What Time Zone Is Atlanta, GA? A Local’s Guide to Atlanta Time

Atlanta, Georgia follows the Eastern Time Zone, officially known as Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the fall and winter, and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) in the spring and summer.

If you live in Atlanta, are planning a visit, or you’re coordinating with someone in the city, understanding how Atlanta’s time zone works will help you avoid missed flights, late meetings, and confusion around TV schedules, business hours, or event start times.

Atlanta’s Time Zone: The Basics

• Standard time name: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Daylight saving time name: Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
• Standard time offset from UTC:UTC −5 hours
• Daylight time offset from UTC:UTC −4 hours
• Time zone abbreviation you’ll see locally:ET, EST, or EDT, depending on the time of year

In everyday life, Atlanta residents usually just say “Eastern Time” or “ET.”

Does Atlanta, GA Observe Daylight Saving Time?

Yes. Atlanta observes daylight saving time (DST) along with the rest of Georgia and most of the Eastern United States.

When the Time Changes in Atlanta

In Atlanta, the clocks typically change:

• ⏰ Spring (“spring forward”)

  • Clocks move forward 1 hour
  • Eastern Standard Time (EST) → Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
  • This usually happens in March, early Sunday morning

• ⏰ Fall (“fall back”)

  • Clocks move back 1 hour
  • Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) → Eastern Standard Time (EST)
  • This usually happens in November, early Sunday morning

Most phones, computers, and smart devices in Atlanta update automatically, but it’s still wise to double-check:

• Alarm clocks
• Microwaves and ovens
• Car dashboard clocks
• Older office equipment

Quick Reference: Atlanta Time vs. Other Cities

Here’s a simple way to see how Atlanta time compares to other major U.S. cities during standard time:

When Atlanta is on EDT, the same differences apply (New York is still the same time, Los Angeles is still three hours behind, and so on).

How Atlanta’s Time Zone Affects Daily Life

Flights, Trains, and Long-Distance Travel

If you’re flying through Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), all arrival and departure times are listed in local Eastern Time.

Key tips:

• If you’re coming from Central, Mountain, or Pacific time zones, remember that Atlanta will be ahead of your home time.
• When booking flights with connections, make sure you check whether the airline shows times in local time for each city (most do).
• For Amtrak or Greyhound schedules serving Atlanta, departure and arrival times are also in local Eastern Time.

Business Hours and Government Offices

Most businesses and public offices in Atlanta follow typical Eastern Time business hours, often something like:

• 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday

Examples of places that operate on Eastern Time in Atlanta:

• City of Atlanta government offices (e.g., Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303)
• Fulton County and DeKalb County offices serving Atlanta residents
• Georgia state agencies with Atlanta locations, such as:
  • Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) customer service centers
  • Georgia Department of Revenue offices

When you see office hours posted, they’re almost always local Eastern Time.

Visiting Atlanta from Another Time Zone

If you’re traveling to Atlanta from out of state or overseas, understanding the time zone will help you adjust more smoothly.

From Other U.S. Time Zones

• Coming from Central Time (e.g., Nashville, New Orleans, Dallas):
  • Atlanta is 1 hour ahead.
• Coming from Mountain Time (e.g., Denver, Phoenix*):
  • Atlanta is usually 2 hours ahead; note that some places, like much of Arizona, do not change for daylight saving.
• Coming from Pacific Time (e.g., Los Angeles, Seattle):
  • Atlanta is 3 hours ahead.

Plan meetings, dinner reservations, or game tickets with this in mind so you’re not arriving an hour (or more) off.

International Travelers

Atlanta’s time zone is defined relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC):

• Standard time (EST): UTC −5 hours
• Daylight time (EDT): UTC −4 hours

If you’re coming from overseas, you can convert from UTC to Atlanta time by subtracting 5 or 4 hours, depending on the time of year, and then comparing that to your home time zone.

How to Check the Current Time in Atlanta

If you’re unsure whether Atlanta is on EST or EDT at any given moment, here are reliable ways to confirm the current local time:

• Look at a smartphone set to Atlanta, GA or Eastern Time in the clock settings.
• Use the world clock feature on your phone or computer and add Atlanta as a city.
• Check the time on local TV or radio stations broadcasting from Atlanta (they follow local Eastern Time).

For people planning online meetings or virtual appointments with Atlanta-based businesses, it’s helpful to:

• Confirm whether your calendar tool is set to Eastern Time (US & Canada).
• Make sure invites show the time correctly for both your time zone and Eastern Time.

Time Zone and Atlanta Events, Sports, and Nightlife

Many major events in Atlanta are scheduled based on Eastern Time, which is important if you’re following them from elsewhere.

Examples:

• Professional sports:
  • Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
  • Atlanta Hawks (NBA)
  • Atlanta Braves (MLB)
  • Atlanta United FC (MLS)

Game times listed for home games in Atlanta are in Eastern Time. If you’re watching from another time zone or planning to attend, convert from Eastern Time to your local time.

The same goes for:

• Concerts and shows at venues like State Farm Arena, Fox Theatre, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Conventions and conferences at the Georgia World Congress Center
• Local festivals and neighborhood events around the metro area

Practical Tips for Managing Time in Atlanta

Here are some simple, real-world tips for staying on track with Atlanta time ⏱️:

• Double-check appointment reminders. Doctor visits, job interviews, and court dates in Atlanta will all be scheduled in Eastern Time.
• Watch for daylight saving changes. If you have recurring meetings with people in other time zones, the relative time difference may shift when Atlanta moves between EST and EDT.
• Use “ET” when scheduling with out-of-towners. Writing “3:00 p.m. ET” instead of just “3:00 p.m.” helps avoid confusion.
• Confirm time for remote services. If you’re dealing with national companies that serve Atlanta customers (for deliveries, customer support, or telehealth), verify whether they list hours in Eastern Time or another time zone.

Key Takeaways About Atlanta’s Time Zone

• Atlanta, GA is in the Eastern Time Zone.
• The city uses Eastern Standard Time (EST) in fall/winter and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) in spring/summer.
• Daylight saving time is observed, with clocks changing in March and November.
• Local services, from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Atlanta City Hall and local businesses, operate on Eastern Time.
• When coordinating with Atlanta from another time zone, remember that Atlanta is typically 1 to 3 hours ahead of most of the continental U.S. outside the Eastern Time Zone.

With this in mind, you can schedule travel, meetings, and activities in Atlanta with confidence, knowing exactly what time it is—and will be—in the city.