Map of Greater Atlanta: How the City and Its Surrounding Counties Fit Together

Greater Atlanta can feel huge and complicated, especially if you’re new to the area or trying to figure out where one place ends and another begins. When people talk about a “map of Greater Atlanta,” they usually mean more than just the City of Atlanta—they’re thinking about the metro region where people live, work, commute, and spend time every day.

This guide walks you through how Greater Atlanta is laid out, the main counties and neighborhoods, and the best ways to read and use maps for getting around the area.

What “Greater Atlanta” Usually Means

On a map, Greater Atlanta usually refers to the broader Atlanta metropolitan area, not just the city limits. Locals often think in terms of inside the Perimeter, outside the Perimeter, and which county a place is in.

Common layers of “Greater Atlanta” include:

• City of Atlanta – The official city, mostly in Fulton County with a portion in DeKalb County.
• Core counties – Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett.
• Extended metro counties – Clayton, Henry, Cherokee, Douglas, Fayette, Rockdale, and others that are heavily tied to Atlanta for jobs and commuting.

When you pull up a map, here’s what you’re really looking at:

The Perimeter: I‑285 as the Big Circle

If you look at any map of Greater Atlanta, one feature jumps out: Interstate 285, known locally as “the Perimeter.”

• Inside the Perimeter (ITP) – Areas within I‑285, including most of the City of Atlanta and close-in suburbs like Decatur.
• Outside the Perimeter (OTP) – Areas outside I‑285, such as Smyrna, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Duluth, Lawrenceville, and Morrow.

A few quick mapping tips:

• ITP usually means denser, more urban areas, older neighborhoods, and shorter drives to major intown destinations.
• OTP covers more suburban and exurban communities, often with larger developments and more distance between key destinations.
• If you’re planning commutes, deliveries, or errands, knowing whether a place is ITP or OTP helps estimate travel times.

Key Counties in a Map of Greater Atlanta

Most maps of “Greater Atlanta” focus heavily on a group of core metro counties. Here’s how they show up and what you’ll see on a map.

Fulton County

Fulton County runs long and narrow, north to south, and includes many of the region’s major destinations.

On the map, you’ll see:

• City of Atlanta (central and south) – Downtown, Midtown, Westside, and much of Southwest Atlanta.
• North Fulton – Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton.
• South Fulton – City of South Fulton, College Park, East Point, Union City, Fairburn, Palmetto.

Key Fulton-area landmarks you’ll notice:

• Downtown & Midtown – Clustered around the intersection of I‑75/85 (“The Connector”) and I‑20.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – At the southern end of Fulton, right on the border with Clayton County.
• Georgia State Capitol – Near Downtown Atlanta.

Fulton County Government Center:
141 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 • Main Switchboard: (404) 612‑4000

DeKalb County

DeKalb County borders the east side of Atlanta and stretches from intown neighborhoods out to the suburbs.

On the map, look for:

• Portions of the City of Atlanta – Some eastside neighborhoods are in DeKalb, even though they have Atlanta addresses.
• City of Decatur – Just east of Atlanta, often marked and labeled as a separate city.
• Stone Mountain, Tucker, Chamblee, Doraville – Common OTP areas in DeKalb.

DeKalb features to watch on a map:

• Stone Mountain Park – A large green space and landmark to the east.
• Major roads like I‑285 (eastern arc), I‑20 (east–west), US‑78 (toward Stone Mountain).

DeKalb County Administration Building:
1300 Commerce Dr, Decatur, GA 30030 • Main Phone: (404) 371‑2000

Cobb County

To the northwest of Atlanta, Cobb County shows up prominently on Greater Atlanta maps, especially for commuters.

On the map, you’ll see:

• Marietta – County seat and major hub.
• Smyrna, Kennesaw, Acworth, Powder Springs, Austell – Key suburban cities.
• The Battery Atlanta / Truist Park – Near the I‑75/I‑285 interchange.

Cobb shapes a lot of the northwest OTP life. Pay attention to:

• I‑75 running north–south through Marietta and Kennesaw.
• I‑285 forming the eastern border near Smyrna and The Battery.

Cobb County Government:
100 Cherokee St, Marietta, GA 30090 • Main Switchboard: (770) 528‑1000

Gwinnett County

Northeast of Atlanta, Gwinnett County is one of the most populated counties in Greater Atlanta.

You’ll notice on the map:

• Lawrenceville – County seat and central point.
• Norcross, Duluth, Suwanee, Lilburn, Snellville, Peachtree Corners – Major suburban communities.
• I‑85 – The main corridor from the northeast into Atlanta.

For anyone traveling from or to the northeastern suburbs, Gwinnett is often a key part of the route.

Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center:
75 Langley Dr, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 • Main Phone: (770) 822‑8000

Other Metro Counties Commonly Included on Greater Atlanta Maps

Beyond the four core counties, Greater Atlanta maps often highlight:

• Clayton County – South of Atlanta and home to much of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.
• Henry County – Along I‑75 south (McDonough, Stockbridge).
• Cherokee County – North along I‑575 (Canton, Woodstock).
• Douglas County – West along I‑20 (Douglasville).
• Fayette County – Southwest (Fayetteville, Peachtree City).
• Rockdale County – East along I‑20 (Conyers).

If you’re trying to understand a full Greater Atlanta map, expect to see most or all of these counties pictured.

Intown Atlanta on the Map: Neighborhoods Inside the Perimeter

When people refer to “Atlanta” casually, they often mean intown neighborhoods, many of which are Inside the Perimeter.

On most neighborhood maps, you’ll find areas like:

• Downtown – Centered around Five Points, Georgia State University, State Capitol.
• Midtown – Around Peachtree St NE, Piedmont Park, and major arts venues.
• Buckhead – North of Midtown along Peachtree Road, with business and shopping hubs.
• Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, West End, West Midtown – Popular intown residential and mixed-use areas.

These neighborhoods are typically marked with labels and sometimes shaded differently on city-focused maps.

📝 Tip: Many intown neighborhoods cross city and county lines, so a map can show you why your mailing address, school zone, and voting precinct might not match what you expect from the neighborhood name alone.

OTP Suburbs and Edge Cities: What You’ll See on a Greater Atlanta Map

Outside I‑285, Greater Atlanta spreads out into numerous suburban cities and unincorporated communities. On a map, you’ll notice clusters that function as their own “mini downtowns” while still being part of the Atlanta metro.

Common examples you’ll see labeled:

• North OTP – Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Dunwoody.
• Northwest OTP – Smyrna, Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth.
• Northeast OTP – Doraville, Chamblee, Norcross, Duluth, Suwanee, Lawrenceville.
• South OTP – College Park, East Point, Forest Park, Riverdale, Morrow, Jonesboro.
• East OTP – Decatur (city), Tucker, Stone Mountain, Clarkston, Conyers.

These are often tied together by:

• Major interstates (I‑75, I‑85, I‑20, I‑285).
• Connector highways (GA‑400, I‑575, US‑78, GA‑316).

If you’re choosing where to live or planning travel, looking at a map for distance to the Connector (I‑75/85) and access to I‑285 gives a good sense of how long trips into the city might take.

How MARTA and Transit Look on a Map of Greater Atlanta

Any practical map of Greater Atlanta should also help you see transit routes, especially in the core counties.

MARTA Rail

The MARTA rail system runs mainly inside Fulton and DeKalb Counties. On a transit map, you’ll see four color-coded main lines:

• Red Line – North–south (North Springs ↔ Airport).
• Gold Line – North–south (Doraville ↔ Airport).
• Blue Line – East–west (Hamilton E. Holmes ↔ Indian Creek).
• Green Line – Shorter east–west branch (Bankhead ↔ Edgewood/Candler Park).

Central interchange stations like Five Points, Peachtree Center, Civic Center, Arts Center, and Lindbergh Center are usually highlighted.

MARTA Headquarters (for in-person info, maps, and passes):
2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 • Customer Information: (404) 848‑5000

Bus and Other Transit

• MARTA bus routes cover Atlanta and much of Fulton and DeKalb.
• CobbLinc serves Cobb County.
• Gwinnett County Transit serves parts of Gwinnett.
• Xpress buses operate regional commuter routes from outer counties into central Atlanta.

On a comprehensive Greater Atlanta transit map, you’ll see:

• Rail lines and stations.
• Bus transfer centers and park-and-ride lots.
• Major commute corridors into Downtown and Midtown.

🚌 Tip: If you’re planning a car-free trip, look for maps that combine MARTA rail, buses, and county transit services, rather than only the rail lines.

Highways & Major Roads: How the Region Is Connected

When you open a road map of Greater Atlanta, a few patterns stand out:

• I‑285 (The Perimeter) – The ring around much of Atlanta.
• I‑75 and I‑85 – Merge through Downtown as the Connector, then split north and split south.
• I‑20 – East–west backbone across the middle of the region.
• GA‑400 – Major north–south route from Buckhead to North Fulton (Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta).
• I‑575 – Branching from I‑75 toward Cherokee County.
• GA‑316 – Connecting I‑85 to Lawrenceville and beyond in Gwinnett.
• US‑78 – Running toward Stone Mountain and further east.

For day-to-day use, residents often check where an address sits relative to these highways. This helps estimate:

• Typical commute times.
• How easy it is to reach Downtown/Midtown.
• Whether a location is convenient to the airport.

Where to Get Official Maps of the City and Region

If you want clear, official boundaries and layouts, a few local government offices and agencies provide reliable maps of Greater Atlanta and its parts.

City of Atlanta – Planning & Zoning Maps

For city limit lines, zoning districts, and neighborhood planning units (NPUs):

City of Atlanta Department of City Planning
55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 • Main Phone: (404) 330‑6070

They maintain detailed city maps showing:

• City boundaries within Fulton and DeKalb.
• Neighborhood labels.
• Zoning and land-use categories.

Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)

The Atlanta Regional Commission is a regional planning agency that covers much of Greater Atlanta. While you would usually access their resources online, they can help point you to regional transportation and land-use maps.

Atlanta Regional Commission
229 Peachtree St NE, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303 • Main Phone: (404) 463‑3100

They focus on:

• The broader Atlanta metropolitan planning area.
• Transportation network maps (roads, transit, freight).
• Long-term growth and development patterns across counties.

Using a Map of Greater Atlanta for Common Needs

Whether you live here or you’re visiting, a map of Greater Atlanta becomes much more useful when you know what to look for.

If You Live in Atlanta

A map can help you:

• Confirm whether you’re in city limits or just have an “Atlanta” mailing address.
• Understand your county, which affects schools, courts, and some taxes.
• Plan commutes by seeing routes to the Connector, I‑285, or MARTA.
• Choose neighborhoods based on distance to Downtown, Midtown, or key job centers.

If You’re Visiting Atlanta

A map can help you:

• See how far your hotel is from major attractions like Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, the BeltLine, the Airport, and major stadiums.
• Decide whether MARTA rail, rideshare, or a rental car makes the most sense.
• Understand travel times between intown attractions and OTP spots like Marietta, Stone Mountain, or Lawrenceville.

If You’re Comparing Different Parts of Greater Atlanta

Focus your map use on:

• County lines – For schools, property research, and local regulations.
• ITP vs OTP – For lifestyle and commuting expectations.
• Transit vs highway access – For daily travel and car dependence.
• Proximity to job centers – Downtown/Midtown, Perimeter Center, Buckhead, Cumberland, Alpharetta.

By seeing how city limits, counties, highways, neighborhoods, and transit overlap on a map, Greater Atlanta becomes much easier to understand. Whether you’re trying to pick a neighborhood, plan a commute, or just figure out where everything is in relation to Downtown and the Perimeter, a clear map of Greater Atlanta is one of the most practical tools you can use.