Long-Distance Travel Guide
Then check where you will arrive in Athens. A stop called “UGA” may still leave you some distance from your hotel, residence hall or campus tour.
Fares and transport information checked September 24, 2026. Third-party prices are not ATL Limo rates or guaranteed prices for your date.
Compare the main ways to reach Athens
| Option | What you pay for | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| Intercity bus | A seat; Greyhound advertises this route from $14.98 | The departure stop and trip time shown on your selected ticket |
| Groome airport shuttle | A seat; advertised adult fares start at $55, with date-dependent pricing and a $2-per-person fuel surcharge | Your Athens stop and final checkout total |
| Rental car | The rental period, fuel, parking and any one-way return charge | Whether you need a car after reaching Athens |
| Private car | A quote for your pickup, destination, vehicle and return needs | Whether the quote covers one way, a return, or waiting in Athens |
Check live tickets at Greyhound and Groome. A low advertised fare does not mean that fare is available on every departure.
Taking the airport shuttle from ATL
Groome lists Athens stops including its office at 3190 Atlanta Highway, the UGA Georgia Center, and the Classic Center. Select the stop near your destination when booking; do not choose “Athens” without checking the address.
For example, Groome’s 5:20 a.m. ATL departure is scheduled to reach its Athens office at 7:10 a.m. and the Georgia Center at 7:35 a.m. That is 1 hour 50 minutes versus 2 hours 15 minutes, plus any onward travel. Actual times depend on traffic.
Groome’s Athens route page directs airport passengers to Domestic Ground Transportation spaces B9–B10. Its Athens FAQ says arriving passengers cannot be collected at the International Terminal. After clearing arrivals there, use the free terminal shuttle to Domestic and leave enough time to reach the pickup area.
Will the shuttle take you to a house or any UGA building?
Groome’s FAQ says it does not offer residential pickups. Its regular route lists the Georgia Center as its UGA stop, not every building on campus. If your destination is a home, another hotel or a different campus building, plan the final part of the trip before buying the ticket.
UGA students: check the holiday shuttle subsidy
UGA’s Airport Shuttle Initiative helps eligible out-of-state students pay for Groome trips to and from ATL during breaks. The listed service periods are November 20–30 and December 4–12, 2026, plus January 6–11, 2027. Start with the MyID eligibility check linked on UGA’s page before booking; eligible students then reach the program’s pricing and booking page. UGA says reservations must be made at least 24 hours ahead.
The program lists two campus stops: the Georgia Center and the River Road Bus Turnout, between East Campus Parking Deck and Busbee Hall. Choose the stop in your program booking and arrange the trip there from your residence. Do not assume the regular route’s Georgia Center times also apply to River Road.
Holiday-program details checked November 3, 2026 (PKT). Recheck UGA’s dates and eligibility before booking.
On home football days and certain university events, stops can be restricted. Groome advises using its main office when campus access is affected. Also check its missed-shuttle policy if you are connecting after a flight; a reservation does not make the shuttle wait for a delayed arrival.
Taking an intercity bus from Atlanta
Greyhound sells Atlanta–Athens journeys with Greyhound and FlixBus options. Its route page lists trips from $14.98 and a fastest advertised journey of 1 hour 25 minutes. Those figures describe the bus trip between stops, not the full journey from an airport gate or your hotel.
The listed Athens stop is Athens Transit Center, 775 East Broad Street, with boarding on Hickory Street beside the center. It is not the UGA Visitors Center.
Select a departure first, then read the stop printed on the ticket. The route page lists several Atlanta locations, but that does not mean every departure calls at each one. Add the cost and time of reaching that stop before comparing the bus with a pickup from your hotel.
For a day trip, check the return bus at the same time. An inexpensive outbound ticket is less useful if the last return leaves before your event finishes.
Driving yourself or booking a private car
Renting can make sense if you want your own vehicle for several days or plan to visit places beyond your Athens hotel. Compare the whole rental cost, including parking at the hotel or campus. If you will leave the car in Athens rather than drive it back, check whether that return location is offered and whether a one-way charge applies.
A private car suits a different need: an agreed pickup point and a direct trip to your destination without driving. It can be useful for a family visiting UGA, a business appointment, or a group whose bags would make several transport changes difficult. For a longer Georgia route, compare the options in our Atlanta-to-Savannah transportation guide.
Our long-distance car service and Atlanta black car service are options to discuss for this journey. Give us the actual Atlanta pickup and Athens address so we can quote the trip you need.
The ATL Limo fleet lists sedans for up to three passengers, SUVs for up to six and a Mercedes Sprinter for up to fourteen. Seating limits do not establish how every suitcase will fit. Include large bags, strollers or equipment when requesting a vehicle.
For driving conditions, check Georgia 511 before departure. Do not use the travel time from an airport shuttle schedule or an intercity bus as a private-car driving estimate: the starting points and stops differ.
Getting to the right place at UGA
Two similar-sounding destinations can cause a missed connection:
- UGA Visitors Center: Four Towers Building, 405 College Station Road. Use the location in your tour confirmation. The official visitor page also lists closures on Sundays, university holidays and home football Saturdays.
- UGA Georgia Center: 1197 South Lumpkin Street. This is Groome’s campus shuttle stop. Its pickup side changes by time of day, so follow the current instructions on your shuttle booking.
Arriving at the Georgia Center does not put you at the Visitors Center. If you have a tour appointment, arrange the onward ride or choose transport that reaches the confirmed tour location.
For an event elsewhere on campus, use the building name and entrance in your event information. A stadium, residence hall and visitor center should not share one generic “UGA” destination.
Getting around Athens after arrival
You may not need to rent a car for the whole stay. Athens-Clarke County Transit is fare-free. Its information center is at the Multimodal Transit Center on East Broad Street, and its official guidance points riders to live bus tracking and route planning.
Check whether a route serves your hotel and destination at the time you need it. Free local transport can help with a daytime visit, but do not assume the same route runs when a late event ends. If the bus does not suit the trip, include an onward car ride in your budget.
Arrange the return before the day fills up
For an airport return, choose a departure that reaches ATL with enough time for your airline’s check-in requirements. A shuttle’s scheduled airport arrival is not your flight’s departure time.
For a private trip, ask whether the quote is for two separate transfers or includes the vehicle waiting in Athens. If you will visit campus, have dinner and then leave, those plans should be priced together. Our guide to hourly service and separate transfers explains the difference.
Attending the Georgia Transportation Summit on November 18–19?
The 2026 Georgia Transportation Summit now spans two days at The Classic Center, 300 North Thomas Street, Athens. Tickets cover Wednesday, Thursday or both days. Check your chosen sessions before booking the ride, and tell the provider whether you will stay overnight or return to Atlanta each day.
If you also attend the ASHE evening event on November 18, its announced hours are 7–11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at Live Wire Athens, 227 West Dougherty Street. Check its separate registration before adding it to the trip. Arrange the evening pickup at that venue, rather than reusing The Classic Center address. Include a hotel stop if you need to collect bags before the final ride home.
Summit details checked October 28, 2026. Recheck the organizers’ schedules before travel.
Request a private Atlanta-to-Athens ride
Send your date, addresses, passengers, bags and return plans for a trip quote.
