Map of the Atlanta BeltLine: How to Read It and Plan Your Route

The Atlanta BeltLine map can be a little overwhelming at first glance—loops, spur trails, “segments,” and planned vs. complete sections. Once you understand how it’s laid out, though, it becomes one of the easiest ways to navigate the city on foot, bike, scooter, or skates.

This guide walks through how the BeltLine is organized, how to read a typical Atlanta BeltLine map, and what each section of the loop offers, with a focus on what’s most useful if you live in or are visiting Atlanta.

How the Atlanta BeltLine Is Organized on the Map

On most official and printed maps, the Atlanta BeltLine is shown as a loop around central Atlanta, broken into four main “sides,” with several side paths and connector trails:

• Eastside Trail
• Westside Trail
• Southside Trail
• Northside / Northwest area (planned and segments)

You’ll also usually see:

• Different colors or line styles for:
  • Open, paved trails
  • Under-construction segments
  • Planned / future segments
• Icons for:
  • Parks and greenspaces
  • Transit connections (MARTA rail and bus)
  • Access points and stairs/ramps
  • Public art, restrooms, and sometimes water fountains

Most maps are oriented with Downtown and Midtown in the center, and the BeltLine circling them.

Key Segments of the Atlanta BeltLine on the Map

Here’s a high-level way to “read” the BeltLine on a map, traveling clockwise from the popular Eastside.

Eastside Trail (Midtown to Reynoldstown)

This is the busiest and most recognizable part of the BeltLine.

You’ll typically see the Eastside Trail running from roughly:

• Near Piedmont Park / 10th Street & Monroe Drive
  down through:
• Ponce City Market area
• Historic Fourth Ward Park
• Inman Park
• Old Fourth Ward
• Reynoldstown

On the map, this section is usually shown as a solid line, clearly marked as open and paved.

What people use this section for:

• Walking or biking between Midtown and neighborhoods like Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward
• Accessing popular dining and retail areas near Ponce de Leon Avenue NE and Krog Street
• Quick, car-free connections between Piedmont Park and the eastside neighborhoods

Westside Trail (West End, Adair Park, southwest Atlanta)

The Westside Trail appears on the opposite side of the loop from the Eastside Trail and generally connects:

• Near Adair Park / Lee Street SW
• Through West End
• Toward Westview, Mozley Park, and nearby neighborhoods

On maps, you’ll often see it:

• Marked as paved and open for several miles
• Connected to parks like Westside Park via spur or side trails (or nearby street connections)

Typical uses:

• Neighborhood walking and biking in West End and Adair Park
• Connecting to the West End MARTA Station (on Lee Street SW)
• Lower-density alternative to the crowded Eastside Trail

Southside Trail (connecting Eastside and Westside)

The Southside Trail is meant to close the loop between the Eastside and Westside Trails, running generally through neighborhoods like:

• Grant Park / Boulevard area (near the southeastern side of the city)
• Chosewood Park
• Peoplestown
• Pittsburgh
• Summerhill area connectors via streets

On most maps you’ll notice:

• Some sections paved and open
• Other parts marked as “corridor open” or future trail
  (this usually means you can walk the rail corridor in some form, but it might be unpaved or limited)

People often use the Southside Trail to:

• Connect between Reynoldstown / Grant Park area and West End / Adair Park
• Explore less tourist-heavy sections of the BeltLine
• Plan future commuting routes as more segments are completed

Northside & Northwest Area (planned and segments)

The north side of the BeltLine—especially the northwest—tends to be more fragmented on maps:

• You may see short open sections, sometimes labeled Northside Trail or listed as “interim” or “connector” paths.
• Several segments are marked as planned or in design, often shown as dashed or lighter lines.

This part of the map is most useful for:

• Understanding how the loop is expected to connect through neighborhoods west and north of Midtown and Buckhead
• Planning walking or biking routes that use a mix of existing trail plus regular streets

How to Read Common Symbols on an Atlanta BeltLine Map

While every printed or digital BeltLine map looks a bit different, they usually share some basic conventions.

Common map elements:

• Solid colored line – Existing, paved BeltLine trail open for public use
• Dashed or faint line – Planned or under-construction sections
• Park symbols or green areas – BeltLine-connected greenspaces like:
  • Historic Fourth Ward Park
  • Piedmont Park (connected via the Eastside)
  • Grant Park area connections
  • Westside Park
• Transit icons – Nearby MARTA stations such as:
  • Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station (East)
  • King Memorial Station (near Eastside/Southside connector area)
  • West End Station (Westside)
• Access points – Stairs, ramps, or trailheads that connect from neighborhood streets to the BeltLine

When you look at a BeltLine map, it helps to:

1. Identify where Downtown/Midtown are (center).
2. Find a landmark you know (Piedmont Park, Ponce City Market, West End MARTA).
3. See where the trail loops around that landmark.
4. Check which portions are solid (open) vs. dashed (future) for your specific route.

Quick Reference: Major BeltLine Sections & What They Connect

Here’s a simplified way to visualize what each segment connects to when you’re reading a map:

Using the BeltLine Map to Plan Your Trip

1. Decide your starting point

If you’re coming from another part of Atlanta, you might:

• Use MARTA rail to reach:

  • Midtown Station or North Avenue Station, then walk or bike east to Piedmont Park / Eastside Trail.
  • Inman Park/Reynoldstown Station for easier access to the southern part of the Eastside Trail.
  • West End Station for direct access to the Westside Trail.

• If driving, look at the map for:

  • Neighborhood street parking near Eastside or Westside Trail access points.
  • Public parking near Piedmont Park, Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, or Lee Street SW / West End.

2. Check which segments are paved and open

On a detailed Atlanta BeltLine map, make sure your planned path is:

• Shown as a solid, open trail for the distance you want to travel.
• If any part is marked as “future” or “under construction,” be prepared to:
  • Use side streets to connect, or
  • Turn around and enjoy a shorter out-and-back route.

3. Plan for rest stops and amenities

Look for icons or labels showing:

• Parks (great for restrooms, shade, playgrounds)
• Food and retail clusters near:
  • Ponce City Market area
  • Krog Street area
  • West End business district
• Transit stations if you want to ride out and walk back, or vice versa

Where to Find Physical Maps and Local Help in Atlanta

If you prefer an in-person or printed map of the Atlanta BeltLine, you can often find them or get directions at:

• Atlanta BeltLine Center (Visitor / Info Type Space)
  Frequently located along or near the Eastside Trail, this type of center (or similar information spaces when operating) can offer brochures, maps, and updates on trail status.

• City of Atlanta offices or local government buildings
  Main municipal offices, such as Atlanta City Hall (55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303), may be able to direct you to current trail information or city-produced maps.

• MARTA rail stations
  Major stations like Five Points, Midtown, Inman Park/Reynoldstown, and West End sometimes display area maps that show the BeltLine’s proximity to transit.

• Visitor information desks in major areas of the city
  These locations, especially in Downtown and Midtown, often carry city walking and biking maps that include BeltLine segments.

If you’re unsure exactly where an access point is, many Atlanta residents rely on:

• Clearly marked BeltLine signage in neighborhoods (look for signs along streets like Monroe Drive NE, Ralph McGill Boulevard NE, DeKalb Avenue NE, Lee Street SW, and other corridors that intersect the trail).
• Asking at nearby coffee shops, retail spots, or park offices, which are often used to directing people toward the nearest access ramp or stairs.

Tips for Using the BeltLine Map Like a Local

• Think of it as a ring road for walking and biking.
  The BeltLine map is essentially a non-motorized loop around central Atlanta, with spokes into different neighborhoods.

• Use landmarks as anchors.
  When you’re looking at the map, first find Piedmont Park, Downtown, and West End—then trace the BeltLine around them to understand your orientation.

• Check for elevation changes.
  The BeltLine itself is generally manageable, but some access points from neighborhood streets are on hills, especially near park areas. The map won’t always show elevation, so allow a little extra time.

• Expect ongoing changes.
  Because it’s a long-term project, some areas on the map will be labeled as planned, interim, or under construction. These change over time, so once you know the layout, it’s easier to adjust when a new segment opens.

• Combine the BeltLine with nearby streets.
  Many local walkers, runners, and cyclists use the BeltLine as a backbone, then hop off on side streets to reach destinations like Grant Park, Westview, Old Fourth Ward, or downtown attractions.

With a clear map of the Atlanta BeltLine, you can treat it as a connected system rather than a set of isolated trails. Once you know which sections are open and how they loop around Midtown and Downtown, it becomes one of the most flexible ways to move around Atlanta without a car.