Outlet Shopping in Atlanta: Where to Find the Best Deals Around the City

When people search for “Outlet Atlanta,” they’re usually looking for places in or near the city where they can score big discounts on brand-name clothing, shoes, home goods, and more. Atlanta doesn’t have a large outlet mall right in the downtown core, but metro Atlanta is surrounded by several well-known outlet centers, plus smaller outlet-style stores and discount hubs inside the city.

This guide walks through the main outlet options for Atlanta residents and visitors, how far they are from key neighborhoods, and what to know before you go.

The Closest Major Outlet Malls to Atlanta

1. Tanger Outlets Locust Grove (South of Atlanta)

Best for: Shoppers on the south side, travelers heading toward Macon or Florida

• Location: 1000 Tanger Dr, Locust Grove, GA 30248
• Approx. drive from Downtown Atlanta: 35–45 minutes (traffic-dependent)

This is one of the most popular outlet options for people living on the south side of Atlanta, including College Park, East Point, Union City, and Stockbridge. You’ll generally find:

• National clothing brands
• Athletic shoe and sportswear outlets
• Accessories, handbags, and jewelry
• Home goods and specialty shops

Parking is usually free and plentiful, and the layout is typical of a modern outlet center with multiple open-air buildings. If you’re coming from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Locust Grove is often the most straightforward outlet stop heading south.

2. Tanger Outlets Commerce (Northeast of Atlanta)

Best for: Shoppers on the north and northeast side, travelers going toward Athens or Greenville

• Location: 800 Steven B Tanger Blvd, Commerce, GA 30529
• Approx. drive from Midtown Atlanta: 1 hour–1 hour 20 minutes

For many people in Gwinnett, DeKalb, and northeast metro suburbs, the Commerce outlets are a familiar weekend shopping trip. You’ll see many of the same big-name brands as Locust Grove, plus seasonal pop-up shops and rotating specials.

Because this outlet is close to I-85, it’s common for people to combine a trip to Commerce with:

• A visit to Athens, GA
• A drive toward the South Carolina border
• A day outing from northeast Atlanta suburbs like Duluth, Lawrenceville, or Buford

3. North Georgia Premium Outlets (Dawsonville)

Best for: Shoppers in north metro Atlanta and outlet “power shoppers”

• Location: 800 GA-400 S, Dawsonville, GA 30534
• Approx. drive from Buckhead: About 1 hour

Located off GA-400, North Georgia Premium Outlets is a large, upscale-leaning outlet center that’s popular with people from Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cumming, and Buckhead. It tends to feature:

• Designer and higher-end brands
• Well-known fashion retailers
• Shoe and athletic wear outlets
• Children’s and family-focused brands

Because of its size and mix of stores, some Atlanta shoppers treat it as a full-day trip, often combining it with a drive into the North Georgia mountains.

4. Calhoun Outlet Marketplace (Northwest of Atlanta)

Best for: Northwest metro residents and travelers heading toward Chattanooga

• Location: 455 Belwood Rd, Calhoun, GA 30701
• Approx. drive from Downtown Atlanta: About 1 hour

On the I‑75 corridor, Calhoun Outlet Marketplace serves shoppers from Kennesaw, Acworth, Cartersville, and the northwest side of metro Atlanta. It is generally smaller than Dawsonville or Tanger Commerce but still offers:

• Apparel and shoe outlets
• Casual and family clothing brands
• Seasonal deals for travelers passing through

At-a-Glance: Major Outlet Centers Near Atlanta

Outlet-Style Shopping Inside Atlanta

You won’t find a full-scale open-air outlet mall in the heart of Atlanta, but there are outlet-type and discount shopping options within city limits.

Discount & Clearance Sections in Major Malls

Some Atlanta malls and shopping centers feature large clearance sections or off-price retailers that feel similar to outlets:

• Lenox Square (Buckhead) – While primarily full-price, several national chains have permanent sale and clearance areas for end-of-season items.
• Phipps Plaza (Buckhead) – High-end brands occasionally run deeper seasonal discounts, which some shoppers treat like a “mini outlet” experience for designer items.
• Perimeter Mall (Dunwoody) – On the northern edge of I‑285, this mall often has discount fashion and home stores that offer outlet-like pricing.

These aren’t true outlets, but if you live ITP (inside the Perimeter) and don’t want to drive an hour, they can be useful alternatives.

Standalone Outlet & Off-Price Retailers

Across metro Atlanta, you’ll find individual outlet-format stores and off-price chains clustered in shopping centers. Common examples include:

• Apparel and shoe discounters
• Home goods and décor clearance stores
• Athletic brand factory stores in select plazas

Many of these are located along major commercial corridors like:

• Cobb Parkway (US‑41) in Cobb County
• Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Gwinnett
• Camp Creek Parkway on the southwest side
• Mall of Georgia area in Buford (not strictly outlets, but heavy on discount and clearance retail)

If your goal is simply “outlet-level prices” rather than a traditional outlet mall experience, these in-town and near-town stores can be much more convenient than driving to Dawsonville or Commerce.

Planning an Outlet Trip from Atlanta

How to Choose Which Outlet to Visit

When deciding where to go from Atlanta, consider:

1. Your starting point in the city or suburbs

   • South side or airport area → Tanger Locust Grove
   • Northeast metro or heading toward Athens → Tanger Commerce
   • North Fulton or looking for designer brands → North Georgia Premium Outlets
   • Northwest metro or driving toward Chattanooga → Calhoun Outlet Marketplace

2. Your shopping priorities

   • Designer or higher-end labels → Dawsonville is often the top pick.
   • Family clothing and shoes at lower prices → Tanger (Locust Grove or Commerce) is a common choice.
   • Quick stop on a road trip → Calhoun or Locust Grove along I‑75, or Commerce along I‑85.

3. Traffic and time of day

   • Leaving Atlanta on weekday evenings can mean heavy traffic on I‑75, I‑85, and GA‑400.
   • Many shoppers prefer early weekend mornings to avoid congestion and get better parking.

Transportation Tips from Atlanta

• 🚗 Driving: The most practical way to reach all major outlet malls from Atlanta. Each center is directly off a major interstate or state highway.
• 🚌 Buses & shuttles: Dedicated outlet shuttles are not commonly run by the city. Some private tour or charter companies may offer group trips to outlets, but these are typically arranged independently.
• 🚕 Rideshare: In theory you can use rideshare from Atlanta, but the round trip cost can be high, especially to Dawsonville or Commerce. Most people only use rideshare if they don’t have a car and are traveling with others to split the fare.

When to Go for the Best Deals

While sale timing varies by brand, many Atlanta outlet shoppers watch for:

• Holiday weekends – Especially around Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the winter holidays.
• End-of-season transitions – Late January–February for winter markdowns, August–September for summer clearance.
• Early mornings – Less crowded, easier to navigate, and inventories are usually freshly stocked.

If you live in Atlanta, some people prefer short, targeted trips rather than wandering all day:

1. Check which stores you want to visit in advance.
2. Make a list of size, color, and style needs (especially for kids or sports gear).
3. Set a budget so outlet “deals” don’t turn into overspending.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Shoppers

• Watch the weather. Most outlet centers near Atlanta are open-air, so July heat or January cold can matter.
• Compare to in-town sales. Sometimes regular malls or big-box stores in Atlanta run promotions that rival outlet pricing, especially during major sales.
• Factor in gas and time. If you only need one small item, the drive from Midtown to Dawsonville and back may not be worth it compared to shopping closer to home.
• Check hours before going. Hours can shift seasonally, especially around major holidays.

Is There an “Outlet Atlanta” Mall in the City?

There is no single outlet mall officially called “Outlet Atlanta” located inside the city of Atlanta itself. When people say “outlets near Atlanta” or “Atlanta outlets,” they’re almost always referring to:

• Tanger Outlets Locust Grove
• Tanger Outlets Commerce
• North Georgia Premium Outlets (Dawsonville)
• Calhoun Outlet Marketplace

For Atlanta residents or visitors staying in town, it’s worth deciding whether a 30–60+ minute drive for traditional outlets fits your schedule, or whether in-city discount stores, clearance sales, and major malls are a better fit.

By understanding how outlet shopping is laid out around Atlanta—north, northeast, south, and northwest—you can choose the center that best fits where you are, how far you want to drive, and what kind of deals you’re after.