Atlanta Extended Stay: How to Find the Right Long-Term Lodging in the City

Looking for an extended stay in Atlanta—for work, relocation, medical treatment, or a long visit—can feel very different from booking a quick weekend at a hotel. Atlanta’s size, traffic, and mix of neighborhoods make your location and setup especially important.

This guide walks through how extended stays work in Atlanta, where to look, what neighborhoods to consider, and how to compare options based on your budget, commute, and lifestyle.

What “Extended Stay” Means in Atlanta

In Atlanta, extended stay usually refers to:

• Extended-stay hotels with weekly or monthly rates
• Corporate or furnished apartments
• Short-term rentals (condos, townhomes, single-family homes) with 30+ day terms
• Medical or relocation housing near major hospitals or job hubs

You’ll see everything from budget-friendly studios near the Perimeter to luxury high-rises in Midtown with resort-style amenities. The key is deciding what matters most to you: cost, commute, neighborhood feel, or comfort/amenities.

Choosing the Right Area for an Atlanta Extended Stay

Where you stay in Atlanta heavily shapes your experience, especially with traffic and transit. Start with why you need an extended stay:

• Working downtown or at a government office?
• Doing a contract near Perimeter Center or in Buckhead?
• Receiving care at Emory, Grady, or Northside?
• Exploring the city for a possible move?

Popular Extended Stay Areas (At a Glance)

Types of Extended Stay Options in Atlanta

1. Extended-Stay Hotels

These are hotels designed for multi-week or multi-month guests, usually offering:

• Kitchenettes or full kitchens
• Weekly housekeeping
• On-site laundry
• Front desk and maintenance support

They’re common near:

• Downtown/Midtown/Buckhead corridors
• Perimeter Center (near I-285 & GA-400)
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Cumberland/Truist Park business areas

Pros:

• Flexible check-in/out
• Utilities and Wi-Fi included
• No long-term lease or credit check in many cases

Cons:

• Can cost more than a lease if staying several months
• Less space than an apartment
• More hotel-like feel, less “homey”

Extended-stay hotels can be useful if you’re:

• On a short-term work assignment
• Waiting for housing to close
• In Atlanta for short medical treatment with a flexible timeline

2. Furnished & Corporate Apartments

Furnished or corporate apartments in Atlanta are often located in:

• Midtown high-rises
• Buckhead and Sandy Springs complexes
• Perimeter Center area
• Newer mixed-use communities around BeltLine segments and Truist Park

They typically include:

• Furniture and basic kitchen supplies
• In-unit laundry (in many mid- to higher-end buildings)
• Amenities like pool, gym, business center
• Parking (often paid or bundled)

Pros:

• Feels more like home
• Better suited for 30–90+ day stays
• More space for families or roommates

Cons:

• May require a minimum stay (30 days or more)
• Application and deposit often required
• Prices can spike around major events and high-demand seasons

This setup works well if you are:

• Relocating to Atlanta and need a base while house-hunting
• On a medium-term project with a local employer
• Want to test a neighborhood before signing a full lease

3. Short-Term Apartment or Home Rentals

Many Atlanta residents and property owners lease out:

• Basement apartments
• Carriage houses
• Condos and townhomes
• Single-family homes

These are common in areas like:

• Virginia-Highland, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, Grant Park
• West Midtown and Upper Westside
• Kirkwood, East Atlanta, and surrounding neighborhoods

What to know:

• For stays over 30 days, you’re usually entering a short-term lease, not just a casual booking.
• Expect lease documents, deposits, and possibly background checks.
• Utility arrangements vary—some are included, others are billed separately.

This option works well if you:

• Want a neighborhood feel and walkability to BeltLine, coffee shops, and parks
• Are working remotely and want more space or a yard
• Are traveling with family or pets and need a full home setup

4. Medical & Treatment-Related Extended Stays

Atlanta is a major medical hub, including:

• Emory University Hospital (1364 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322)
• Emory Midtown / Emory University Hospital Midtown (550 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308)
• Grady Memorial Hospital (80 Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30303)
• Northside Hospital Atlanta (1000 Johnson Ferry Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342)
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta campuses (Egleston, Scottish Rite, Hughes Spalding)

Some families and patients look for extended stay near hospitals. Atlanta offers:

• Nearby extended-stay hotels giving special medical-related rates
• Furnished apartments near Emory, Midtown, or Perimeter
• Nonprofit housing options (for qualifying patients and families)

If you’re coming for medical reasons:

• Ask the hospital’s social work or patient services department for housing resources.
• Consider traffic patterns; a short distance can still take time during rush hour.
• Prioritize elevator access, parking convenience, and quiet if recovery is involved.

Cost Expectations for Atlanta Extended Stay

Atlanta’s prices vary widely by area and season. In general:

• Budget extended-stay hotels: More common around airport, fringe suburbs, or older commercial areas. Lower nightly cost, fewer amenities, sometimes older buildings.
• Mid-range extended stays: Clustered around Perimeter Center, Cumberland, parts of Buckhead and Midtown outskirts. Decent amenities, practical locations.
• High-end extended stays/furnished apartments: Most common in Midtown, central Buckhead, and newer mixed-use developments (like near Ponce City Market or The Battery/Truist Park).

To manage costs:

• Look at monthly or 30+ day rates rather than nightly prices.
• Ask about parking fees, pet fees, cleaning fees, and taxes on longer stays.
• Check whether utilities and Wi-Fi are fully included.

Transportation Considerations: Getting Around from Your Extended Stay

Atlanta’s mix of highways and limited rail means your transportation plan should heavily influence where you stay.

MARTA Rail & Bus Access

If you prefer not to drive, staying near a MARTA rail station can make life easier.

Key rail-adjacent areas for extended stays:

• Downtown (Peachtree Center, Five Points, GWCC/CNN Center stations)
• Midtown (Midtown, Arts Center, North Avenue stations)
• Buckhead corridor (Buckhead, Lenox, Lindbergh Center stations)
• Perimeter Center (Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Medical Center stations)
• Airport area (Airport station directly inside Hartsfield-Jackson)

Bus routes extend to residential neighborhoods, but many Atlanta locals find rail more predictable for daily commutes.

Driving & Traffic

Atlanta traffic is highly time-dependent. Rush hours on I-85, I-75, I-20, and I-285, plus GA-400, can significantly extend commute times.

When choosing your extended stay:

• Check your daily commute route during typical rush hour times using a map app.
• Consider staying on the same side of town as your main destination to avoid cross-city drives.
• Verify parking availability and cost at your extended stay location.

Key Factors to Compare for an Atlanta Extended Stay

When evaluating options, focus on these core points:

1. Length of Stay & Flexibility

• Are you staying a few weeks, a couple of months, or longer?
• Do you need the flexibility to leave early if plans change?
• Does the property have a minimum stay requirement (especially for apartments)?

Extended-stay hotels typically offer more flexible departures, while apartments may have stricter terms.

2. Location vs. Budget

Often in Atlanta, you trade commute time for savings:

• Closer to Midtown/Downtown/Buckhead = usually higher price, lower commute time
• Further into suburbs or outer Perimeter = often lower price, more driving

Think about what matters more:

• Saving money each month, or
• Avoiding long daily drives in Atlanta traffic

3. Amenities & Daily Living Needs

Consider what you truly need:

• Kitchen: Full kitchen vs. kitchenette vs. no kitchen
• Laundry: In-unit, on-site, or off-site
• Workspace: Desk, good lighting, quiet environment
• Fitness and recreation: Gym, pool, nearby parks or the BeltLine
• Pet-friendliness: Pet fees, pet areas, nearby vets and parks

In Atlanta’s hot summers, air conditioning quality and parking convenience can make a big difference in comfort.

4. Safety & Surroundings

Atlanta has block-by-block variation in feel and safety. To evaluate:

• Visit (or view) the area at different times of day if possible
• Look for lighting, foot traffic, and building security measures
• Check proximity to grocery stores, pharmacies, and basic services

Neighborhoods like Midtown, parts of Buckhead, and many BeltLine-adjacent areas offer a mix of walkability and amenities, but may be priced higher.

5. Accessibility to Essential Services

During an extended stay, you’ll want easy access to:

• Groceries (Kroger, Publix, smaller markets, or specialty stores)
• Pharmacies (often found in big-box or grocery stores)
• Urgent care or medical facilities, especially if you have health needs
• Bank branches and mailing/shipping locations

Check what’s within a 5–10 minute drive or a short walk of your potential stay.

Practical Steps to Finding an Extended Stay in Atlanta

1. Define your primary destination

   • Workplace, hospital, school, or main daily stop
   • Draw a 10–30 minute commute radius from that point

2. Pick 2–3 target areas within that radius

   • Example: Working in Midtown? Compare Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Buckhead
   • Working near Perimeter? Compare Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven

3. Decide your preferred housing type

   • Extended-stay hotel vs. furnished apartment vs. full home rental

4. Make a checklist of must-haves

   • Parking, kitchen, laundry, pet policy, Wi-Fi, workspace, budget ceiling

5. Contact potential properties directly

   • Ask about monthly pricing, fees, deposits, and minimum stays
   • Confirm what’s included (utilities, housekeeping, parking, Wi-Fi)

6. Verify commute and surroundings

   • Use map tools to estimate commute at the times you’ll actually travel
   • Look at street views or visit in person to get a feel for the block

Special Considerations for Different Situations

For Business Travelers & Contractors

If you’re on a project-based assignment in Atlanta:

• Prioritize proximity to your client site or office (traffic adds up daily).
• Look for reliable Wi-Fi, quiet spaces, and a desk setup.
• If you’ll be flying frequently, consider Airport area + MARTA access.

For Families & Longer Relocations

If you’re relocating to Atlanta:

• Consider school districts if children are involved (Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties all include parts of metro Atlanta).
• Look for parks, playgrounds, and supermarkets nearby.
• A short-term furnished apartment or home can help you explore neighborhoods before signing a long-term lease or buying.

For Students & Academic Visitors

If your stay is tied to a college or research center:

• For Georgia Tech or Georgia State, Midtown and Downtown are most convenient.
• For Emory University, look around Druid Hills, Decatur, Virginia-Highland, or North Druid Hills.
• Check if your department or hosting institution has recommended housing partners or guest housing options.

Using Atlanta’s Public and Official Resources

While extended-stay bookings are usually handled directly with hotels, landlords, or management companies, a few official or public resources can help you understand the city:

• City of Atlanta Government

  • 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Useful for understanding zoning, neighborhood planning, and city services.

• Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • 233 Peachtree St NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • Can provide general information about areas, events, and visitor services.

These offices won’t book housing for you, but they can help you get oriented to Atlanta’s layout and services if you’re unfamiliar with the city.

Staying in Atlanta for an extended period can be comfortable and manageable when you match your location, budget, transportation, and day-to-day needs. By focusing first on where you’ll spend most of your time—work, school, treatment, or exploration—you can narrow down the neighborhoods and extended stay options that make living in Atlanta feel practical and livable.