Maps of Atlanta, GA: How to Navigate the City Like a Local

Atlanta is a big, spread-out city with busy highways, winding neighborhood streets, and a fast-growing transit network. Whether you live here, are visiting, or are just trying to understand how Atlanta is laid out, good maps of Atlanta, GA make everything easier.

This guide walks you through the best types of maps for Atlanta, where to get them, and how to use them for driving, MARTA, cycling, walking, sightseeing, and more.

Understanding Atlanta’s Layout

Before choosing the right map, it helps to understand how Atlanta is organized.

• Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead – The city’s main business and entertainment cores, clustered along Peachtree Street and the MARTA Red/Gold lines.
• Intown neighborhoods – Areas like Virginia-Highland, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, Grant Park, West End, and West Midtown surround the core and are popular for dining, nightlife, and housing.
• Outside the Perimeter (OTP) – Suburbs and edge cities around the I‑285 loop, including Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Smyrna, Decatur, College Park, and others.

Most people in Atlanta navigate by interstates, MARTA lines, major surface roads, and neighborhood names. A map that shows all four clearly will serve you best.

Key Types of Atlanta Maps (and When to Use Each)

1. Road Maps and Driving Maps of Atlanta

If you’ll be driving, you need a map that clearly shows:

• Interstates and highways – I‑75, I‑85, I‑20, and the I‑285 Perimeter
• Connector and major arteries – Downtown Connector (I‑75/85), GA‑400, Peachtree Street, Ponce de Leon Avenue, Moreland Avenue, Northside Drive, etc.
• City surface streets – especially in neighborhoods where highways don’t help much

Best uses:

• Planning a commute across the metro area
• Finding alternate routes around traffic
• Understanding how intown neighborhoods connect

💡 Tip: Because Atlanta traffic can change quickly, it’s helpful to combine a static map (paper or downloaded) with a live navigation app for real-time conditions.

2. MARTA Maps (Rail and Bus)

Atlanta’s main public transit system is MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority). For many trips, especially to and from the airport or major attractions, you’ll want a MARTA system map.

MARTA Rail Map

The rail map is color-coded:

• Red Line – North Springs ↔ Airport
• Gold Line – Doraville ↔ Airport
• Blue Line – Hamilton E. Holmes ↔ Indian Creek
• Green Line – Bankhead ↔ Edgewood/Candler Park

Key stations for visitors and residents:

• Airport Station – Directly inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Five Points – Main transfer hub in Downtown
• Peachtree Center – Access to Downtown hotels, offices, and events
• Midtown – Arts Center, restaurants, nightlife
• Buckhead / Lenox / Lindbergh Center – Shopping and business areas
• West End – Historic neighborhood and access to the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail
• King Memorial / Inman Park / Edgewood-Candler Park – Access to intown neighborhoods and the BeltLine Eastside areas

You’ll find printed MARTA rail maps:

• Inside stations and on platforms
• On trains near the doors
• In some visitor centers and public buildings

MARTA Bus and Neighborhood Maps

MARTA bus route maps and neighborhood maps help you go beyond rail stations, especially east-west across the city where highways and rail are less direct.

These maps are usually:

• Posted inside bus shelters and stations
• Available as printable PDFs on MARTA’s service channels
• Included in rider guides sometimes available at major stations like Five Points or Airport Station

📍 MARTA Headquarters (for information or printed materials):
2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Phone: (404) 848-5000

3. Atlanta Neighborhood and District Maps

Atlanta is very neighborhood-driven. If you’re choosing where to live, booking a hotel, or planning a night out, a neighborhood map is extremely useful.

Common neighborhood and district map types:

• Intown neighborhood maps – Show places like Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, Virginia-Highland, East Atlanta Village, Kirkwood, Cabbagetown, Grant Park, West Midtown
• Business district maps – Focus on Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Perimeter Center, Atlantic Station
• Community planning maps – Show neighborhood boundaries, community improvement districts, and zoning areas

These maps help you:

• Visualize which neighborhoods are connected by MARTA or the BeltLine
• Understand which areas are walkable vs. car-dependent
• Plan housing searches, school choices, or business locations

4. Atlanta BeltLine Maps

The Atlanta BeltLine is a network of multi-use trails, parks, and future transit that circles much of the city’s intown core. BeltLine maps are essential if you like walking, biking, or exploring without a car.

Key BeltLine segments usually shown on maps:

• Eastside Trail – Connecting areas like Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, Ponce City Market, and Virginia-Highland
• Westside Trail – Connecting West End, Adair Park, Westview, and nearby neighborhoods
• Southside and Northside connectors – Portions that link the system together

BeltLine maps typically show:

• Trail routes, entrances, and access points
• Nearby MARTA stations and parking options
• Parks, playgrounds, and public art installations
• Connections to city streets and bike lanes

These are often posted on trail kiosks along the BeltLine and available from Atlanta’s parks and planning agencies.

5. Downtown, Midtown, and Tourist-Oriented Maps

If you’re visiting Atlanta, you’ll see plenty of compact, attraction-focused maps covering:

• Downtown Atlanta – Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca‑Cola, Centennial Olympic Park, State Farm Arena, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, College Football Hall of Fame, Underground Atlanta
• Midtown Atlanta – High Museum of Art, Fox Theatre, Piedmont Park, Arts Center area, dining and nightlife
• Buckhead – Shopping districts, hotels, business towers

These maps typically highlight:

• Attractions and major landmarks
• Walking routes and skybridges (especially Downtown)
• MARTA stations and parking decks
• Convention centers and hotel clusters

They’re often available at:

• Hotel front desks and concierge counters
• Visitor information desks in major attractions
• Event and convention venues

📍 Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visitor Information):
233 Peachtree St NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 521-6600

6. Walking and Trails Maps (Parks, Greenways, and Nature)

For outdoor time, trail and park maps can be more useful than street maps.

Common walking and trail map types:

• Piedmont Park maps – Show walking paths, entrances, dog parks, playgrounds, lake, and event spaces
• Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area maps – Trails along the river north of the city
• Neighborhood park maps – Trails in places like Grant Park, Freedom Park, Historic Fourth Ward Park, and more
• Citywide trails and bike routes – Including greenways, shared-use paths, and bike lanes

These maps may be:

• Posted on signs and kiosks at trailheads and park entrances
• Available from the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation

📍 Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation (administrative office):
233 Peachtree St NE, Suite 1600, Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 546-6813

7. Cycling Maps of Atlanta

Metro Atlanta’s bike network is growing, and bicycle-specific maps help riders avoid unsafe roads and find better routes.

Cycling maps typically show:

• Dedicated bike lanes and cycle tracks
• Shared lane markings (sharrows)
• Multi-use trails like the BeltLine and PATH trails
• Connections between neighborhoods and major destinations

These maps are helpful if:

• You’re commuting by bike between areas like Midtown, Downtown, and the Eastside
• You’re planning recreational rides on weekends
• You want to know where biking is most comfortable or beginner-friendly

Local advocacy organizations and public works departments often provide these maps as printable PDFs or brochures.

8. Zoning, Property, and Official City Maps

For more technical needs—like buying property, building, or researching land use—you’ll want official city and county maps.

Common official map types for Atlanta residents:

• Zoning maps – Show how land is classified (residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use)
• Parcel and property maps – Show individual property boundaries and parcel IDs
• Council district and neighborhood planning maps – Show which City Council district, Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU), or county commission district a property belongs to
• Floodplain and environmental maps – Useful for building or renovation planning

Key public offices:

📍 City of Atlanta – Department of City Planning
55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Main Phone: (404) 330-6150

📍 Fulton County Government Center (for property and tax maps – areas of Atlanta in Fulton County)
141 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Main Phone: (404) 612-4000

📍 DeKalb County Government – for the parts of Atlanta located in DeKalb County
1300 Commerce Dr, Decatur, GA 30030
Main Phone: (404) 371-2000

Quick Reference: Which Atlanta Map Do You Need?

Practical Tips for Using Maps in Atlanta

• Combine multiple map types. For example, use a MARTA map + walking map or a driving map + BeltLine trail map for more flexible routes.
• Pay attention to “inside vs. outside the Perimeter.” Many services, neighborhoods, and commute times are described relative to I‑285.
• Use landmarks as anchors. Many locals navigate by reference to Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, the airport, and the Perimeter rather than exact addresses alone.
• Check hours and access. Trails, parks, and some public buildings have specific hours; a map won’t always show that.
• Keep at least one offline option. Power outages, dead phone batteries, or poor reception (especially in some parking decks or older buildings) make a paper or downloaded map valuable.

Where to Go in Person for Maps and Local Guidance

If you prefer to talk to someone or pick up physical materials, these Atlanta locations are good starting points:

• Visitor Information Desks – Often located in major hotels, the airport, and large attractions
• Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
  233 Peachtree St NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30303 | (404) 521-6600
• MARTA Stations – Especially Airport, Five Points, Peachtree Center, Midtown, Lindbergh Center for transit maps
• City of Atlanta – Department of City Planning
  55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 | (404) 330-6150
• County Government Offices (Fulton and DeKalb) for property and zoning maps
• Parks and BeltLine Trailheads – Many have posted maps and information boards

With the right map of Atlanta, GA—matched to what you’re trying to do—you can move around the city more confidently, whether you’re commuting, exploring, house-hunting, or just getting to know how Atlanta fits together.