Airport Travel Guide
Start with the hotel’s full address. “Downtown Atlanta” covers more than one station and several event venues. A cheap ride to the wrong end of downtown can leave you with another journey and your bags.
Transport information checked September 24, 2026. The public fares below belong to the named services, not ATL Limo.
What does each option cost?
| Option | Fare or price basis | Best reason to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| MARTA rail | $2.50 standard one-way fare per person; a new Breeze card or paper ticket costs extra | Your destination is near a station and you can manage your bags |
| Taxi to the downtown flat-rate zone | ATL lists $37.50 for one person, including the airport surcharge, plus $2 per extra person; confirm any applicable fuel surcharge | You want a direct trip without using a ride app |
| Rideshare | Check the app for your exact address, vehicle and pickup time | You want to compare an available ride and price after arrival |
| Prebooked private car | A quote for your trip and vehicle | You want the vehicle and airport meeting arrangement agreed before travel |
Sources: MARTA’s fare announcement, ATL’s taxi information and Uber’s ATL pickup guide.
Taking MARTA from the airport
The Airport MARTA station is inside the Domestic Terminal, between the North and South baggage claim areas at the west end. After collecting your bags, follow the MARTA signs.
Take a northbound train toward the city. The Red and Gold lines serve the airport. Choose your downtown stop before boarding; Five Points and Peachtree Center are different stops, and the closest one depends on your destination. Use MARTA’s trip planner with the hotel address.
You can now pay at the gate with a contactless bank card or a supported phone wallet. You do not have to buy a Breeze card for that payment method. If you prefer a physical Breeze card, MARTA lists a $2 purchase fee; a paper ticket costs $1 in addition to the fare. See its current payment choices.
Each person needs their own payment method or ticket. One bank card cannot be passed back for a whole group. Use the same card or device when entering and leaving; a physical bank card and its phone-wallet version count as different payment methods. MARTA explains this in its Breeze FAQs.
Arriving at the International Terminal?
After you exit into the public arrivals area, take the free terminal shuttle to Domestic for MARTA. MARTA’s airport guide lists about 15 minutes of travel between terminals. Allow additional time for the shuttle to arrive and for the walk to the station.
Do not compare that journey with a car pickup using only the train’s time between stations. Your total trip also includes the terminal connection and the walk from your downtown stop.
Taking a taxi or rideshare
At Domestic, taxis use Aisle A of the Ground Transportation Center. At International, the airport lists taxis outside door A1 on the arrivals level. For a taxi, give the attendant your exact address and confirm whether it falls inside the downtown flat-rate zone.
Ask for the total before departure. The airport’s published amount includes its $1.50 airport surcharge; it also lists additional-passenger charges and conditions for fuel surcharges. A hotel described as “Atlanta” is not necessarily inside the downtown zone.
For rideshare, use the pickup directions in the app. Uber currently directs Domestic passengers toward the North Economy pickup area. International arrivals use a separate pickup area. After you are matched, check the app again for the exact location and vehicle details.
Compare the price for the vehicle you actually need. A smaller ride’s price is not useful if your group and luggage need a larger vehicle. You can use our airport vehicle and luggage guide to understand the questions that affect fit.
Which downtown stop should you use?
For a hotel, enter its full street address into the transit planner and check the walk from the suggested station. A hotel name alone can be misleading when a brand has several Atlanta properties. Check the walking route with luggage, especially if you need elevators or want to avoid steps.
For the Georgia World Congress Center, find the building letter on your event registration. The venue’s official directions recommend SEC District station for Buildings A and B; Building C can be reached from SEC District or Vine City. These are different from the Peachtree Center stop used for many downtown destinations.
The venue also lists different road pickup areas: Andrew Young International Boulevard for Buildings A and B, and its Bus Lane C rideshare area on Northside Drive for Building C. Give the building and event entrance to your transport provider so the trip ends where you need it to.
How long should you allow?
ATL describes the airport as roughly 20 minutes south of downtown in normal traffic. That is a useful driving reference, not a promise that you will reach your hotel 20 minutes after landing. See ATL’s official directions.
For a car, add baggage collection, the walk to the pickup point, and any wait for the vehicle. For MARTA, add the wait for a train and the walk at the downtown end. International arrivals may also need the terminal shuttle.
If you have an appointment soon after landing, use the time you must be inside the building. A flight’s arrival time is not a reliable meeting time. For late arrivals, check the last useful train for your date instead of assuming the airport’s rail service runs all night.
When a private airport car makes sense
A private car is worth comparing when several people want to travel together, your hotel is awkward to reach with bags, or you are arranging the pickup for a client or family member.
With ATL Limo’s airport car service, you can request transport to your hotel or event address and agree on the airport meeting arrangement. For detailed Domestic and International pickup guidance, read where to meet your prebooked chauffeur at ATL.
If your plans include only a downtown stay, compare this with renting a car for the whole visit. A rental may be useful for trips beyond the city, but the rental charge is only part of its cost: include the hotel parking rate and any paid parking at your destinations.
Request a private ride to downtown
Send your flight, hotel address, passenger count and bags for a trip quote.
