Atlanta MARTA Bus Map: How to Read It, Where to Get It, and How to Use It in the City

If you’re trying to figure out the Atlanta MARTA bus map, you’re not alone. MARTA’s bus system covers much more of metro Atlanta than the trains, and understanding the map is the key to getting around without a car.

Below is a clear, local-focused guide to finding, reading, and using MARTA bus maps in and around Atlanta, plus practical tips for riders and visitors.

What the MARTA Bus Map Actually Shows

A MARTA bus map for Atlanta typically includes:

• All local bus routes (with route numbers like 2, 39, 110)
• Express routes to suburbs and park-and-ride lots
• Major MARTA rail stations and how the buses connect to them
• Key landmarks like colleges, hospitals, stadiums, major malls, and major job centers
• Route frequencies (how often buses typically run, often shown with bolder lines or notes)
• Service areas for DeKalb, Fulton, and parts of Clayton County

Most riders use two kinds of maps:

1. System-wide bus map – shows the whole MARTA bus network over a wide area
2. Individual route maps – zoomed-in maps for a single bus line and its stops

Both are useful if you live in Atlanta, commute in from the suburbs, or are visiting without a car.

Where to Get a MARTA Bus Map in Atlanta

You have several options for getting a MARTA bus map while you’re in Atlanta.

Physical maps at train stations and hubs

You can usually find printed bus maps and route brochures at major MARTA stations, especially:

• Five Points Station – 30 Alabama St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  Central rail hub; many buses connect here. Look for customer service and brochure racks.
• Arts Center Station – 1255 W Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
  Good for Midtown routes and buses toward Buckhead.
• Lindbergh Center Station – 2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
  Major bus transfer point with several northside routes.
• Airport Station – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  Under the domestic terminal; bus and rail info available near fare gates.

Smaller bus maps and individual route pamphlets are often on racks near Customer Information or the Breeze Card service centers.

On buses and at transit centers

Some MARTA bus transit centers and park-and-ride lots post route maps on signboards:

• Doraville Station Transit Center – for buses serving northern DeKalb
• College Park Station Transit Center – many southside and airport-area routes
• Hamilton E. Holmes Station – westside connections

Inside the bus, you may see small, simplified route diagrams for that specific line, which are useful for confirming direction and major stops.

Customer information phone line

You can call MARTA Customer Information to ask about bus routes and maps:

• MARTA Customer Information: 404-848-5000
  (Check the phone menu for route info and customer assistance.)

This is helpful if you’re unsure which bus line serves your neighborhood or hotel.

How to Read the Atlanta MARTA Bus Map

At first glance, the bus map can look crowded, but it becomes clearer once you know what to look for.

1. Identify the rail lines first

On most MARTA maps:

• Rail lines (Red, Gold, Blue, Green) are bold, colored lines.
• Rail stations are marked with station symbols and names.

Start by finding:

• Where you are – closest station or major intersection
• Where you’re going – nearest rail station or landmark

This gives you anchor points before you trace bus routes.

2. Learn how bus routes are labeled

Each bus route has a route number and usually a short name:

• Example: Route 39 – Buford Highway
• Example: Route 110 – Peachtree Road / Buckhead

On the map, you’ll see:

• A line following major streets, with the route number printed along the line.
• Sometimes different patterns (solid, dashed) to show limited-service segments.

3. Follow the route between key stops

Most bus maps highlight:

• Major intersections (e.g., Ponce de Leon Ave & Moreland Ave)
• Major destinations (e.g., Emory University, Perimeter Mall, downtown Decatur)
• Connections to other bus routes and rail stations

Trace the line from:

• A stop near your starting point
• To a stop near your destination or connecting station

4. Check direction and endpoints

Each bus route usually runs between two endpoints, such as:

• A rail station (e.g., Lindbergh, Kensington)
• A major landmark or neighborhood (e.g., Northlake, West End, Old Fourth Ward)

On schedules and small diagrams, you’ll see clearly marked eastbound / westbound, northbound / southbound, or endpoint names like:

• “To Five Points”
• “To Dunwoody Station”

On larger bus maps, look for the route endpoints printed at the edges of the line.

MARTA Bus Map vs. Individual Route Maps

For everyday use in Atlanta, both the big system map and single-line maps are useful.

System-wide MARTA bus map

Best for:

• Seeing overall coverage (which parts of Atlanta actually have bus service)
• Planning trips across town that may require more than one bus
• Understanding how neighborhoods like East Atlanta, Buckhead, West End, and Decatur connect

Individual route map & timetable

Best for:

• Daily commuters riding the same bus every day
• Checking first and last bus times
• Understanding all the stops along a single corridor

Most riders start with the system map to choose a route, then rely on the individual route map and timetable for day-to-day reliability.

Common MARTA Bus Corridors in Atlanta

Patterns change over time, but several corridors consistently see a lot of bus service because they connect major job centers, schools, and dense neighborhoods.

Here are a few examples (names and patterns are illustrative of typical Atlanta use):

• Buford Highway (Route 39)
  Connects Midtown/ Lindbergh area with Doraville and communities along Buford Highway.
• Peachtree Road / Buckhead area (Route 110 and others)
  Links Midtown, Buckhead, and key shopping and office districts.
• Candler Road / South DeKalb area
  Serves South DeKalb Mall, residential neighborhoods, and rail connections.
• Moreland Avenue / Little Five Points area
  Connects eastside neighborhoods to rail and popular districts.

On the map, these corridors usually appear as dark, continuous lines with more frequent service.

Quick Reference: Using the MARTA Bus Map in Practice

You can think of your MARTA bus planning in three basic steps:

Once you’ve done this once or twice, reading the MARTA bus map around Atlanta gets much easier.

How MARTA Bus Maps Connect Neighborhoods in Atlanta

MARTA buses fill in the gaps between rail stations and neighborhoods that don’t have train access.

A few common patterns in the city:

• Intown neighborhoods (West End, Grant Park, Old Fourth Ward, East Atlanta Village)
  Often have bus routes running toward nearby rail stations like King Memorial, West End, or Inman Park/Reynoldstown.
• Perimeter & northside job centers (Perimeter Center, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody)
  Served by buses feeding into Medical Center, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and North Springs stations.
• Airport and south metro area
  Buses radiate from Airport Station and College Park Station to reach surrounding residential and commercial areas.

By using the map, you can see which rail station is your best “hub” for daily travel to work, school, or major attractions.

Tips for First-Time MARTA Bus Riders in Atlanta

A bus map is just one part of a good trip. A few practical tips help it all make sense:

1. Confirm the bus stop and direction

On the street:

• Look for official MARTA bus stop signs with the route numbers listed.
• Make sure you’re standing on the correct side of the street for the direction you want to go.
• If the stop sign shows multiple routes, the map can help you see which one is best for where you’re going.

2. Build in extra time

Even if you’ve studied the bus map:

• Downtown and Midtown traffic, events around Mercedes-Benz Stadium or State Farm Arena, and construction can slow buses.
• For appointments, it’s smart to plan to arrive a bus earlier than the last possible one.

3. Pay attention to first and last trips

The bus map shows where the route goes, but not always:

• How early the first bus starts
• How late the last bus runs at night
• Exact frequency (every 15, 20, 30 minutes, etc.)

Check the timetable or posted schedule for that information, especially if you work late or are out at night around places like Midtown, Edgewood, or Buckhead.

4. Use landmarks, not just street names

In Atlanta, some streets change names or curve unexpectedly. On the map, it’s often easier to navigate by:

• Major landmarks (hospitals, malls, universities, stadiums)
• Prominent intersections (Ponce & Moreland, Peachtree & 10th)

When in doubt, you can ask the driver or another rider if the bus stops near your landmark.

Accessibility and Special Features You’ll See Reflected in Service

While the bus map itself is mostly lines and symbols, it supports several important features of Atlanta’s transit system:

• Wheelchair-accessible buses: Most MARTA buses are equipped to accommodate mobility devices; this is a standard expectation on Atlanta routes.
• Connections to paratransit: Many paratransit pickup zones are near bus and rail connections; planning trips near stations like Five Points or Lindbergh can simplify transfers.
• Park-and-ride lots: Shown near some outer stations and bus hubs, allowing drivers from suburbs to park and then ride the bus/rail into the city.

If you or someone you’re traveling with has mobility needs, you can combine the map with direct questions to MARTA Customer Information at 404-848-5000 to confirm the most practical route.

When the Bus Map Matters Most in Atlanta

The MARTA bus map is especially useful in these situations:

• Commuting from a neighborhood without rail
  For example, living along Buford Highway, Cascade Road, or parts of Candler-McAfee and working downtown.
• Visiting without a car
  Staying in Midtown, Downtown, or near the Airport and trying to reach attractions like Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank Museum, or Atlanta BeltLine segments not directly on rail.
• Saving on parking and rideshares
  Taking a bus to the nearest rail station instead of paying to park in busy areas around Peachtree Center, Buckhead Village, or near event venues.
• Connecting between suburbs
  Some riders use bus-to-rail-to-bus combinations to move between places like Decatur, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and College Park.

In all of these cases, the bus map helps you see the whole picture so you can combine buses and trains efficiently.

By understanding what the Atlanta MARTA bus map shows, where to get it, and how to read it, you’ll be able to move around Atlanta far more confidently—whether you live here, commute in, or are just visiting and trying to make sense of the city’s transit network.