Flights From Memphis to Atlanta: How to Plan Your Trip Into (or Back Home to) Atlanta

Flying from Memphis (MEM) to Atlanta (ATL) is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to reach the Atlanta area, whether you’re coming home, visiting family, or connecting onward through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This route is short, busy, and tightly linked to Atlanta’s role as a major air travel hub.

Below is a practical guide focused on what an Atlanta-area traveler or visitor needs to know: flight options, timing, airport navigation, and how to get from the plane to where you’re actually going in metro Atlanta.

Overview: What to Expect on a Memphis–Atlanta Flight

• Route: Memphis International Airport (MEM) → Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Typical flight time: Around 1–1.5 hours in the air
• Travel time door-to-door to Atlanta destinations: Commonly 3–4 hours total, including airport time and ground transportation
• Type of route: Heavily used for both business and leisure, plus connections to other U.S. and international destinations through Atlanta

For many travelers, this flight is either:

• A direct trip to Atlanta (home, hotel, convention, or local attractions), or
• A connection to other cities using Atlanta’s huge network of onward flights.

Airlines and Flight Types on the Memphis to Atlanta Route

Major Options You’re Likely to See

This route is often served by large domestic carriers that use Atlanta as a hub. On a typical day, travelers can expect:

• Multiple nonstop flights between Memphis and Atlanta
• A mix of mainline jets and regional jets
• Morning, midday, and evening departures designed to feed connection banks at ATL

When searching, look for:

• Nonstop flights if your final destination is Atlanta or you prefer the shortest total travel time
• One-stop connections through ATL if you’re actually using Atlanta as a layover on your way elsewhere

Because Atlanta is a major connecting hub, flights from Memphis are often timed so passengers can catch:

• Early morning departures connecting to first-wave flights out of ATL
• Midday and evening flights for later connections and return trips home.

Best Time of Day to Fly to Atlanta From Memphis

From an Atlanta traveler’s perspective, the “best” flight time depends on what you need to do once you land.

Morning Flights (Great if You Need a Full Day in Atlanta)

Ideal for:

• Business meetings or conferences downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or near the Perimeter
• Same-day events (games, concerts, conventions)

Advantages:

• Land in Atlanta with most of the day ahead of you
• More backup options if your early flight is delayed (you may be rebooked later the same day)

Watch out for:

• Heavier traffic into the city during weekday morning rush hours (roughly 7–9 a.m.) if you’re heading to downtown or Midtown from the airport.

Midday Flights (Balanced and Often Less Rushed)

Ideal for:

• Travelers who want a less-rushed schedule, especially families
• Visitors heading to hotels near the Airport, Downtown, or Midtown who don’t need an early arrival

Advantages:

• Usually less morning stress getting to Memphis airport
• Often smoother airport experience compared with peak early-morning rush

Watch out for:

• Landing during the afternoon rush (3–6 p.m.) into central Atlanta if you’re driving or using rideshare.

Evening Flights (Good for After-Work Departures)

Ideal for:

• People finishing the workday in Memphis and heading to Atlanta at night
• Travelers going home to Atlanta who can arrive late and head straight from ATL to their house

Advantages:

• Can work a full day in Memphis and still arrive in Atlanta the same night

Watch out for:

• Fewer same-day backup flights if there are delays
• Late-night arrivals mean fewer MARTA train departures, depending on your exact arrival time (trains typically run into late evening, but frequency drops).

Typical Travel Timeline: Memphis to Atlanta for an Atlanta Traveler

A realistic door-to-door breakdown for someone whose final stop is in Atlanta:

1. Arrive at Memphis International Airport (MEM)

   • 60–90 minutes before departure for domestic flights if you’re not checking bags and it’s not peak time
   • 90–120 minutes if checking bags or traveling during busier times

2. Flight time Memphis → Atlanta

   • Around 1–1.5 hours in the air
   • Add time for taxiing and potential waits on the runway

3. Arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

   • Deplaning: 5–15 minutes depending on your seat location
   • Baggage claim: Often 15–30 minutes after arrival if you checked luggage

4. From ATL to your final destination in Atlanta

   • Downtown Atlanta: About 15–25 minutes by MARTA train, or 15–30+ minutes by car depending on traffic
   • Midtown: About 20–30 minutes by MARTA or car
   • Buckhead: Around 30–40 minutes by MARTA or car
   • Perimeter area (Sandy Springs, Dunwoody): Around 35–50 minutes by car; MARTA is also an option

Overall:

• Plan for 3–4 hours total from takeoff in Memphis to arrival at your hotel, home, or meeting location in metro Atlanta.

Arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson: What Atlanta Travelers Should Know

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world’s busiest, but it’s laid out in a fairly logical way once you understand the basics.

Main Areas You’ll Use After Landing

• Concourses (A–F and T): Planes from Memphis usually arrive at one of the domestic concourses (often A, B, C, D, or T).
• Plane Train: An underground train that connects all concourses to the Domestic Terminal / Ground Transportation Center.
• Domestic Terminal (North & South): You’ll get your checked bags and access MARTA, taxis, rideshares, and shuttles here.

Once you land:

1. Follow signs to Plane Train.
2. Ride to Baggage Claim / Ground Transportation.
3. Pick up checked bags (if any).
4. Choose your transportation into Atlanta.

Getting From ATL Airport Into Atlanta

Your options from Atlanta airport depend on where you’re going and how much you want to spend.

1. MARTA (Train) – Often the Easiest for Central Atlanta

MARTA’s Airport Station is directly connected to the Domestic Terminal (follow the MARTA signs near baggage claim).

Best for:

• Downtown Atlanta (Georgia World Congress Center, State Farm Arena, Centennial Olympic Park, major hotels)
• Midtown (Tech Square, Piedmont Park area, arts district)
• Buckhead (Lenox, Phipps Plaza, Buckhead business district)

Highlights:

• No need to worry about parking or navigating traffic
• Cost-effective compared with taxis or rideshares
• Runs from early morning until late evening

General idea:

• Take NORTHBOUND trains from Airport Station
• Get off at stations like Five Points (Downtown), Peachtree Center, Midtown, Arts Center, Lindbergh Center, Lenox, or Buckhead, depending on your destination.

2. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) and Taxis

Best for:

• Travelers with heavy luggage
• Those heading to areas not near MARTA, such as parts of East Atlanta, West Midtown, or outer suburbs

Where to go:

• Follow signs for Rideshare or Taxis from baggage claim in the Domestic Terminal.
• There is a dedicated pickup area for rideshares; taxis queue at clearly marked stands.

Typical use cases:

• Downtown/Midtown: Often 15–30 minutes depending on traffic
• Buckhead: Around 25–40 minutes
• Suburbs (Marietta, Decatur, Duluth, etc.): Timing varies significantly with distance and traffic.

3. Rental Cars

Best for:

• Travelers needing to visit multiple spots around metro Atlanta
• Those heading to exurban or rural areas not well-served by transit

ATL uses a Consolidated Rental Car Center (CONRAC):

• Reach it via the ATL SkyTrain from the Domestic Terminal
• All major rental agencies are housed there

If you’re staying mostly in Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, you may not need a car, thanks to MARTA and rideshare availability. But if you’re exploring the region, a rental can be useful.

Using Atlanta as a Connection vs. a Final Destination

Many Memphis–Atlanta flights are used for connections.

If Atlanta Is Just Your Layover

• Check your minimum connection time allowed by your airline, especially if changing concourses.
• The Plane Train is usually the fastest way between concourses.
• If you have a tight layover, go straight from your arrival gate to your connecting gate before stopping for food or shopping.

You usually do not need to exit to the main terminal or re-clear security for domestic-to-domestic transfers.

If Atlanta Is Your Final Stop

It’s often worth:

• Choosing nonstop MEM–ATL flights when possible
• Positioning yourself near the front of the aircraft if quick exit is important
• Packing lighter if you want to avoid waiting at baggage claim and move straight to MARTA or rideshare

Packing and Planning Tips for Memphis–Atlanta Travelers

Even on short flights, a bit of forethought helps once you land in Atlanta.

Pack With ATL in Mind

• Comfortable walking shoes: Concourses at ATL can involve long walks, and connections can require moving quickly.
• Weather-appropriate outerwear: Atlanta summers can be hot and humid; winters are usually mild but occasionally chilly and rainy.
• Essentials in your carry-on:
  • ID, wallet, medications, phone charger
  • Any items you’ll need immediately once you reach Atlanta (documents for meetings, event tickets, etc.)

Timing Your Arrival for Atlanta Activities

• If you’re heading to a concert, game, or event (e.g., at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, or a Midtown venue), try to land at least a few hours before the event to account for traffic and transit.
• For business meetings in central Atlanta:
  • Morning meetings: Consider the first or second flight out of Memphis.
  • Afternoon meetings: Midday arrivals usually work well and avoid some rush-hour congestion.

Quick Reference: Memphis to Atlanta Flight Basics for ATL Travelers

Key Tips for a Smooth Memphis–Atlanta Flight Experience

• Book nonstop when you can if Atlanta is your final destination.
• Allow extra time if you’re landing during Atlanta’s rush hours and continuing by car.
• Use MARTA for fast, predictable trips to Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead.
• Know your arrival concourse and follow the Plane Train signs quickly after landing.
• Keep essentials in your carry-on so you can adapt easily if there are schedule changes.

With the short Memphis-to-Atlanta flight and Atlanta’s extensive transportation options, getting from your gate at ATL to your hotel, home, or meeting site can be straightforward as long as you factor in airport navigation and ground travel time across the city.