Exploring Howell Mill Road in Atlanta, GA: What Locals and Visitors Need to Know

Howell Mill Road in Atlanta, GA isn’t just a street on the map—it’s a major corridor that connects neighborhoods, shopping, dining, and daily essentials on the city’s Westside and Northwest side. Whether you live nearby, are thinking about moving to the area, or are visiting Atlanta and trying to get your bearings, understanding Howell Mill Road can make getting around much easier.

This guide walks through where Howell Mill Road is, what areas it connects, how traffic and transit work, and what you can find along the way.

Where Is Howell Mill Road in Atlanta?

Howell Mill Road NW runs through Atlanta’s West Midtown / Upper Westside area and continues north toward Buckhead and I-75.

Key points about its location:

• It is primarily labeled Howell Mill Rd NW in the city of Atlanta.
• It connects West Midtown (near 10th St NW) up toward Northside Parkway and Interstate 75.
• It serves as a spine for several neighborhoods, including parts of Home Park, Blandtown, and Berkeley Park, and provides access to nearby areas like Underwood Hills and Collier Hills.

If you plug “Howell Mill Rd Atlanta GA” into a map app, you’ll see that it:

• Runs roughly north–south on the city’s west side
• Crosses major east–west streets like 14th St NW, Collier Rd NW, and Defoor Ave NW
• Intersects or parallels several busy commercial corridors and residential pockets

Major Sections of Howell Mill Road

You can think of Howell Mill Road in Atlanta as three practical zones that feel a bit different from each other.

1. West Midtown / Industrial-to-Mixed-Use Zone

This is the stretch closer to downtown and midtown, roughly between:

• The southern end near 10th St NW / Northside Dr NW area
• Up to around 14th St NW and Marietta St NW

Characteristics:

• Historically more industrial, now full of converted warehouses, creative spaces, and mixed-use projects
• Close to Georgia Tech and the Westside Provisions district (just off Howell Mill near 14th St and Peachtree Rd connections)
• Popular for restaurants, loft-style offices, and design-oriented shops

2. Central Retail & Daily-Errands Corridor

As you move farther north on Howell Mill Rd NW:

• You’ll pass a series of shopping centers, grocery stores, big-box retail, and service businesses
• This middle section is common for grocery runs, pharmacy stops, home-goods shopping, and casual dining
• It’s a practical area for locals who live in Berkeley Park, Underwood Hills, and surrounding neighborhoods

This is where you’ll most likely be if you’re searching “Howell Mill Rd Atlanta GA” for:

• Everyday errands
• Chain restaurants
• Banks, shipping stores, and similar services

3. Northern Residential & I-75 Access Area

Farther north, Howell Mill transitions into a more residential and connector-focused corridor:

• It approaches Northside Parkway NW and the I-75 interchange
• Serves as a route into Buckhead, Vinings, and Northwest Atlanta
• Feels less like a shopping strip and more like a thoroughfare linking neighborhoods to the interstate

Getting Around: Traffic, Driving, and Parking

Driving on Howell Mill Road

Howell Mill Rd is a heavily used commuter route, especially:

• Weekday mornings (southbound toward Midtown/Downtown)
• Late afternoons/evenings (northbound toward I-75 and residential areas)

What to expect:

• Stop-and-go traffic near major intersections and shopping centers
• Frequent turn-ins and turn-outs from parking lots, which can slow traffic
• Multiple traffic lights along the corridor

If you’re planning to commute regularly on Howell Mill:

• ⏰ Build in extra time during rush hours
• 🚗 Consider alternate routes like Northside Dr NW, Marietta St NW, or neighborhood cut-throughs if you know the area well (using them carefully and respectfully of residential streets)

Parking Along Howell Mill

You typically won’t find long stretches of street parking on Howell Mill itself. Instead, parking is mainly:

• Shopping center lots
• Private business lots
• Garage parking associated with mixed-use developments

Tips for parking:

• Always check signs—some lots are reserved for customers only.
• In dense West Midtown areas, expect structured garages or shared parking decks rather than open surface lots.
• For evening dining, lots can fill quickly; arriving a bit early can help.

Public Transit on Howell Mill Road

If you don’t want to drive, Howell Mill is served by MARTA buses, with routes that connect to rail stations and nearby high-traffic corridors.

Common patterns (these may vary over time):

• Bus routes run north–south along segments of Howell Mill Rd NW.
• They connect to rail stations such as those on the Red and Gold lines, and to other key transit corridors like Northside Dr, Peachtree St, and Marietta St.

How to use Howell Mill by transit if you’re in Atlanta:

1. 🚌 Check MARTA bus routes that indicate “Howell Mill Rd” in their descriptions or route names.
2. Look for stops near major cross streets like 14th St NW, Collier Rd NW, and Defoor Ave NW.
3. Allow some flexibility during peak traffic periods, as buses can be affected by congestion.

If you’re visiting without a car, staying near West Midtown or Upper Westside puts you close to Howell Mill and gives you access to buses, rideshares, and relatively short trips to Midtown or Downtown.

Neighborhoods and Areas Connected by Howell Mill

Howell Mill Rd NW helps define or border several Atlanta neighborhoods and districts.

West Midtown / Westside

• Formerly more industrial, now a destination for dining, art, and loft-style offices
• Close to Georgia Tech and convenient to Downtown and Midtown
• Feels urban, with mixed-use buildings, converted warehouses, and modern developments

Berkeley Park & Blandtown

• Residential pockets near the central stretches of Howell Mill
• Mix of older homes and newer construction, plus townhomes and small multifamily buildings
• Convenient to big-box shopping and quick interstate access

Underwood Hills & Collier Hills Vicinity

• Neighborhoods just east and west of Howell Mill, accessible via side streets
• Quieter, more residential feel with single-family homes and local parks
• Many residents use Howell Mill for commuting, errands, and access to I-75

For anyone moving to Atlanta and researching “Howell Mill Rd Atlanta GA”, this road is often part of the daily routine if you live anywhere along the Northwest or Westside sections of town.

What You Can Find on Howell Mill Road

While the specific businesses change over time, the overall pattern of what’s on Howell Mill is consistent and useful to know.

Everyday Essentials

Along Howell Mill Rd NW, you’re likely to find:

• Grocery stores and specialty food markets
• Pharmacies and drugstores
• Banks and ATMs
• Gas stations and convenience stores
• Shipping/printing stores and office supply shops

For residents nearby, Howell Mill often becomes the default place to run errands without having to cross town.

Dining and Cafés

The Westside area around Howell Mill has become known for:

• Popular local restaurants and regional chains
• Casual spots for burgers, tacos, pizza, and quick lunches
• Coffee shops and cafés suitable for remote work or informal meetings
• Dining clustered in and around mixed-use centers and redeveloped warehouse spaces

Weekends and evenings can be busy, especially near West Midtown and the more entertainment-oriented pockets.

Services and Professional Offices

You’ll also see a mix of:

• Medical and dental offices
• Fitness studios and gyms
• Auto services off side streets and nearby corridors
• Pet-related services like grooming and veterinary offices

These make Howell Mill Rd a practical hub if you prefer to keep most of your appointments and errands on one main corridor.

Howell Mill Road and Major Highways

Access to Interstate 75

One of Howell Mill Rd’s biggest advantages in Atlanta is its proximity to I-75:

• The northern stretches of Howell Mill provide quick access to I-75, which connects you:
  • Southbound to Downtown, Midtown, and the connector with I-85
  • Northbound to Cobb County, Marietta, and other northern suburbs

Because of this, Howell Mill is often used by commuters heading to and from:

• Office parks along I-75
• Downtown/Midtown job centers
• Regional destinations north of the city

Connection to Other Major Arteries

From Howell Mill Rd NW, it’s relatively simple to reach:

• Northside Dr NW – another key north–south route
• Marietta St NW – connecting into downtown and the Georgia Tech area
• Peachtree St/Peachtree Rd – via cross streets and nearby connectors
• Northside Pkwy NW – continuing north toward Buckhead and northwest neighborhoods

For trip planning, many locals treat Howell Mill as one of several parallel north–south routes on the west side, choosing between it and roads like Northside Dr or Northside Pkwy depending on traffic and destination.

Safety, Walkability, and Biking on Howell Mill

Walking on Howell Mill

Walkability varies by segment:

• In West Midtown and denser mixed-use areas, you’ll find:
  • Sidewalks
  • Crosswalks at major intersections
  • Pedestrian access to clusters of shops and restaurants
• In more auto-oriented retail and northern sections, you may experience:
  • Lots of driveways and turning vehicles
  • Wider intersections that require extra caution when crossing

If you’re walking along Howell Mill Rd:

• Use marked crosswalks and traffic signals when possible
• Stay aware of vehicles entering and leaving parking lots
• Consider parallel residential streets for a calmer walking experience when not doing errands directly on the corridor

Biking in the Howell Mill Area

Some parts of the Howell Mill corridor are improving for cyclists, but it is still primarily a car-oriented road with:

• Busy traffic
• Frequent turns
• Varying shoulder conditions

Cyclists in the area often:

• Use side streets and neighborhood routes instead of riding directly along the busiest stretches
• Plan routes that minimize the need to bike on Howell Mill for long distances

If you’re new to cycling in Atlanta, checking local bike maps and looking for Westside trail connections or lower-traffic alternatives can help you navigate more comfortably.

Helpful Reference: Howell Mill Road at a Glance

When You Might Specifically Search “Howell Mill Rd Atlanta GA”

People in Atlanta commonly look up “Howell Mill Rd Atlanta GA” when they:

• Are new to the city and trying to understand West Midtown and the Upper Westside
• Want to know how to get to a store, restaurant, or office that lists a Howell Mill Rd address
• Are considering moving to a nearby neighborhood and want to judge commute times and convenience
• Plan a visit and want to stay near West Midtown with easy access to Downtown, Midtown, and I-75

If you fall into any of these groups, the main takeaway is that Howell Mill Rd NW is a key practical corridor on Atlanta’s west side—busy, convenient, and central to daily life for many Westside residents. Understanding its layout, traffic patterns, and connections can make navigating Atlanta noticeably easier.