Getting Around Atlanta
here are many forms of transportation in Atlanta. In addition, you can also explore on foot, expecially areas within Midtown, Downtown, Decatur and Virginia-Highland. If traveling outside of those areas, renting a car is recommended.
Getting around by mass transit
Atlanta is served by MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), +1 404-848-4711, [web], which operates both rapid rail and bus networks in the city of Atlanta and the counties of Fulton and Dekalb.
For out-of-town visitors, MARTA is a convenient way to travel from the airport to all stations on its network. Those who need to travel alone at night, however, may be better served by taking taxis, hotel buses, or renting a car, as the system often becomes empty or rowdy at nighttime, and those who do not know the city may feel unsafe. Most destination stations have taxi service available for local trips.
The rail network comprises two principal lines making up a cross. One line runs north-south across the city, while the other runs east-west. The north-south line runs from a southern terminus at Hartsfield-Jackson airport through downtown and midtown Atlanta, before splitting into two branches running north, one which terminates in north metro Atlanta at the North Springs station and the other which terminates at the Doraville station. The east-west line runs from an western terminal at Hamilton E. Holmes to an eastern terminal at Indian Creek. The Five Points station in downtown Atlanta is the only station where passengers may change trains between the north-south and east-west lines. Trains run from 5 a.m. until 1 a.m. Monday-Friday, and from 5 a.m. until 12:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays. Trains run on all lines every 10 minutes during peak periods, reducing to every 20 minutes on Sundays.
The bus network comprises over one hundred different bus routes, with many routes operating approximately every 20 minutes. Bus service on some lines (generally including the most popular tourist areas) runs from 5 a.m. until 1:30 a.m. Monday-Friday and from 5 a.m. until 1 a.m. on the weekends and holidays.
A single ride on MARTA costs $1.75. The fare includes transfers. Single use Breeze Cards are sold in vending machines at all rail stations or at RideStores at Airport and Five Points stations. When starting the journey by bus, swipe the card at the fare post next to the driver. When starting the journey by train, swipe the car at the fare gate, your now cash depleted card will act as your transfer. When transferring to a bus, give the operator your breeze card. When transferring to a train, swipe the transfer ticket through the reader on the turnstile.
Note for Weekend Travel: MARTA has a tendency to run slower on the weekends. Typical wait times are 30 minutes for trains and up to an hour for buses. Be sure to accommodate for this.
By taxi
It is usually possible to flag taxicabs down near tourist attractions and in Midtown and Downtown. However, calling ahead is recommended. The following are 24-Hour Taxicab Services:
- Checker Cab, +1 404-351-1111, [web]
- Atlanta Lenox Taxi, +1 404-872-2600, [web]
- Atlanta Yellow Cab, +1 404-521-0200
- Buckhead Safety Cab, +1 404-233-1152
- Decatur Best Taxi Services, +1 404-289-6603
Flat rates to and from the airport are listed on Hartfield-Jackson International Airport's website.
By Car
If MARTA Rail does not service all the areas you need, cars are the most popular form of transport in order to get around the sprawling city to experience Atlanta's various unique neighborhoods, and renting a car is recommended. Rush hour runs almost continuously but peaks 6-10am and 3-7pm on weekdays and often results in congestion when traveling intown in the mornings and outbound in the afternoons. Downtown/Midtown and major shopping districts such as Buckhead will also get crowded on weekends. Most restaurants and shops in the area offer complimentary or low-cost valet services ($1-3 tip expected) and on the rare occasion where parking is scarce, public lots are usually nearby for a fee. Free road maps are available at here.
Information on this page may be printed out for your use when you visit Atlanta.
Wikitravel is attributed as one of the sources for the content of this page, which is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0. Terms of Use
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