Finding the Best Round-Trip Flights To and From Atlanta

Looking for flights to Atlanta round trip—or planning a round-trip flight starting in Atlanta? Because Atlanta is one of the busiest air hubs in the world, you have more options than most cities, but also more decisions to navigate: airports, timing, airlines, and how to get around once you land.

This guide focuses on round-trip flights involving Atlanta, Georgia, and what people who live in Atlanta, visit Atlanta, or connect through Atlanta need to know.

Why Atlanta Is a Major Round-Trip Flight Hub

Atlanta’s main airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), is a major gateway for:

• Domestic round trips (to/from cities across the U.S.)
• International round trips (Europe, Latin America, Africa, and beyond)
• Same-day or short business trips from Atlanta
• Connecting itineraries that start and end in Atlanta but route through other cities

For most travelers, ATL is the only airport you’ll use. Smaller regional airports like DeKalb–Peachtree Airport (PDK) primarily serve private and corporate aviation, not typical commercial round-trip flights.

Understanding Your Round-Trip Options To and From Atlanta

1. Round Trips To Atlanta (Visitors and Return Trips)

If you’re visiting Atlanta or returning home to Atlanta, you’ll usually be choosing a round-trip ticket with ATL as either your destination or your home base.

When you search “flights to Atlanta round trip,” you might mean:

• Round trip from another city to ATL and back
• Round trip from ATL to another city and back to Atlanta

Most booking tools will let you set “Atlanta (ATL)” as either the origin or the destination, then choose round trip.

2. Round Trips From Atlanta (Residents and Local Travelers)

If you live in Atlanta, you’ll almost always start your search with:

• From: Atlanta (ATL)
• To: Your destination
• Trip type: Round trip

For common domestic destinations, there are often multiple daily nonstops, which gives you flexibility on departure and return times.

Best Times to Find Good Round-Trip Fares to Atlanta

Price patterns can change, but travelers commonly notice that round-trip fares for Atlanta behave in a few predictable ways:

Cheaper windows tend to be:

• Midweek departures and returns (Tuesday–Thursday)
• Midday or late-night flights instead of prime morning/early evening
• Off-peak seasons (avoiding big holidays, major convention weeks, and large events)

Times fares often spike for round trips to/from Atlanta:

• Around Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s
• Spring break periods
• Major sporting events or conventions held in downtown Atlanta, Midtown, or near the Georgia World Congress Center

If your schedule is flexible, checking several departure and return date combinations can uncover significantly better prices.

Nonstop vs. Connecting Round Trips Through Atlanta

Because ATL is such a large hub:

• If you’re coming to Atlanta, nonstop flights are widely available from many U.S. cities.
• If you’re leaving Atlanta, you can often choose between:
  • A nonstop round trip (faster, usually more expensive)
  • A connecting round trip through another city (can be cheaper, but longer)

For time-sensitive trips like business meetings or family events, most Atlanta travelers prefer nonstop when possible, especially for:

• New York / Newark
• Washington, D.C.–area airports
• Chicago
• Dallas/Fort Worth
• Miami / South Florida
• Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other large metros

Typical Round-Trip Trip Patterns for Atlanta Travelers

People using Atlanta as a base commonly book round trips for:

• Weekend getaways (Friday–Sunday or Saturday–Monday)
• Four- or five-day trips (e.g., Thursday–Monday)
• One-week or longer vacations
• Same-day or overnight business trips

For very short trips, consider:

• Early outbound flight from ATL
• Late return flight back into ATL
  This maximizes time at your destination while still keeping the whole itinerary round trip.

Choosing Flight Times That Work in Atlanta

Because ATL is so busy, timing matters more than in smaller cities.

Most popular (and often crowded) times:

• Early morning (5 a.m.–9 a.m.)
• Late afternoon to early evening (4 p.m.–8 p.m.)

Consider these local timing tips:

• Morning flights
  Good for on-time performance, but traffic on I-75, I-85, and the Downtown Connector can be heavy. Build in extra time to reach ATL.
• Late-night returns
  Often cheaper, less congested at the airport, but MARTA trains run less frequently late at night. If you rely on public transit, check schedules.
• Sunday evening flights back to Atlanta
  Frequently busy with weekend travelers returning home. Security lines and parking can be more crowded.

Getting To and From ATL for Your Round Trip

Using MARTA (Local Rail/Bus Transit)

For many Atlanta travelers, especially those living near rail lines, MARTA is a reliable way to reach ATL.

• MARTA Rail Station: Directly connected to the Domestic Terminal at ATL
• Take the Red or Gold line to Airport Station
• This avoids highway traffic and airport parking costs for round trips

📍 MARTA Headquarters (for general info):
2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Customer info line (commonly available): 404-848-5000

Driving and Parking

If you’re driving yourself for a round-trip:

• ATL offers on-site daily and economy parking at both Domestic and International terminals.
• Nearby off-airport parking lots along Camp Creek Parkway and other surrounding areas often provide shuttles to ATL and can be cheaper for multi-day trips.

Always allow extra time to:

• Park and transfer via shuttle or walk to the terminal
• Clear security, especially at peak times

Domestic vs. International Round-Trip Flights to Atlanta

Domestic Round Trips

Domestic round-trip flights to/from Atlanta are straightforward:

• Check in at the Domestic Terminal
• Use the concourses (T, A, B, C, D, E, F depending on airline and gate)
• Standard TSA security screening

For people visiting Atlanta on domestic round trips, it’s easy to connect from the airport to:

• Downtown Atlanta (MARTA rail or car, typically 15–25 minutes outside rush hours)
• Midtown and Buckhead (MARTA or car, often 25–40 minutes depending on traffic)

International Round Trips

If your round trip involves international travel:

• Atlanta’s Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F) handles many arrivals and departures.
• Some international flights also use Concourse E, but you’ll still process immigration and customs in the international terminal when returning.

Key points for Atlanta international round trips:

• Departing from ATL internationally:
  • Arrive earlier than you would for a domestic flight.
  • Check which terminal your airline uses (Domestic vs. International) before leaving home.
• Returning to ATL internationally:
  • You’ll go through passport control and customs at ATL.
  • After collecting checked bags, follow signs either to the International arrivals exit or the recheck area if connecting to a domestic flight.

📍 ATL General Airport Information (main switchboard commonly used):
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320
Public information line (frequently listed): (800) 897-1910

How Far in Advance to Book Round-Trip Flights for Atlanta

While exact “best-day-to-book” rules are not fixed, Atlanta travelers often find:

• Domestic round trips:
  Reasonable options appear a few weeks to a couple of months before departure, with popular holiday dates filling far earlier.
• International round trips:
  It’s often helpful to look several months in advance, especially for summer or major holiday travel.

If you live in Atlanta and can fly on short notice, last-minute round-trip deals sometimes appear when airlines want to fill remaining seats, but relying solely on this can be risky for important trips.

Common Trip Types and Considerations (Quick Reference)

Below is a simple comparison of typical round-trip flight patterns involving Atlanta:

Tips for Smooth Round-Trip Travel Involving Atlanta

Here are simple, Atlanta-focused strategies to make your round trip easier:

• Plan your ground transportation first.
  Decide if you’ll use MARTA, rideshare, taxi, or parking. In Atlanta, traffic patterns can impact which option makes the most sense.
• Account for rush hour.
  Morning and afternoon rush on I-285, I-75, I-85, and GA-400 can add significant time to your ATL trip. Build that into your departure and return plans.
• Check both arrival and departure terminals.
  For round trips, you might depart from the Domestic Terminal and return through the International Terminal (or vice versa), depending on your itinerary.
• For visitors on round trips to Atlanta:
  • If staying in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or near the Perimeter, MARTA is often convenient.
  • If staying in suburbs without rail access, a rental car or rideshare from ATL is commonly used.
• For Atlanta residents:
  • Consider how late your return flight lands. If it’s after MARTA’s last train, you’ll need a backup plan (rideshare, friend/family pickup, or parking your own car).

Where to Get Help in Atlanta for Flight and Travel Questions

If you need in-person or phone assistance related to flights in and out of Atlanta:

• Hartsfield–Jackson ATL Airport Information Desks
  Located in both Domestic and International terminals; staff can help with wayfinding, terminal questions, and general travel info.
• City of Atlanta / Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
  Offers visitor information about staying in the city once your round-trip flight brings you here.
  📍 233 Peachtree St NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main info line often publicized: 404-521-6600

These resources are especially helpful if your round-trip itinerary involves tight connections, late-night arrivals, or navigating Atlanta for the first time.

If you focus on timing, terminals, transportation, and flexibility with dates, booking and managing a round-trip flight to or from Atlanta becomes much easier. With ATL as your hub, you have broad options—your main job is choosing the combination of price, schedule, and ground access that fits how you live, work, or visit in Atlanta.