Flying From Birmingham to Atlanta: How to Plan Your Trip to Hartsfield-Jackson

If you’re looking for flights from Birmingham to Atlanta, you’re usually talking about traveling from Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) in Alabama to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Georgia. For Atlanta residents returning home, visitors coming into the city, or anyone connecting through Atlanta, this route is a common and convenient hop.

This guide walks you through how these flights work, what to expect when you land in Atlanta, and how to navigate to and from Hartsfield–Jackson like a local.

Key Facts About Flights From Birmingham to Atlanta

Most travelers on this route fly:

• From: Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), Birmingham, AL
• To: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, GA
• Typical flight time: Around 45–60 minutes in the air
• Route type: Often a short regional flight that connects you to Atlanta or onward to other U.S. and international destinations

Because the flight is so short, many people treat it as a connection into Atlanta, either to stay in the city or to catch longer flights.

Why This Route Matters for Atlanta Travelers

If you live in Atlanta, you might:

• Fly from ATL to Birmingham for work, family, or events, then return on this route.
• Meet friends, clients, or family arriving from Birmingham at Hartsfield–Jackson.
• Use Birmingham as a departure point if you live between the two cities and compare prices or schedules.

If you’re visiting Atlanta, flying from Birmingham to Atlanta is often:

• A quick hop into one of the country’s major airline hubs.
• A way to connect from smaller or regional itineraries that stop in Birmingham before reaching Atlanta.

In many cases, this short flight is part of a longer itinerary that uses Atlanta as the main gateway for the Southeast, international travel, or cross-country trips.

Understanding Your Arrival: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Almost every flight from Birmingham to Atlanta lands at ATL, located just south of downtown.

Address:
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
6000 N Terminal Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30320

Terminals and Concourses

Hartsfield–Jackson has:

• Domestic Terminal – North and South
• International Terminal (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal)
• Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E, and F, plus a domestic terminal attached to Concourse T

Most flights from Birmingham arrive at a domestic concourse (often T, A, B, or C). Once you land:

• You’ll deplane into a concourse.
• You can take the Plane Train (underground people mover) between concourses and to Baggage Claim.
• You’ll exit into either the North or South side of the Domestic Terminal for ground transportation.

Ground Transportation in Atlanta After Your Flight

Once you arrive from Birmingham, you have several ways to get into Atlanta or beyond.

1. MARTA (Train) 🚆

MARTA is often the simplest and most cost-effective way to reach many parts of Atlanta, especially Downtown and Midtown.

• Station: Airport MARTA Station (inside the Domestic Terminal)
• Location: At the west end of the Domestic Terminal, near baggage claim
• Typical stops for visitors/residents:
  • Five Points Station – Downtown Atlanta hub
  • Peachtree Center – Downtown hotels and offices
  • Midtown Station – Midtown business and arts district
  • Buckhead Station – Buckhead business and shopping

From the International Terminal, you typically take the Airport shuttle to the Domestic Terminal to board MARTA.

MARTA is useful if you’re heading to:

• Downtown Atlanta (government buildings, Georgia State Capitol, State Farm Arena, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium area)
• Midtown (Georgia Tech, arts district, many offices and restaurants)
• Buckhead (Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, business centers)

2. Rideshare and Taxi Services 🚗

If you prefer door-to-door service, taxis and rideshares are very common at ATL.

• Taxis:

  • Taxi stands located near the baggage claim areas at the Domestic Terminal.
  • Offer flat or metered rates to some parts of Atlanta.

• Rideshares (e.g., app-based services):

  • Pick-up zones are usually in designated rideshare areas at the Domestic Terminal Ground Transportation Center.
  • Follow airport signage to “Rideshare” or “App-Based Rides.”

These options are useful if you’re going to:

• Neighborhoods not directly served by MARTA
• Suburbs outside the city of Atlanta
• Specific residential addresses or smaller offices

3. Rental Cars

Many visitors arriving from Birmingham choose to rent a car if they plan to travel around the metro area or beyond.

• Rental Car Center (RCC) Address:
  2200 Rental Car Center Pkwy
  College Park, GA 30337

To reach the RCC:

1. Follow signs in the terminal for “Rental Car Center”.
2. Take the ATL SkyTrain, an elevated train that connects the Domestic Terminal and Rental Car Center.

A rental car is useful if you’re planning to explore:

• Suburban Atlanta communities (Sandy Springs, Marietta, Decatur, etc.)
• Regional trips to North Georgia, other parts of Georgia, or back toward Alabama by road

Typical Itinerary Patterns: Birmingham to Atlanta and Beyond

For many travelers, the flight from Birmingham to Atlanta is part of a larger travel pattern. Common scenarios:

• Atlanta residents:

  • Fly ATL → BHM to visit Birmingham, then return BHM → ATL to get home.
  • Use the short flight as a connector to longer trips that depart or arrive in Atlanta.

• Visitors to Atlanta:

  • Fly in from Birmingham for business meetings, conferences, or events in Downtown or Midtown.
  • Use Atlanta as the base to travel onward to other cities.

• Connecting passengers:

  • Arrive from Birmingham, then connect at ATL to national or international flights.
  • Stay in Atlanta overnight between connections if desired.

How to Plan Your Trip Around a Birmingham–Atlanta Flight

Booking and Timing Tips

Because the flight is relatively short:

• Consider arrival time at ATL when planning:

  • Early arrivals help with same-day connections.
  • Midday or evening arrivals may be easier if you are heading into the city after work hours.

• Allow extra time for:

  • Making connections between concourses via Plane Train
  • Security and boarding if you are continuing from Atlanta to another destination

If you’re Atlanta-based and flying out of Birmingham, think through:

• Whether driving from metro Atlanta to Birmingham and flying from there fits your schedule.
• Comparing total travel time (drive + flight) versus flying directly from ATL.

What to Expect When Landing in Atlanta

Once your flight arrives from Birmingham:

1. Deplane into a concourse at Hartsfield–Jackson.
2. Check overhead signs for “Plane Train,” “Baggage Claim,” or “Ground Transportation.”
3. If Atlanta is your final destination:
   • Follow signs to Baggage Claim and then to Ground Transportation.
   • Choose MARTA, taxi, rideshare, shuttle, or rental car based on your endpoint in the city.
4. If you’re connecting:
   • Check the monitors or your boarding pass for your next concourse and gate.
   • Take the Plane Train if needed to move between concourses quickly.

Quick Reference: Birmingham to Atlanta Flight & Arrival Cheat Sheet

Local Tips for Making the Most of Your Arrival in Atlanta

• Know your neighborhood first. Whether you’re headed to Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or a suburb, this helps you decide between MARTA, taxi, or rental car quickly.
• Plan for traffic. If you’re arriving from Birmingham in the late afternoon or early evening, be aware that Atlanta highways like I‑75, I‑85, and I‑285 can be heavily congested.
• Use MARTA for major city centers. Many office towers, hotels, and event venues in Downtown and Midtown are within walking distance or a short ride from MARTA stations.
• Allow time between connections. If Birmingham is just your first leg and you’re catching another flight at ATL, give yourself enough buffer for changing concourses and possible delays.

Once you understand how flights from Birmingham to Atlanta plug into Atlanta’s airport and transportation system, it becomes much easier to plan your schedule, choose the right transportation into the city, and connect to the rest of your trip with confidence.