What Time Is It in Atlanta, Georgia? A Local’s Guide to Atlanta Time

If you’re asking “What time is it in Georgia, Atlanta?”, you’re really asking about Atlanta’s time zone, daylight saving time rules, and how local time compares to other places. Whether you live in the city, are flying into Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, or need to schedule a call with someone in Atlanta, getting the time right matters.

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused guide to how time works in the city—and how not to get tripped up by it.

Atlanta’s Time Zone: The Basics

Atlanta, Georgia is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).

• Standard time name: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Standard time offset:UTC−5 hours
• Daylight time name: Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
• Daylight time offset:UTC−4 hours

In everyday use, people simply say “Eastern Time” or “ET.”
So if someone asks, “What time is it in Georgia, Atlanta?” the answer depends on whether the city is on EST or EDT at that moment.

Does Atlanta Observe Daylight Saving Time?

Yes. Atlanta follows daylight saving time (DST), just like most of Georgia and the rest of the Eastern U.S.

When the clocks change in Atlanta

While the exact dates shift slightly from year to year, the pattern is consistent:

• ⏰ Spring (clocks go forward)

  • Occurs in March
  • Clocks move from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. local time
  • Atlanta switches from EST → EDT
  • You lose one hour of sleep, but evenings are brighter

• ⏰ Fall (clocks go back)

  • Occurs in November
  • Clocks move from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. local time
  • Atlanta switches from EDT → EST
  • You gain one hour, and it gets darker earlier

If you’re in Atlanta in summer, you’re almost certainly on EDT (UTC−4).
If you’re in Atlanta in winter, you’re on EST (UTC−5).

Quick Reference: What Time Is It in Atlanta vs. Other Places?

Use this simple table as a general guide when Atlanta is on standard time (EST). During daylight saving time (EDT), subtract one hour from Atlanta’s offset.

This is especially useful if you’re:

• Scheduling remote work calls with colleagues outside Atlanta
• Planning travel to or from Hartsfield–Jackson
• Coordinating events with family or friends in other time zones

How to Know the Exact Current Time in Atlanta

Because time changes for daylight saving, you’ll want a reliable real-time source:

• Smartphones and computers:
  • Set the device to “Atlanta” or “Eastern Time” and enable automatic date/time
• In-car navigation systems or smart speakers:
  • Many devices auto-detect your location within the Atlanta metro area
• Airline and train schedules:
  • Departures and arrivals at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and at major stations like Peachtree Station are always listed in local Atlanta time

If you’re flying into Atlanta, remember that all local services—MARTA, rideshares, hotels, and events—operate on Atlanta local time, not the time zone you’re coming from.

Time in Atlanta vs. the Rest of Georgia

If your question is really “What time is it in Georgia, including Atlanta?” there’s a simple answer:

• All major cities in Georgia—Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Athens, and others—are in the Eastern Time Zone and follow the same daylight saving schedule.

So Atlanta time is the same as time in the rest of Georgia. You won’t cross a time zone line traveling between Atlanta and other Georgia cities by highway, train, or air.

Local Life in Atlanta: Why Time Matters

Commuting and business hours

Most workplaces in Atlanta follow typical Eastern Time business hours:

• Government offices (like those around Downtown, Five Points, and Midtown) generally run 8:00–5:00 or 9:00–5:00 in local time.
• Many corporate offices in Buckhead, Perimeter Center, and Midtown align with Eastern Time for meetings with clients across the East Coast.

If you’re coming from another time zone:

• From California, expect Atlanta to be 3 hours ahead.
• From Central Europe, Atlanta will usually be 6 hours behind in winter and 6 or 7 hours behind in summer, depending on local DST rules.

Events, sports, and nightlife

Major Atlanta events always list local time:

• Atlanta Hawks (NBA) at State Farm Arena
• Atlanta Falcons (NFL) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Atlanta United FC (MLS)
• Concerts in venues like Tabernacle, Fox Theatre, and others

Tickets, doors-open times, and showtimes are all in Atlanta local time (ET), whether the city is on EST or EDT.

When games or concerts are televised nationally, you might see them advertised as:

• “8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.”
  In Atlanta, you’d follow the ET time.

Atlanta Time and Travel: Airports, Trains, and Local Transit

At Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

All times posted at ATL—on:

• Flight information boards
• Boarding passes
• Airline counters

are listed in local Atlanta time.

If you’re landing from another time zone:

• Your phone usually updates automatically upon landing.
• If it doesn’t, manually set the time zone to “Eastern Time (US & Canada)” or to Atlanta, Georgia.

Local transit (MARTA and others)

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) runs buses and trains according to Atlanta local time:

• Schedules, departure times, and last trains are all Eastern Time.
• When daylight saving time changes, MARTA operations shift with the rest of the city.

If you’re out late in areas like Downtown, Midtown, Inman Park, or Buckhead, check the exact time on a reliable device so you don’t miss the last train or bus.

Tips to Avoid Time Confusion in Atlanta

Here are a few practical ways to stay on track with time in Atlanta:

• Confirm “ET” when scheduling
  When setting up calls or meetings with people outside Georgia, specify “Eastern Time (Atlanta time)” to avoid mix-ups.

• Double-check during the clock-change weeks
  Around the March and November time changes, confirm appointment times—especially:

  • Early flights from ATL
  • Morning medical appointments
  • Court times or government office visits

• Use a world clock on your phone
  Add:

  • Atlanta
  • Your hometown or other key cities
    so you can see at a glance how Atlanta time compares.

• Watch for TV or streaming schedules
  National broadcasts may say “8/7c” (8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central).
  In Atlanta, you’ll follow the Eastern time listed first.

Key Takeaways: What Time Is It in Georgia, Atlanta?

• Atlanta is always on Eastern Time (ET).
• Standard time: Eastern Standard Time (EST), UTC−5
• Daylight time: Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC−4
• Atlanta and the rest of Georgia share the same time.
• Atlanta does observe daylight saving time, changing clocks in March and November.
• All local schedules—work hours, events, transit, flights, and government offices—run on Atlanta local time (ET).

With these basics, you can confidently figure out what time it is in Atlanta, Georgia at any moment and plan your day, travel, or meetings without confusion.