Tara in Atlanta, Georgia: What It Means, Where It Is, and How to Visit

If you search for “Tara Atlanta Georgia”, you might be looking for a few different things: the historic “Tara” from Gone With the Wind, a local neighborhood or street with the Tara name, or a business or school that uses “Tara” in its title. In and around Atlanta, GA, the word “Tara” shows up mainly in place names, roads, and regional references, not as a single famous landmark in the city itself.

This guide walks through what “Tara” usually refers to in the Atlanta area, how it connects to Atlanta and metro Atlanta history, and how to actually find and visit the most relevant “Tara” locations if you live in or are visiting Atlanta.

1. The “Tara” of Gone With the Wind and Its Atlanta Connections

When people think of Tara in Georgia, they often mean the fictional plantation home in Gone With the Wind.

Tara as a fictional plantation

  • Tara is the fictional family plantation of Scarlett O’Hara in Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone With the Wind.
  • The story is set in and around Atlanta before, during, and after the Civil War.
  • The real author, Margaret Mitchell, was an Atlantan, and her legacy is an important part of the city’s cultural history.

While Tara itself is not a real house you can tour today, Atlanta does have several historic and cultural stops connected to Gone With the Wind and the era it depicts.

Places in Atlanta tied to the Tara legacy

If your interest in “Tara Atlanta Georgia” is about the history and literature side, these locations are the most relevant:

1. Margaret Mitchell House (Midtown Atlanta)

  • Location: Generally listed as being at the corner of 10th Street and Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta.
  • This is where Margaret Mitchell wrote much of Gone With the Wind.
  • Visitors typically learn about her life, the book’s impact, and its complex legacy, including how it portrays the South, race, and the Civil War.
  • The house does not re-create Tara itself, but it gives context for why the Tara myth became so closely associated with Georgia and Atlanta.

2. Oakland Cemetery (Southeast of Downtown)

  • One of Atlanta’s oldest historic cemeteries.
  • Margaret Mitchell is buried here.
  • Many visitors pair a trip to the Margaret Mitchell House with a visit to Oakland to better understand Atlanta in the 1800s and early 1900s, the time periods that shaped Gone With the Wind.

3. Classic film and literature events around Atlanta

  • Atlanta-area museums, bookstores, and arts organizations occasionally host discussions, screenings, or exhibits about Gone With the Wind, the “Old South” myth, or Southern literature.
  • These events often examine Tara as a symbol—not as a real place.

If you are looking for Tara the mansion, you will not find the exact movie set or a preserved plantation called “Tara” inside the city of Atlanta. What you will find are related historical sites and many roads, schools, and neighborhoods with “Tara” in their names.

2. Tara as a Place Name Around Metro Atlanta

Across metro Atlanta, “Tara” shows up frequently in subdivision names, apartment complexes, shopping centers, and streets. This is because, for many years, developers used “Tara” to suggest a romanticized, old-South image.

If you are in Atlanta or nearby counties, you may encounter “Tara” in:

  • Street names (e.g., Tara Boulevard, Tara Lane, Tara Road)
  • Neighborhoods and subdivisions (e.g., Tara Estates, Tara Gardens, similar names)
  • Schools and businesses that use “Tara” as part of their branding

These are usually modern places, not historic plantations, but the name intentionally references the Tara idea from Gone With the Wind.

3. Tara Boulevard and the “Tara” Corridor South of Atlanta

One of the most notable uses of “Tara” around Atlanta is Tara Boulevard, a major road on the south side of the metro area.

What is Tara Boulevard?

  • Tara Boulevard is a section of U.S. Highway 41 / U.S. 19 running through parts of Clayton County, generally south of the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
  • It passes through communities such as Jonesboro and nearby areas sometimes associated with Gone With the Wind marketing.

For someone in Atlanta, “Tara Boulevard” often means:

  • A commercial corridor lined with shopping centers, restaurants, auto services, and apartments.
  • A useful alternative to I‑75 for local southside travel, though it can be busy during rush hours.

Why is Tara Boulevard important to the “Tara” story?

  • Jonesboro and the surrounding area have historically promoted ties to Gone With the Wind and the broader “Tara” legend.
  • While not in the City of Atlanta, this corridor is part of the greater Atlanta metro region and is often what people mean when they refer to “Tara” near Atlanta.

4. Tara-Themed Places You Might Look For Around Atlanta

Because there are many different “Tara” names in and around Atlanta, it helps to narrow down what you’re trying to find. Here are some common categories and how to locate them.

4.1 Residential communities named “Tara”

You may encounter subdivisions like “Tara Estates,” “Tara Gardens,” “Tara Oaks,” and similar names in multiple metro counties (for example, Clayton, Henry, Fayette, and others around Atlanta).

If you are:

  • House-hunting: Real estate search platforms for Atlanta-area listings are the most direct way to identify active listings in Tara-named neighborhoods.
  • Visiting friends/family: Use the full address, including ZIP code and city (for example, Jonesboro, GA, Riverdale, GA, or another suburb), because there may be more than one “Tara” street or community in the metro region.

4.2 Schools and daycares with “Tara” in the name

Across Atlanta’s southern and southeastern suburbs, you may find:

  • Public schools with “Tara” or similar in their names.
  • Private schools or childcare centers using “Tara” as part of their branding.

If your search is about enrollment, zoning, or school calendars:

  • Contact the appropriate county school district office based on the street address:
    • For many areas south of Atlanta with Tara-themed names, this may be Clayton County Public Schools or other nearby districts.
  • District offices and websites typically allow you to enter an address to confirm the assigned school.

4.3 Businesses and services named “Tara”

In and around Atlanta, “Tara” is used by a variety of businesses, such as:

  • Professional services (law offices, accounting, insurance)
  • Medical and dental offices
  • Apartment complexes and property management companies
  • Small retailers and salons

Because business names can change or move, the most dependable approach from within Atlanta is to:

  • Use the exact business name plus city or ZIP code in a map or directory search.
  • Double-check hours and contact details directly with the business, especially before driving from central Atlanta to outlying areas.

5. Quick Reference: What “Tara” Usually Means for Someone in Atlanta

Below is a simplified overview to help you match what you’re looking for with how “Tara” most often shows up around Atlanta, Georgia.

If you’re searching for…What “Tara” usually refers to near AtlantaWhat to do from Atlanta 🌐
The Gone With the Wind plantationFictional Tara; not a real-standing house in AtlantaVisit Margaret Mitchell House and related historic sites in the city
A specific address with “Tara” in itA street, subdivision, or apartment complex in the metro areaPlug the full address into GPS; confirm city (e.g., Atlanta vs. Jonesboro)
Tara BoulevardMajor southside arterial road in Clayton County and nearby areasUse it as an alternative route to I‑75; expect commercial development and traffic
A school named “Tara”A local public or private school south or southeast of AtlantaCheck the relevant county school district for enrollment and zoning info
A business with “Tara” in the nameA local company or service somewhere in the metro areaSearch the exact name plus Atlanta or nearby suburb name and verify contact info

6. Practical Tips for Navigating “Tara” Locations from Atlanta

Because there are multiple “Tara” references in the Atlanta metro, a few practical steps will help avoid confusion:

  1. Confirm the city and ZIP code

    • Many Tara-named places are outside the Atlanta city limits but still considered part of the metro. Always confirm whether the address is, for example, Atlanta, GA 303–series ZIP codes vs. a surrounding city like Jonesboro, Riverdale, Morrow, or Stockbridge.
  2. Use clear landmarks and major roads

    • From Downtown or Midtown Atlanta, Tara-related addresses on the south side are often reached via:
      • I‑75 South
      • I‑285 South / East (the Perimeter)
      • U.S. 19/41 (Tara Boulevard) in Clayton County
    • Knowing whether your destination is near Hartsfield–Jackson airport, downtown Atlanta, or further south in Clayton/Henry Counties will help you estimate travel time.
  3. Check public transit options

    • MARTA heavy rail does not extend directly to most Tara Boulevard or Tara subdivision areas, but:
      • You can often take MARTA to a southside rail station and then connect via local bus routes or rideshare to Tara Boulevard or adjacent roads.
    • If you rely on transit, confirm bus routes and transfer points before you go.
  4. Allow extra time for traffic

    • Southbound routes from central Atlanta, especially around rush hours, can be heavily congested.
    • If you are driving from areas like Buckhead, Midtown, or Downtown, add buffer time when heading to Tara Boulevard or other Tara-named communities.

7. How to Clarify Which “Tara” You Need

If you are still unsure exactly which “Tara” your search should lead to, ask yourself:

  • Am I looking for history or tourism?

    • Focus on Atlanta cultural sites, especially the Margaret Mitchell House and other in-town historic attractions tied to Gone With the Wind.
  • Am I trying to reach an address, school, or business?

    • Get the full street address (including city and ZIP).
    • Use GPS directions from your starting point in Atlanta, confirming the route and estimated drive time.
  • Am I considering moving to or staying in a Tara-named neighborhood?

    • Narrow by county and city first.
    • Then compare commute times into Atlanta, local school options, and nearby services.

By understanding that “Tara” in Atlanta, Georgia can mean a fictional plantation, a southside highway, or any number of modern neighborhoods and businesses, you can better pinpoint what you need—whether it’s a historical experience in the heart of Atlanta or practical directions to a Tara address in the wider metro area.