How Far Is Atlanta, Georgia? Distances, Travel Times, and What to Expect

When people ask “How far is Atlanta, Georgia?” they usually mean one of a few things:

• How far Atlanta is from other major cities
• How big Atlanta is and how far it stretches across the metro area
• How long it takes to get around Atlanta once you’re here

This guide focuses on all of those angles, specifically for people who live in Atlanta, are visiting Atlanta, or are planning a trip that starts or ends in Atlanta, Georgia.

Quick Answer: Where Atlanta, Georgia Is Located

Atlanta is in north-central Georgia, roughly:

• About 90 miles northwest of Macon
• About 250 miles northwest of Savannah
• About 250 miles northeast of Montgomery, Alabama
• About 145 miles northeast of Columbus, Georgia
• About 70 miles southeast of the Tennessee border (near Chattanooga)

The city center is often considered to be Downtown Atlanta, around the area where:

• Interstate 75 (I-75)
• Interstate 85 (I-85)
  and
• Interstate 20 (I-20)

all intersect or pass nearby. Locals sometimes refer to this core area around the Georgia State Capitol, Five Points, and Peachtree Street as “the center” of Atlanta.

How Far Is Atlanta from Major U.S. Cities?

If you’re planning a trip to or from Atlanta, it helps to know approximate distances and typical drive times. These are driving distances from Downtown Atlanta, taking major interstates.

Approximate Distances & Drive Times

Key tip: Travel times around Atlanta can change a lot with traffic. Rush hours (roughly 7–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays) can easily add 30–60 minutes—or more—to your drive.

How Far Is Atlanta from Other Georgia Cities?

For people living in Georgia, the question “How far is Atlanta?” often means “How far is it from my hometown to Atlanta?” Here are some of the more common in-state routes.

Common Georgia-to-Atlanta Distances

• Atlanta to Athens, Georgia
  Around 70 miles east-northeast. Popular with University of Georgia students and football fans.

  • Typical drive: 1.25–1.5 hours

• Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia
  Roughly 250 miles southeast. This is a common weekend or vacation route.

  • Typical drive: 3.75–4.5 hours

• Atlanta to Augusta, Georgia
  About 150 miles east on I-20. Many travel this route for golf events or military connections at Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon).

  • Typical drive: 2–2.5 hours

• Atlanta to Macon, Georgia
  Around 85–90 miles south, often through the south side of metro Atlanta and down I-75.

  • Typical drive: 1.25–1.75 hours

• Atlanta to Columbus, Georgia
  Around 110–120 miles southwest, commonly via I-85 and US-80.

  • Typical drive: 1.75–2.25 hours

• Atlanta to Albany, Georgia
  Around 180–190 miles south-southwest. Routes may vary, often using I-75 then state highways.

  • Typical drive: 3–3.5 hours

• Atlanta to Valdosta, Georgia
  About 230–240 miles south on I-75, near the Florida line.

  • Typical drive: 3.5–4 hours

If you’re moving to Atlanta from another Georgia city, expect the bulk of your travel time to be either:

• Getting through the Atlanta metro area traffic, or
• Driving long stretches of I-75, I-85, or I-20.

How Big Is Atlanta? Distances Within the Metro Area

Sometimes “How far is Atlanta?” actually means “How far is it from one side of metro Atlanta to the other?”

City of Atlanta vs. Metro Atlanta

• The City of Atlanta is about 135 square miles.
• The Atlanta metropolitan area stretches across multiple counties, including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and others.

In practical, everyday terms:

• Driving from Downtown Atlanta to many inner suburbs takes 15–35 minutes without heavy traffic.
• Getting from one outer suburb to another on the opposite side of the city can easily take 45–75 minutes, even if the actual distance is only 30–45 miles.

Common Inside-the-Metro Distances

Here are rough distances from Downtown Atlanta to popular Atlanta-area locations:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

  • Distance: ~10–12 miles south of Downtown
  • Typical drive: 15–25 minutes without major traffic
  • Main route: I-75 / I-85 “Downtown Connector” south

• Midtown Atlanta (around Peachtree & 10th)

  • Distance: ~2–3 miles north of Downtown
  • Typical drive: 5–10 minutes (often longer in rush hour)
  • Many people use MARTA rail between Downtown and Midtown to avoid traffic.

• Buckhead (Lenox/Phipps area)

  • Distance: ~7–8 miles north of Downtown
  • Typical drive: 15–25 minutes

• Sandy Springs

  • Distance: ~15–17 miles north
  • Typical drive: 20–35 minutes

• Marietta (Historic Square)

  • Distance: ~20 miles northwest
  • Typical drive: 25–40 minutes

• Alpharetta (Downtown Alpharetta)

  • Distance: ~26–28 miles north
  • Typical drive: 35–50 minutes

• Roswell (Historic District)

  • Distance: ~20–22 miles north-northwest
  • Typical drive: 30–45 minutes

• Stone Mountain Park

  • Distance: ~18–20 miles east
  • Typical drive: 30–45 minutes

• Douglasville

  • Distance: ~20–22 miles west on I-20
  • Typical drive: 30–45 minutes

These ranges assume moderate traffic. During peak times, it’s common for drives to take closer to the upper end—or beyond—these estimates.

How Far Is Atlanta by Air?

Main Atlanta Airport

Atlanta is served by:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

• Located at: roughly 6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320
• About 10–12 miles south of Downtown Atlanta

From the airport:

• To Downtown Atlanta (Peachtree Center area):

  • 10–12 miles, about 15–25 minutes by car
  • Roughly 20 minutes on MARTA rail (Airport Station to Peachtree Center Station)

• To Midtown (Arts Center Station area):

  • About 13–15 miles, often 20–30 minutes by car
  • Around 25 minutes by MARTA rail

Flying Distance vs. Driving Distance

If you’re comparing flight time to drive time from other cities:

• Atlanta to New York City

  • Flight: often 2–2.5 hours in the air
  • Drive: around 13–15 hours

• Atlanta to Miami

  • Flight: around 1.75–2 hours
  • Drive: roughly 9.5–11 hours

• Atlanta to Chicago

  • Flight: about 2 hours
  • Drive: 11–12 hours, roughly 700–750 miles

Residents and visitors often choose flights for longer destinations because Atlanta is a major airline hub, which can reduce both travel time and the number of connections.

Understanding “How Far” in Everyday Atlanta Terms

In Atlanta, people often talk about distance in time instead of miles because traffic and highway access matter more than raw distance.

Here are some common local patterns:

• “He lives OTP, up 400” – Usually means north of I-285 (the Perimeter) on GA-400, somewhere around Sandy Springs, Roswell, or Alpharetta.

  • Could be only 20–30 miles from Downtown but 35–60 minutes in traffic.

• “I’m ITP near Decatur” – Inside the Perimeter (I-285), east of Atlanta.

  • Might be just 5–10 miles from Downtown, about 15–25 minutes depending on roads.

• “It’s just a few exits down” – Often sounds close, but exits can be several miles apart on I-75, I-85, or I-20.

  • A “few exits” might still be 10–15 minutes or more.

Because of this, when someone in Atlanta asks “How far is it?”, it’s usually more useful to answer with:

• Estimated drive time
• Nearest interstate or MARTA station
• Whether the route is typically congested

Simple Reference: How Far Is Atlanta?

Here’s a quick, skimmable summary that can help you plan:

From Downtown Atlanta to…

• ATL Airport: ~10–12 miles, 15–25 minutes 🚗
• Midtown: ~2–3 miles, 5–10 minutes
• Buckhead: ~7–8 miles, 15–25 minutes
• Marietta: ~20 miles, 25–40 minutes
• Alpharetta: ~27 miles, 35–50 minutes
• Stone Mountain Park: ~18–20 miles, 30–45 minutes

From Atlanta to other Georgia cities

• Athens: ~70 miles, 1.25–1.5 hours
• Macon: ~85–90 miles, 1.25–1.75 hours
• Augusta: ~150 miles, 2–2.5 hours
• Savannah: ~250 miles, 3.75–4.5 hours
• Columbus: ~110–120 miles, 1.75–2.25 hours

From Atlanta to major out-of-state cities

• Chattanooga, TN: ~110–120 miles, 1.75–2.25 hours
• Birmingham, AL: ~145–150 miles, 2–2.5 hours
• Charlotte, NC: ~245–250 miles, 3.5–4.5 hours
• Orlando, FL: ~440–460 miles, 6.5–7.5 hours
• Washington, DC: ~640–660 miles, 9.5–11 hours
• New York City, NY: ~860–880 miles, 13–15 hours

Practical Tips for Planning Your Trip To or From Atlanta

If you’re trying to understand how far Atlanta, Georgia is in a practical sense—whether you live here or you’re visiting—these points help:

1. Always factor in traffic.
   A 20-mile drive in metro Atlanta can be 20 minutes or over an hour depending on time of day and incidents.

2. Use interstates wisely.
   Main routes in and out of Atlanta include I-75, I-85, I-20, I-285, and GA-400. They are often the fastest routes but are also the most congested at peak times.

3. Consider MARTA inside the core.
   For trips between Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and the Airport, MARTA rail can help you avoid parking and traffic delays.

4. Check travel times near big events.
   When there’s a major game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a concert at State Farm Arena, or events at the Georgia World Congress Center, expect traffic delays within several miles of Downtown.

5. For long trips, compare driving vs. flying.
   Because Atlanta is a major air hub, flying to more distant cities (like New York, Chicago, or Miami) can save many hours compared to driving.

By thinking in terms of both miles and realistic drive time, you can get a clear sense of how far Atlanta, Georgia is from where you are—and how long it will actually take to get where you’re going in and around the city.