How Far Is Marietta, GA from Atlanta? A Local’s Guide to Distance, Drive Times, and Getting Around

If you spend any time in metro Atlanta, you’ll hear Marietta mentioned a lot. It’s one of the major suburban cities outside the perimeter, home to a historic square, neighborhoods, and popular attractions like The Battery Atlanta near Truist Park. But how far is Marietta, GA from Atlanta, really—and what does that mean for driving, commuting, or visiting?

This guide breaks it down in simple, Atlanta-focused terms.

The Short Answer: Distance from Atlanta to Marietta

Distance depends on your exact starting point in Atlanta, but here’s the general rule:

• Downtown Atlanta (around Five Points) to Marietta Square: roughly 20 miles
• Midtown Atlanta to Marietta: about 17–20 miles
• Buckhead to Marietta: about 15–18 miles

In straight-line terms, Marietta is only about 15–18 miles northwest of central Atlanta, but in real life, your drive time is shaped more by traffic than mileage.

Typical Drive Times: Atlanta to Marietta

Because Atlanta traffic is its own topic, it helps to think in terms of time windows, not just distance.

Average Drive Times (One Way)

📝 Key takeaway:
On a clear day, you can often make it Atlanta to Marietta in under 30 minutes. In rush hour, it can easily double.

Main Routes from Atlanta to Marietta

How you get from Atlanta to Marietta, GA depends on where you’re coming from.

1. From Downtown or Midtown Atlanta

Most drivers use:

• I‑75 North:
  • Follow I‑75 N out of Atlanta.
  • Stay on I‑75 past I‑285 (the Perimeter).
  • Use exits like:
    • Exit 265 – North Marietta Parkway (GA‑120 Loop) for Marietta Square
    • Exit 263 – South Marietta Parkway if you’re heading toward Southern Polytechnic/Chastain area.

This is the most direct and common route.

2. From Buckhead / North Atlanta

You have two typical options:

• I‑75 North from I‑85 / I‑75 Connector if you’re near Midtown/Brookwood.
• GA‑400 to I‑285 West to I‑75 North if you’re further north in Sandy Springs or North Buckhead.

Travel time changes quickly based on congestion near:

• I‑75/I‑85 Connector
• I‑285 / Cobb Cloverleaf
• Cobb Parkway / Cumberland area

3. From East Atlanta or Decatur

You’ll usually go:

• I‑20 West to Downtown, then connect to I‑75 North, or
• I‑285 North and West, then pick up I‑75 North into Marietta.

This is a longer trip even though everything is still within metro Atlanta.

Understanding “Marietta” vs “Atlanta” in Local Terms

If you’re new to the region, the way people talk about locations can be confusing.

• Atlanta often means the City of Atlanta or the general ITP (inside the Perimeter) area.
• Marietta is a separate city in Cobb County, generally northwest of Atlanta, mostly OTP (outside the Perimeter).

Many people live in Marietta and work in Atlanta, or vice versa, so it’s one of the most common commuter routes in metro Atlanta.

Commuting from Marietta to Atlanta (and Back)

If you’re wondering how realistic it is to commute between Marietta and Atlanta, here’s how it usually looks.

Rush Hour Patterns

• Morning:
  • Heavy traffic heading southbound on I‑75 toward Atlanta between about 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
• Evening:
  • Heavy traffic heading northbound on I‑75 toward Marietta between about 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Delays get worst:

• Approaching and passing I‑285
• Around Cumberland / The Battery Atlanta
• Near the Downtown Connector if you’re going all the way into central Atlanta

Is the Commute Manageable?

Many Atlanta-area workers make the trip daily. To make it easier, locals often:

• Leave earlier or later than peak times
• Use HOV/Express lanes where available
• Carpool or rideshare
• Combine driving with MARTA or CobbLinc buses

Public Transportation: Getting from Atlanta to Marietta Without Driving

You won’t find a MARTA rail line directly into Marietta, but you can combine MARTA and CobbLinc buses.

MARTA + CobbLinc

A common setup:

1. Take MARTA rail to:

   • Arts Center Station (Midtown), or
   • Civic Center Station (near Downtown)

2. From there, connect to CobbLinc buses that serve Marietta and Cobb County.

CobbLinc commonly runs routes connecting:

• Cumberland Transfer Center (near The Battery Atlanta/Truist Park)
• Marietta Transfer Center / Marietta Square area

You can also:

• Drive to a MARTA station with parking (like North Springs, Doraville, or Sandy Springs),
• Park, and then ride rail into the City of Atlanta, or connect to CobbLinc on the Cobb side.

For the most accurate, up-to-date schedules and fares, check:

• MARTA: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
• CobbLinc: Cobb County’s transit service

Atlanta Airport to Marietta

If you’re flying into Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and heading to Marietta:

• Distance: roughly 30–35 miles
• Typical drive time:
  • Off-peak: ~35–45 minutes
  • Rush hour: 50–75+ minutes

You’ll usually take:

• I‑75 North (most direct)
• Or sometimes I‑285 West to I‑75 North, depending on traffic and navigation apps

Many travelers use:

• Rideshare services
• Taxis from the airport
• Rental cars from airport facilities

Is Marietta Considered Part of Atlanta?

Technically: No, Marietta is its own city in Cobb County.

Practically: Many people consider Marietta part of “metro Atlanta” or the Atlanta area since:

• It’s closely tied to the city’s economy.
• Thousands of workers commute between the two.
• The drive is comparable to many in-town cross-city trips.

So if someone asks whether Marietta is “far” from Atlanta, locals usually think in terms of traffic, not just miles.

Popular Atlanta–Marietta Destinations and Their Distance

Here are some common point‑to‑point ideas:

• Downtown Atlanta to Marietta Square

  • About 20 miles, ~25–40 minutes outside rush hour.

• Midtown Atlanta (near Piedmont Park) to Marietta Square

  • Around 18–20 miles, ~25–35 minutes in light traffic.

• Buckhead (Lenox area) to central Marietta

  • Around 15–18 miles, ~20–30 minutes in light traffic.

• Downtown Atlanta to The Battery Atlanta / Truist Park (border of Atlanta/Marietta area)

  • Around 12–14 miles, ~20–30 minutes, depending on event traffic.

When Does the Atlanta–Marietta Drive Feel “Far”?

Even though Marietta, GA is only about 20 miles from Atlanta, it can feel farther when:

• There’s a major event (Braves game, big concert, or major convention)
• There are wrecks or lane closures on I‑75 or I‑285
• You’re traveling during the heart of rush hour in poor weather

On the other hand, late at night or mid‑day, many drivers experience the route as quite quick and straightforward.

Practical Tips for Traveling Between Atlanta and Marietta

To make the most of the relatively short distance:

• Check traffic apps before you leave, especially around:

  • I‑75 / I‑285 interchange
  • Cumberland / The Battery area

• Give yourself a buffer of at least 15–20 extra minutes during peak times.

• If you’re exploring both cities in one day:

  • Plan Atlanta activities for late morning or midday.
  • Travel between cities outside the 7–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. windows when possible.

• For visitors staying in Atlanta:

  • A day trip to Marietta Square or The Battery Atlanta is very realistic and doesn’t require an all-day commitment if you time your drive well.

In everyday Atlanta terms, Marietta is “right up the road”—only about 20 miles from central Atlanta, with drive times typically ranging from 25 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic and time of day.