I have been to Atlanta a few times with my family – though most of the times I have been visiting friends who were able to pick me up from ATL airport in a car. However, recently I was in Atlanta for a conference that was in Downtown Atlanta, so I started exploring the best way to get from ATL airport to Downtown Atlanta. Since Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a decent bit away from the main areas of Atlanta, we did a bit of research to help find the best way from ATL Airport to Atlanta. So I thought I would share with you some of my information to help you figure out the best way to get from ATL to Downtown Atlanta.
If you need to make it a roundtrip, make sure to check out my guide to the best and cheapest way from Atlanta to ATL airport
Getting from ATL airport to Downtown Atlanta by taxi
You can surely take a taxi from Hartsfield-Jackson airport to Atlanta but it will be fairly expensive. As of 2023, a taxi ride from ATL to Atlanta, trips downtown will increase to $36, trips to Midtown will increase to $38 and trips to Buckhead will increase to $48.
If you do want to take a taxi from ATL Airport to Atlanta, you’re likely to save money by using a service like Carmel Limo — plus you can save $4 off using this link.
And obviously you will be in a car, so subject to Atlanta traffic, especially if you’re traveling in rush hour (which seems like every hour!)
ATL airport to Downtown Atlanta by Uber or Lyft
Uber has an estimated price of $25-$50 to get from ATL to Downtown Atlanta, Midtown or Buckhead, though obviously that depends on your destination in Atlanta and probably time of day (how long it takes)
Lyft is similarly priced from Atlanta airport to Atlanta though both Uber and Lyft often are running promotions so be sure to check with them before you go
[The time my Lyft driver went the wrong way down a one-way street]
If you do sign up for Uber or Lyft, signing up through my referral code you may get up to $10 off on your first ride.
The cheapest and best way to get from ATL airport to Atlanta
While taxi, Uber, bus and even other ride share services or limos are all options to get from ATL airport to Downtown Atlanta, in my opinion, the absolute best way to get from ATL airport to Atlanta is by subway. In the comments below, someone pointed out that they personally did not feel super safe on MARTA, especially as a single woman or with kids, so you’ll have to decide on your own level of safety there. I road the MARTA twice and didn’t feel unsafe, but both times were in the middle of day and without kids.
The MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) has a fairly robust train and subway network, and both the Red and Gold lines connect ATL airport to Downtown. Depending on where you’re headed in Metro Atlanta, you may be have to connect to another line.
A one-way ticket on MARTA costs $2.50, though if you want a physical card, it’s an additional $1.
Step by step instructions for taking MARTA from ATL to Downtown Atlanta
After you exit the secure area of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, follow the signs for Ground Transportation and the MARTA train station.
A little ways later, you’ll see a sign for the actual MARTA train station
It’s here that you can purchase a ticket and a physical MARTA card. Another option is to use the Breeze MARTA mobile app, which is what I did. It was quite easy to create an account and load money to your account. I loaded $2.50 to my account, which showed up right away. It also then gives you a QR code which you can scan to enter the part of the station where the trains are.
You’ll pass through the turnstiles and then go up an escalator. Because the ATL airport MARTA station is the end of both the red and gold lines, the trains at the airport station only go one way (north). There are signs overhead to let you know which train will depart first. If you’re headed downtown, you can take either the red or gold line.
Depending on where exactly you need to go, it should take around 20 minutes to get from ATL to downtown Atlanta. That’s about how long it took me to get to the Peachtree Center station, which is one station north of the central Five Points station.
I hope this guide has helped you travel from ATL airport to Downtown Atlanta – if you need to make it a roundtrip, make sure to check out my guide to the best and cheapest way from Atlanta to ATL airport
What are your tips for the cheapest and best way from ATL Airport to Atlanta?
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
MARTA is simply not safe. At the very best you will get loud rap music played by other patron’s phone, smell of urine in staircases/elevators and the occasional mentally disturbed passenger. And that is a good ride. Don’t take MARTA as a single female or when travelling with children. It is just not worth the risk. I moved to ATL in 1989, so I have taken my fair share of rides