Atlanta Airport Parking

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) carries an incredible 100 million passengers every year; 10 million more than second-placed Beijing and 20 million more than third-placed Dubai. With almost a million aircraft movements every year, too, Atlanta Airport dominates every listing of the world's busiest airports.

Based just inside the I-285 ring road, seven miles (11 kilometers) south of central Atlanta, Georgia, the airport is the primary hub for Delta Air Lines and a focus city for low cost providers like Frontier, Southwest and Spirit. It reaches over 150 domestic locations and 70 international destinations in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Pumping $25 billion through the state economy and employing over 60,000 people on-site, the terminals house over 300 shops, restaurants and concessions amidst rotating exhibits of art and live music performances. Hartsfield-Jackson aims to be a destination, not just an airport, and has won a range of awards including the Best Airport Dining Awards (Airports Council International North America), Best Overall Concessions Program (Airport Revenue News) and Best Airport in North America (Business Traveler Magazine).

Location of Atlanta International Airport

Just 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) from Downtown Atlanta, ATL is well-connected to the city by a range of buses and trains as well as the roads network; the I-75, I-85 and I-285 all pass nearby if you drive your own vehicle there and there's a wealth of ground transport options available in the form of shuttle buses, taxis, limousines, shared-ride services and rental cars. Primarily serving the immediate Atlanta area, including Sandy Springs, Marietta, Athens, Macon and Columbus, the nearest major cities of Nashville, Charlotte and Jacksonville are all several hundred miles away.

History of ATL Airport

Established in 1925 as Candler Field as a re-developed speedway track, ATL was immediately popular and by 1930 was the third-busiest airport in the US with Delta and Eastern both setting up base there. Transatlantic flights arrived in the 60s with the introduction of jets and major expansion plans, including construction of the largest airport terminal in the country, which was superseded just over a decade later by another new terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson. Continual development eventually saw ATL claim the ‘busiest airport’ title in the mid-2000s and a range of ambitious expansion plans are already underway to expand terminals, concourses, cargo operations and airport car parking further still. There are also plans to add an on-site hotel and commercial complex as Atlanta endeavors to become an “airport-city”.

Keeping 100 million passengers happy and comfortable every year is no easy task, but Atlanta Airport prides itself on being not just an airport, but a destination. It’s packed with almost 300 concession outlets between the airport car parks and the departure gates and surrounded by striking architecture and art exhibits in over seven million square feet of terminal space, which is still expanding and soon to include a hotel and commercial complex.

Look out for the Guest Services Representatives spread throughout the airport to answer questions and provide information and directions; these ambassadors can speak a range of languages to cater to the broad international nature of travelers through Atlanta. If you have any questions you need to ask in advance about the facilities there, you can give the airport a call on (+1) 800-897-1910.

• Short term parking

• Long term parking

• Covered parking garages

• Economy parking lot

• Park and ride lot

• Cell phone lot

• Courtesy vehicle assistance

• Electric vehicle charging stations

• Hotels

• Hotel shuttles

• Shopping

  • Duty free

  • Designer fashion, jewelry and apparel

  • Cosmetics

  • Entertainment and technology

  • Books and newsstands

  • Gifts and souvenirs

• Beverages

  • Coffee shops

  • Bars

  • Juice bars

• Restaurants

  • Fast food

  • Snacks, delis and sandwiches

  • Food markets

  • Southern-style food

  • American, Italian, Mexican, Asian and European cuisine

  • Sweets and desserts

• USO and Airline lounges

• Art exhibitions

• Spa

• Smoking lounges

• Interfaith chapel

• Information desks

• Currency exchange and ATMs

• Toilets

• Disabled access

• Nursing stations

• Pet relief areas

A number of hotels within a five-mile radius of Atlanta Airport offer combined hotel and parking deals, ranging from low-cost motels to the quality chains you typically find around airports.

Deals vary from hotel to hotel, but most of the packages offer a variation of up to two weeks of completely free parking, as long as you book at least one night at the hotel. This can often work out cheaper than even economy parking if you are going on a longer trip and the hotel room can be a huge bonus if you have early departure or late arrival times.

The hotels typically include a free shuttle bus service to get you to and from the airport itself, whichever side of your trip you decide to stay.

These airport parking and hotel deals are available at Atlanta International in a range of accommodations, with some of them allowing up to 30 days of free parking, so it pays to compare a number of options with Looking4.com.

Check out the arts program

Atlanta Airport has an admired arts program that has featured huge and ambitious contemporary sculpture installations, historical photography, abstract painting and even a 30-feet (9.1-meter) tall dinosaur skeleton. Featuring commissioned site-specific pieces, rotating exhibitions and occasional performing arts exhibitions, you can find exhibits and pieces dotted throughout the various concourses and terminal atriums to keep yourself entertained whilst you wait for your flight.

Dine at One Flew South

ATL has won a number of awards for its passenger experience in terms of shopping and food. Whilst there are many great eateries that have contributed to this success, One Flew South has won various awards in its own right and is regularly featured in ‘best airport food in the world’ lists online; some even consider it to be one of the best restaurants in Atlanta. The space is simple but the cuisine is upscale and diverse, featuring international cuisine with some Southern influence in their preparation. Supported by a long cocktail and wine list, the restaurant also offers a food-to-go service, so you've got something a little better than airline food for the flight. One Flew South is in Concourse E at ATL, with some of the other stand-out restaurants including Ecco for European and Mediterranean cuisine (Concourse F), Paschal's for a real taste of Atlanta and their famous fried chicken (Concourse B) and Varasano's Pizzeria and Piano Bar for pies considered to be amongst the best in Atlanta.

Go shopping like you’re in a mall

Atlanta International's awards have been granted for their entire concessions program, so there's also an incredible range of shops at the airport that extends well beyond many other airports in the world. Although they are spread throughout several concourses, you can find most of the names you'd expect at an upmarket shopping mall: Kors, Hilfiger, Zegna, Ferragamo, Montblanc, Bvlgari, L'Occitane and a Beauty Lounge from Lancôme that’s full of high-end cosmetics and skincare products.

Pamper yourself at XpresSpa

If you've only a little time to spare and feel the need to really unwind from the stress of traveling, take advantage of one of the XpresSpas based in Concourses A and C. They offer a range of massages for anything from 20 minutes to an hour, as well as manicures, pedicures, facials and waxing. Whether it's essential de-stressing before an important business trip or adding some well-deserved pamper time to the start of a holiday, it's one of the best ways to chill out at Atlanta Hartsfield.

Unwind in an airport lounge

Whilst some airport lounges are reserved for first-class or business travellers, many of the airlines have lounges for passengers signed up to ‘frequent flier’ membership packages or similar, but they also offer a single-day membership fee so anyone can enjoy the facilities. ATL is quite unusual in that it also has its own club lounge accessible to any passengers for a lower day-rate than those of most airlines. Airline lounges offer a lot of comfort and some useful amenities compared to the main public areas, for instance, comfier and quieter lounges, better WiFi, workstations, free snacks and drinks (including house beers and wines) and many have shower facilities as well. It's a great way to get away from the crowd and, with the typical 

Georgia Aquarium

Based just a 20-minute drive from ATL in Atlanta’s city center, Georgia Aquarium is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, housing thousands of species in 10 million gallons of water. The entire facility, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region, was built around a single six-million-gallon exhibit for whale sharks transported all the way from Asia, having been saved from Taiwan's annual fishing quota. Other flagship species at the aquarium include beluga whales, manta rays and bottle-nose dolphins, whilst attractions include an overhead river, an underwater walkthrough tunnel and a tropical reef exhibit.

The Fox Theatre

The Fox Theatre is a cinema-turned-arts-center that is housed in a striking Moorish-inspired building. It hosts shows and events from Atlanta Ballet, touring Broadway companies, a summer film festival and some world-famous musicians. The Fox consistently tops lists of best venues of its kind because of the unique experience offered by the grand, old building itself. The history and traditions that surround the venue are something else; take the singalongs with the huge pipe organ before film screenings, for instance. This is a true experience of Atlanta for every visitor.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

One of America's most outstanding historical figures is Martin Luther King Jr. – Atlanta is where he grew up and became a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The land on which the church stands and the house in which King grew up are now preserved as a National Historic Site, which also includes a museum on the American Civil Rights Movement, as well as gardens and memorials. Several major events a year are held to remember King and his legacy. Based close to the city center, the site is around 20-30 minutes’ drive from ATL Airport, depending on the traffic, and is a special way to experience American history. The Center for Civil and Human Rights is also based in Atlanta less than two miles (3.2 kilometers) from the MLK Historic Site.

High Museum of Art

Based 20-30 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the High Museum of Art is widely considered the best in Southeastern USA. It is set in a boldly-designed, award-winning building that is often praised for its beautiful sculptural architecture, but it raises many challenges for curators trying to display the extensive collection on limited wall space. The collection includes African, American and European art, as well as modern and contemporary pieces and a substantial photography collection, all of which is regularly supplemented by special exhibitions delivered in partnership with other galleries like The Louvre and organizations like The Smithsonian.

Little Five Points

A vibrant district of the city just outside Downtown and about 30 minutes from ATL Airport, Little Five Points has evolved into the heart of Atlanta's alternative culture and the Bohemian center of the Southern USA. Originally created as a commercial district, it fell into disrepair but was revived by local merchants and “urban pioneers” who snapped up the cheap properties to refurbish them. It's a great place to spend the day wandering around and taking in the coffee shops, independent bookstores, skate culture, clothing and new-age stores. The record labels, music gigs and festivals and events like the Halloween Festival and Little Five Fest really bring this place to life. It's also full of inexpensive places to eat and colorful street art for a perfect sunny-day experience in the South.

Many of the world's biggest airports have an extensive list of airlines gathered across randomly numbered terminal buildings, which can quickly get confusing, but Atlanta Airport organizes only 20 carriers into a terminal for domestic flights and a terminal for international flights to keep things simple.

The Domestic Terminal splits into north and south halves (DTN and DTS), whilst the International Terminal (IT) is in a single block.

Directions to Atlanta Airport by Car

Atlanta Hartsfield's address for sat nav is 6000 North Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, 30320. It's less than 10 miles from Downtown Atlanta on the southern edge of the city.

The I-75 and I-85 are the two primary road routes through Atlanta, with the former connecting from Florida and Georgia on its way to Tennessee, while the latter crosses Atlanta from Charlotte and heads towards Alabama.

Both pass immediately by the airport site and intersect with the I-285 that encircles the city of Atlanta. The I-85 is ideal for reaching the Domestic Terminal on the west side of the airport, whilst the I-75 is used to reach the International Terminal.

Bus to Atlanta Airport

Greyhound buses run directly to Atlanta Airport from several key cities, including New Orleans, Memphis and Jacksonville. For a more local public transport option, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has a bus station at the airport connecting to its city-wide network.

There is also a range of shuttle bus services you may be able to take advantage of; many local hotels offer shuttles between them and the airport, MARTA has a shuttle service connecting the bus station to the in-airport train station and there are also private hire and shared shuttle services that run from ATL to primary locations like Downtown Atlanta.

Train to Atlanta Airport

MARTA has a station inside the airport, namely Atlanta Airport station, to connect the city center and the rest of the local MARTA train network together.

The SkyTrain at ATL runs 24/7 and is a complimentary way for all passengers to get around the airport.

Check the weather

Whilst Atlanta rarely experiences any serious weather, during hurricane season in early summer, it can pick up the remnants of storms and poor weather from surrounding areas, which can result in delays at the airport. If you're traveling at this time of year, do keep an eye on the weather and flight information in case of unexpected cancellations or delays.

Watch the terminal parking signs carefully on approach

If you're self-parking in an on-site lot or using a park-and-ride service, it's easy to take a wrong turn and end up on the wrong side of the airport. This is a common mistake made by International Terminal passengers, so be sure to keep an eye on the signage as you approach the airport.

Use the SkyTrain

It's free, it's regular and it's claimed that you can reach even the farthest concourse within five minutes on it, so even if you do end up in the wrong terminal, you can quickly get to where you need to be with the SkyTrain.

Avoid the check-in queues

Many complaints against ATL revolve around waiting times; as a general pattern, security checks have their longest lines on early mornings on weekdays and afternoons at the weekend, but this can vary greatly depending on things like weather and local events. TSA security pre-check can be a great time-saver no matter the conditions, as it allows you to skip time-consuming parts of the security screening process. Regular users of ATL insist that the Domestic south-side security line is always the longest, so try and avoid it if you can.

Find a free charge point

Atlanta International is well-equipped with power outlets, but you'll also find free charging stations at nearly all of the Delta gates throughout the airport.

Take time to enjoy it

Whilst it's entirely normal to plan your airport experience around being there for as little time as possible, Atlanta is starting to buck the trend with many online reviews commenting that a short delay turned out OK because it gave them enough time to really explore the food, shopping and art displays. After all, it endeavors to be a destination and not just an airport.