

MARTA stations often have posted rail and bus route maps. Printed route maps may be available at customer service desks.

• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
  600 W Peachtree St NW
  Atlanta, GA 30308

GDOT maintains statewide and regional road maps, including the Atlanta metro area.

Visitor and Convention Centers

• Atlanta Convention & Visitors information desks (often located at major hotels, convention sites, and the airport) typically offer tourist-oriented city maps with attractions, districts, and transit information.

Using Digital Maps Effectively in Atlanta

Most people use digital mapping apps to get around Atlanta, but a few local tips help:

• Account for traffic: The Downtown Connector (I‑75/85) and parts of I‑285 regularly slow down during rush hours. Alternate routes using surface streets may be faster.
• Know your exits by name and number: For instance, on I‑75/85, exits like North Avenue, 10th/14th Street, Courtland/Georgia State University, and Freedom Parkway are common reference points.
• Search by neighborhood: If you don’t have an exact address, searching “Inman Park,” “Grant Park,” or “Buckhead” can help you understand where you’re headed on the map.

Understanding Addresses and Orientation in Atlanta

When reading an address on a map of Atlanta, note these general patterns:

• Directional suffixes (NE, NW, SE, SW):
  Atlanta uses these extensively. For example:

  • Peachtree St NE
  • Joseph E. Lowery Blvd SW

  Two streets with the same name but different directions (like NE vs SW) can be miles apart.

• Street vs Avenue vs Place:
  Many Atlanta roads share similar names with different endings. Always double-check:

  • Peachtree Street
  • Peachtree Road
  • Peachtree Industrial Boulevard

• City vs unincorporated addresses:
  An address may list “Atlanta, GA” even if physically in a neighboring city or county. A map helps clarify whether you’re actually in the City of Atlanta or in a surrounding municipality.

Quick Ways to Choose the Right Atlanta Map for Your Needs

If you are:

• Touring attractions and major neighborhoods → Look for an Atlanta city tourist map that highlights Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, the BeltLine, and major parks.
• Commuting or planning routes → Use a road map with highways and main arterials, plus a MARTA system map if you’ll use transit.
• Choosing a place to live → Focus on an in-town neighborhood map plus a metro Atlanta map that shows distance to your job, schools, and the Perimeter.
• Walking or biking → A BeltLine and trails map plus a detailed neighborhood street map is most useful.

Having the right style of map makes Atlanta feel far more manageable, whether you’re navigating Peachtree for the first time or figuring out how your neighborhood connects to the rest of the city.