Map of Atlanta Suburbs: How the Metro Area Really Fits Together

Understanding the map of the suburbs of Atlanta can be confusing, even for longtime locals. The metro area stretches across multiple counties, dozens of cities, and plenty of unincorporated communities that Atlantans casually refer to as “suburbs,” “OTP,” or just “the ‘burbs.”

This guide breaks down how the suburbs are laid out around Atlanta, what’s typically meant by north vs. south vs. east vs. west suburbs, and which areas are most useful to know — whether you’re living in Atlanta, relocating, or planning a visit.

How Atlanta’s Suburbs Are Laid Out

Instead of a simple ring around the city, Atlanta’s suburbs are shaped by:

• Interstates and highways (I‑285, I‑75, I‑85, I‑20, GA‑400)
• County lines (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, etc.)
• The distinction between ITP (Inside the Perimeter) and OTP (Outside the Perimeter), based on I‑285

Most people who say “Atlanta suburbs” are talking about OTP areas, but a few neighborhoods technically inside I‑285 can feel suburban too.

Key Terms Locals Use

• ITP (Inside the Perimeter): Inside I‑285. More urban, but some pockets feel suburban.
• OTP (Outside the Perimeter): Outside I‑285. What most people think of as Atlanta suburbs.
• Northside, Southside, Eastside, Westside: Rough directional clusters, often defined by major interstates.

Quick Reference: Major Atlanta Suburbs by Direction

Below is a simple overview table to help you visualize how common suburbs relate to Atlanta’s core:

This doesn’t include every community but covers the most commonly referenced Atlanta suburbs.

North Atlanta Suburbs (GA‑400 & I‑85 North)

The northside suburbs are among the best known and most frequently mapped for people researching Atlanta.

GA‑400 Corridor (North Fulton & Beyond)

Running north from Buckhead and Sandy Springs, GA‑400 is the spine of many popular suburbs:

• Sandy Springs – Just north of the city; mix of high-rises, neighborhoods, and office parks.
• Roswell – Historic downtown, residential neighborhoods, and riverfront parks.
• Alpharetta – Modern suburban city with mixed-use centers and business parks.
• Milton – More spacious, semi-rural feel in parts, with larger lots and horse properties.
• Cumming (Forsyth County) – Further north, often considered an outer suburb.

On a map, these generally stack upward from I‑285 along GA‑400.

I‑85 North & Peachtree Industrial Corridor

To the northeast, suburbs stretch along I‑85 and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard:

• Brookhaven (partly ITP) – City just northeast of Buckhead, with a suburban feel in many neighborhoods.
• Chamblee & Doraville – Close‑in suburbs with MARTA access and older residential areas.
• Norcross & Peachtree Corners – Suburban cities in western Gwinnett County.
• Duluth, Suwanee, Sugar Hill – Further up I‑85 and Peachtree Industrial.
• Lawrenceville & Dacula – East of I‑85 along GA‑316, anchors of central and eastern Gwinnett.

When you look at a metro map, you’ll see dense clusters of suburbs following these major highways north and northeast from Atlanta.

Northwest Suburbs (I‑75 & Cobb County)

To the northwest, Cobb County and parts of Paulding County make up another large suburban concentration.

Close‑In Northwest Suburbs

• Smyrna & Vinings – Directly northwest of Atlanta, typically reached via I‑75 or the East‑West Connector.
• Marietta – One of the largest, best‑known suburbs, with a historic square and surrounding neighborhoods.
• Mableton & Austell (southern Cobb) – Swath of suburbs between I‑20 West and I‑285.

Further Northwest

• Kennesaw & Acworth – Suburbs along I‑75, north of Marietta.
• Dallas & Hiram (Paulding County) – Western OTP suburbs, often found on metro maps slightly outside the main I‑285 ring.

On most Atlanta suburban maps, northwest suburbs appear as a large block hugging I‑75 up from Cumberland/Vinings through Marietta to Kennesaw and beyond.

East & Northeast Inner Suburbs (DeKalb & East Metro)

East and northeast of Atlanta, you’ll find a mix of older inner suburbs and outer bedroom communities.

Inner East & Northeast (Close to Atlanta)

• Decatur – Just east of Atlanta, technically a small city but often seen as an “intown suburb.”
• Tucker – Northeast DeKalb County, near I‑285 and US‑78.
• Clarkston – Compact city near I‑285 east, known for apartment communities and neighborhoods.
• Stone Mountain – Surrounds Stone Mountain Park to the east along US‑78.

These appear on a map clustered just outside the eastern and northeastern bends of I‑285.

Outer East Suburbs

• Lithonia – Farther out along I‑20 East in DeKalb County.
• Conyers – In Rockdale County, even farther east along I‑20.
• Covington – In Newton County, often shown on wider metro maps as an outer‑ring suburb.

These are typically found east and southeast of Stone Mountain when you zoom out on a metro map.

South & Southwest Suburbs (Airport Area & Beyond)

South of Atlanta, the Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the main landmark that shapes how the southern suburbs map out.

Airport‑Area South Suburbs

Just south and southwest of the city and the airport along I‑85:

• Hapeville – Immediately south of the city and near the airport.
• College Park & East Point – Adjacent to Atlanta on the south side, part city/part suburb in feel.
• Union City & Fairburn – Further down I‑85.

On a regional map, these suburbs are usually shown clustered tightly around I‑85 south of I‑285 and the airport runways.

Further Southwest & South

Moving further out, the map shows development spreading into Fulton, Fayette, and Coweta Counties:

• Fayetteville & Peachtree City – In Fayette County, popular residential cities southwest of the airport.
• Newnan – In Coweta County, farther down I‑85.

These areas are frequently labeled on wider metro Atlanta maps as outer south and southwest suburbs.

West & Far West Suburbs (I‑20 West & Westside)

To the west, suburbs follow I‑20 West out of Atlanta.

West of the City

• Mableton (Cobb) – South of I‑20 near the Chattahoochee River.
• Lithia Springs & Douglasville – In Douglas County along I‑20 West.
• Powder Springs – Northwest of Mableton and south of Marietta.

These show up as a band of communities west and slightly southwest from the city center when looking at most metro maps.

Major Counties in the Atlanta Suburbs

For many practical tasks (schools, taxes, voting, public services), you’ll want to know which county a suburb is in, not just its name on the map.

Here are some of the main suburban counties and selected cities:

• Fulton County
  • Suburbs: Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, South Fulton City (includes some formerly unincorporated areas), Fairburn, Union City, Palmetto.
• Cobb County
  • Suburbs: Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Acworth (partly), Mableton, Austell, Powder Springs.
• DeKalb County
  • Suburbs: Decatur (independent city but within county), Tucker, Stone Mountain (city and area around), Clarkston, parts of Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville.
• Gwinnett County
  • Suburbs: Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Snellville, Dacula, Lilburn.
• Clayton County
  • Suburbs: Forest Park, Morrow, Jonesboro, Riverdale, Lovejoy, Lake City.
• Fayette County
  • Suburbs: Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone.
• Douglas County
  • Suburbs: Douglasville, Lithia Springs.
• Henry, Rockdale, Cherokee, Forsyth, Paulding Counties
  • Include additional suburbs such as McDonough, Stockbridge, Conyers, Canton, Cumming, Dallas, and Hiram.

If you’re checking a map to understand jurisdictions, county labels are as important as city boundaries.

How to Read a Map of Atlanta’s Suburbs Effectively

When you pull up a map of Atlanta suburbs, focus on:

1. I‑285 (The Perimeter):

   • Inside: denser, more urban or “intown” neighborhoods, even if some feel suburban.
   • Outside: primary suburban ring, where most suburbs listed above are located.

2. Interstates and Corridors:

   • GA‑400 North: Sandy Springs → Roswell → Alpharetta → Cumming.
   • I‑75 North: Smyrna → Marietta → Kennesaw → Acworth.
   • I‑85 North: Brookhaven → Chamblee/Doraville → Norcross → Duluth → Suwanee → Buford.
   • I‑20 East: Decatur/Stone Mountain → Lithonia → Conyers.
   • I‑20 West: Mableton → Lithia Springs → Douglasville.
   • I‑85 South: Hapeville/East Point/College Park → Union City → Fairburn → Newnan.

3. County Lines:
   Often marked by light borders; these shift school zones, taxes, and services.

4. Distance & Commute Time:
   On the map, a suburb might not look very far, but traffic on main corridors (especially GA‑400, I‑75, I‑85) can strongly affect day‑to‑day life.

Atlanta Neighborhoods That Feel Suburban but Are Not Traditional “Suburbs”

Some places inside the city or ITP look suburban on a map due to single‑family homes, yards, and quieter streets. Locals sometimes mentally group these with suburbs:

• North Atlanta / Buckhead neighborhoods – North of Midtown but inside city limits.
• Cascade area (Southwest Atlanta) – Residential areas west of downtown.
• East Lake, Kirkwood, and parts of Decatur vicinity – Tree‑lined streets and detached homes.

When you read a “map of Atlanta suburbs,” these may or may not be included, depending on how strictly the mapmaker defines “suburb.”

Using Official Local Resources for Maps

For more detailed or official boundaries, you can use:

• Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) – Regional agency that often provides maps of the broader metro area, including county and transportation layouts.
• County Government GIS or Mapping Departments – Many counties maintain online map portals where you can search by address or explore city/county lines.

Even without digital tools, knowing the basic layout from the descriptions above will help you make sense of almost any map of the suburbs of Atlanta you come across.

Practical Tips When Comparing Atlanta Suburbs on a Map

When you’re deciding where to live, stay, or visit, combine the map with a few practical checks:

• Check commute routes, not just distance.
  A suburb straight up GA‑400 or I‑75 may be closer in miles but tougher at rush hour than another area with more side‑road options.

• Note which county the suburb is in.
  This affects services like schools, libraries, and courts. Each county has its own government center, often near the county seat (e.g., Marietta in Cobb, Lawrenceville in Gwinnett).

• Look for access points to MARTA or regional transit.
  While many suburbs are car‑dependent, some near MARTA rail stations (like Doraville, Chamblee, Sandy Springs) show up on suburban maps but offer more transit options into the city.

• Consider proximity to the airport.
  Southern and southwestern suburbs tend to be closer to Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport, visible prominently on any metro map.

By combining this mental “map” of directions, counties, and corridors with any physical or digital map, you’ll have a clear picture of how the suburbs of Atlanta fit together and what each general area represents.