Atlanta Metro Train Map: How to Read and Use MARTA Rail Like a Local

If you’re looking for an Atlanta metro train map, you’re really looking for the MARTA rail system map. MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) runs the main heavy-rail network that locals use to get between the airport, Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and several neighborhoods and suburbs.

This guide breaks down how the MARTA train map works, what each line and station serves, and how to use it for everyday trips in and around Atlanta.

Overview: Understanding the Atlanta Metro Train Map

Atlanta’s rail map is built around four color-coded MARTA lines:

• Red Line – North–South, from North Springs to Airport
• Gold Line – North–South, from Doraville to Airport
• Blue Line – East–West, from Hamilton E. Holmes to Indian Creek
• Green Line – Short East–West line, from Bankhead to Edgewood/Candler Park

All four lines meet in central Atlanta, forming a cross-shaped network with key transfer stations in Downtown and Midtown.

On the map you’ll see:

• Colored routes (red, gold, blue, green)
• White circles (regular stations)
• Larger hubs where you can transfer between lines
• Icons for bus connections and major landmarks (like the airport)

Quick Map Snapshot of MARTA Rail Lines

Here’s a simple reference so you can picture the Atlanta metro train layout:

The Four MARTA Rail Lines in Detail

Red Line: North Springs ↔ Airport

The Red Line is a major north–south spine on the Atlanta metro train map.

Northern end (North Springs):

• Serves Sandy Springs and areas near GA 400
• Popular park-and-ride option for commuters coming from north Fulton and beyond

Key stations heading south:

• Dunwoody – Near Perimeter Center offices and shopping
• Buckhead – Access to Buckhead business district (with short bus or walk)
• Arts Center – Close to Midtown arts institutions and bus connections
• Midtown – Central for Piedmont Park, offices, restaurants, and nightlife
• North Avenue – Near Georgia Tech and Midtown offices
• Five Points – Main transfer hub for all lines in Downtown
• Airport – Direct access inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

On the map, the Red Line is shown as a red route running vertically through the city.

Gold Line: Doraville ↔ Airport

The Gold Line runs almost parallel to the Red Line on the south end, sharing many central stations but with a different northern terminus.

Northern end (Doraville):

• Serves Doraville and Chamblee areas in north DeKalb County
• Used by many commuters from northeast metro Atlanta

Important stations:

• Doraville
• Chamblee
• Brookhaven/Oglethorpe
• Lenox – Near Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza (Buckhead shopping area)
• Then it shares several central stations with the Red Line:
  • Lindbergh Center
  • Arts Center
  • Midtown
  • North Avenue
  • Civic Center (if shown on the map you’re viewing)
  • Five Points (main transfer)
  • Garnett
  • West End
  • Oakland City, Lakewood/Fort McPherson, East Point, College Park
• Airport – Same terminal station as Red Line

On the map, the Gold Line is marked in gold/yellow, converging with the Red Line in central Atlanta and down to the airport.

Blue Line: Hamilton E. Holmes ↔ Indian Creek

The Blue Line is the main east–west line, cutting across the city and intersecting the Red and Gold Lines in the middle.

Western end (Hamilton E. Holmes):

• Serves West Atlanta with large park-and-ride lots

Key central stations:

• Ashby – Connection point to the Green Line
• Vine City – Near Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Dome/GWCC/State Farm Arena/CNN Center (sometimes labeled slightly differently on newer maps)
• Five Points – Central transfer station
• Georgia State – Close to Georgia State University and government offices

East of Downtown:

• King Memorial – Near Oakland Cemetery and Grant Park area (short trip)
• Inman Park/Reynoldstown – Access to BeltLine Eastside Trail area and trendy neighborhoods
• Edgewood/Candler Park – Green Line connection point
• East Lake
• Decatur – Serves Downtown Decatur shops, restaurants, and Emory bus connections
• Avondale
• Kensington
• Indian Creek – Eastern terminus, with park-and-ride for commuters from further east

On the Atlanta rail map, the Blue Line runs horizontally, intersecting with Red/Gold at Five Points.

Green Line: Bankhead ↔ Edgewood/Candler Park

The Green Line is a shorter east–west route that mainly serves the Westside and near-Downtown corridors.

Western end (Bankhead):

• Serves the Bankhead/Westside area with direct downtown access

Key stops heading east:

• Ashby – Connects with Blue Line
• Vine City – Near Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Dome/GWCC/State Farm Arena/CNN Center – Event and convention access
• Five Points – Main hub for transfers
• Continues with the Blue Line to:
  • Georgia State
  • King Memorial
  • Inman Park/Reynoldstown
  • Edgewood/Candler Park – Eastern end of the Green Line

On many maps, the Green Line is shown terminating at Edgewood/Candler Park, where only the Blue Line continues farther east.

Key Hubs on the Atlanta Metro Train Map

Five Points Station (Downtown)

Location: Downtown Atlanta
Role on the map: Center of the system

At Five Points, you can:

• Transfer between Red, Gold, Blue, and Green lines
• Catch multiple MARTA bus routes
• Walk to many government buildings, offices, and attractions

On the map, this station is typically highlighted as the core transfer node.

Midtown & Arts Center Stations

Both stations are central on the Red/Gold north–south corridor:

• Midtown Station

  • Short walk to Piedmont Park, Peachtree Street, and Midtown offices
  • Major point for commuters and visitors staying in Midtown hotels

• Arts Center Station

  • Near Woodruff Arts Center, High Museum of Art, and Alliance Theatre
  • Connects to several bus routes toward Atlantic Station and other neighborhoods

On the map, they appear in sequence between North Avenue and Lindbergh Center.

Airport Station

Station name on map: “Airport”

The Airport Station sits inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, at the Domestic Terminal:

• Follow signs for “Ground Transportation” and “MARTA”
• No need for a shuttle to reach the MARTA platform

On the map, the Airport is at the southern end of both the Red and Gold Lines.

How to Read and Use the MARTA Rail Map

Step 1: Find Your Starting Station

Look for the station closest to where you are staying or starting from:

• Midtown hotel? Likely near Midtown or Arts Center
• Buckhead? Near Buckhead, Lenox, or Lindbergh Center
• Decatur? Near Decatur or Avondale
• Westside? Possibly Ashby, Bankhead, or Vine City

If you’re unsure, many riders check nearby streets and look at where they intersect the colored lines on the map.

Step 2: Identify Your Destination Station

Some common destination markers on the Atlanta metro train map:

• Airport – For flights
• Five Points – For Downtown, government area, and transfers
• Peachtree Center – Central Downtown offices and hotels
• Midtown / Arts Center – Midtown attractions and events
• Decatur – Restaurants, shops, and local nightlife
• Lenox / Buckhead – Malls and Buckhead business district
• Georgia State – Georgia State University campus area
• Dome/GWCC/State Farm Arena/CNN Center – Stadiums, events, and convention center

Find your target station name and note which color line(s) serves it.

Step 3: Follow the Color and Direction

Once you know your line color:

• Make sure you’re traveling in the right direction by checking the end-of-line names.
  • Example: From Midtown to the Airport, take:
    • Red Line – Southbound (toward Airport)
    • Or Gold Line – Southbound (toward Airport)
• From Airport to Midtown, look for:
  • Northbound Red or Gold trains, toward North Springs or Doraville

On station signs and platform displays, you’ll see the terminal station name to help you confirm you’re heading the right way.

Step 4: Plan Transfers (If Needed)

On the rail map, transfer points are clearly marked where lines overlap:

• Five Points – Transfer between Red/Gold and Blue/Green
• Lindbergh Center – Important for combining rail + many bus routes
• Ashby and Edgewood/Candler Park – Where Green and Blue lines connect

If your starting and destination stations are on different colored lines, trace the route on the map and see which shared station works best for your transfer.

Popular Routes Using the Atlanta Metro Train Map

Airport ↔ Downtown / Midtown

• Airport to Downtown (Five Points/Peachtree Center)

  • Ride Red or Gold Line northbound
  • Get off at:
    • Five Points for transfers/government area
    • Peachtree Center for central Downtown

• Airport to Midtown

  • Take Red or Gold Line northbound
  • Exit at Midtown station

This is one of the most common uses of the Atlanta metro train map for visitors.

Downtown ↔ Buckhead / Lenox

• From Five Points or Peachtree Center:
  • Take Red or Gold Line northbound
• For Buckhead business district:
  • Exit at Buckhead or Lindbergh Center
• For Lenox Square / Phipps Plaza:
  • Use Gold Line and exit at Lenox

Downtown ↔ Decatur

• From Five Points:
  • Take Blue Line eastbound toward Indian Creek
  • Exit at Decatur station

This route is easy to trace along the Blue Line on the map.

Where to Get an Official MARTA Train Map in Atlanta

You can access the MARTA rail map in several ways around the city:

• Physical maps at stations

  • Posted near ticket machines and inside stations at:
    • Airport Station
    • Five Points Station
    • Midtown Station
    • Arts Center Station
    • Buckhead, Lenox, Lindbergh Center, Decatur, and others

• Printed brochures

  • Often available at staffed MARTA RideStores and customer service areas:
    • Five Points Station RideStore
      30 Alabama St SW
      Atlanta, GA 30303

• On trains

  • Many rail cars have simplified maps displayed near the doors, showing line colors, transfer points, and termini.

If you prefer something in-hand, it’s straightforward to pick up a printed Atlanta metro train map at one of the central stations.

MARTA Rail Service Basics (As Shown on the Map)

Hours and Frequency (General Patterns)

MARTA rail typically runs:

• Daily, including weekends and many holidays
• Trains are more frequent during rush hours and slightly less frequent at night and on weekends

On the map and station boards, you won’t see exact times but you’ll see line directions and service alerts. Riders often pair the map with schedule info posted in-station or digital displays that show the next train arrival times.

Zone-Free Fare System

The map does not show zones, because MARTA rail uses a flat fare system:

• The same fare is charged whether you go one stop or across the entire system
• You tap in and out with a Breeze Card or Breeze Ticket

This makes it easier to read the map since you don’t have to worry about crossing fare boundaries.

Using the Map with Other Transit in Atlanta

The Atlanta metro train map focuses on rail, but there are important connections:

• MARTA Buses

  • Many rail stations are bus hubs; icons on the map indicate bus connections
  • Examples:
    • Lindbergh Center – major bus hub
    • Doraville, North Springs, H.E. Holmes, Decatur, Kensington – large park-and-ride and bus facilities

• Regional Connections

  • Some stations connect to other regional services at designated areas near the rail, useful if you are coming from or going to suburbs beyond MARTA’s rail coverage.

When you look at a full system map, you’ll see bus routes branching off from rail stations, showing how you can continue beyond the rail lines.

Practical Tips for Navigating with the MARTA Train Map

• ✅ Start with landmarks
  Locate Airport, Five Points, Midtown, and Buckhead on the map first. Once you know where these are, it’s easier to orient everything else.

• ✅ Memorize your line color
  If you’re staying in Midtown, you’re on the Red/Gold corridor.
  If you’re in Decatur, you’re on the Blue Line.
  Knowing this makes reading the map much faster.

• ✅ Pay attention to end-of-line names
  For example, “Red Line to North Springs” vs “Red Line to Airport” helps confirm direction.

• ✅ Use transfer hubs strategically
  Most rail-to-rail transfers happen at Five Points, but if you’re just switching between Blue and Green, look at Ashby or Edgewood/Candler Park on the map.

• ✅ Check for service notices
  In stations and on some printed maps, temporary changes or track work may be indicated. If something seems off, look for posted notices at the station.

The MARTA rail map is compact compared to many large cities, which makes it relatively easy to learn. Once you understand the four main lines, their colors, and key transfer points, using the Atlanta metro train map becomes a straightforward way to move between the airport, Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, and several surrounding neighborhoods.