ATLAirport Guide

Atlanta airport to downtown: every option and what it costs

MARTA is $2.50, a taxi is a flat $37.50 for one rider, UberX averages $35 and shared shuttles cap at $16.50 a person. Where each one picks up.

The lower floors and rooftop sports courts of the Hilton Atlanta hotel tower in downtown Atlanta.
Hilton Atlanta, downtown

MARTA is the cheapest way downtown at $2.50 a person, and its Airport Station sits inside the Domestic Terminal. Taxi, UberX and shared-ride shuttle prices for one rider and for four are in the table below.

What each option costs, for one rider and for four

Option One rider Four riders Ride time
MARTA rail $2.50 $10 About 17 minutes to Peachtree Center, MARTA’s average
Shared-ride shuttle Up to $16.50 Up to $66 Not published
UberX $35 average $35 average, the car seats 4 22 minutes average
Taxi $37.50 flat $43.50 About 18 minutes by road
Uber Comfort $46 average $46 average 22 minutes average
UberXL $55 average $55 average, the car seats 6 22 minutes average

Uber’s figures are averages for the past month, not fixed prices, and Uber puts the downtown trip at 11 miles. The MARTA time is the average on MARTA’s stations page. The Gold line timetable shows 18 minutes on weekdays. The taxi time is for the 10.7-mile drive to the Hilton Atlanta, which joins Peachtree Center station.

The taxi rate adds $2 for each extra rider, which is how four riders reach $43.50.

MARTA fares, transfers and the last train

The Red and Gold lines run directly to and from the Airport Station. Our MARTA rail page shows the boarding point between the North and South baggage claims.

Up to four free transfers within three hours come with the fare, per MARTA’s fare page. Children 46 inches and under ride free, up to two per paying adult. A one-day pass costs $9.

The first Gold train leaves the Airport Station at 4:36 a.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. on weekends. The last leaves at 1:20 a.m. on both.

If you’re heading from the airport to Buckhead, Medical Center, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or North Springs after 8:30 p.m., MARTA says you may need to take the Gold train and change to the Red at Lindbergh Center.

Taxis load in Aisle A and charge a flat fare

Taxis at the Domestic Terminal load from stalls A3 to A10 of Aisle A in the Ground Transportation Center. The airport lists three flat fares from the airport for one person, each including a $1.50 surcharge.

Destination Flat fare for one rider
Downtown $37.50
Midtown $39.50
Buckhead $49.50

Metered fares start at $3.50 for the first eighth of a mile, then $0.30 for each additional eighth, plus a $1.50 vehicle trip fee. ATL adds a fuel surcharge of $2 a trip once regular unleaded has averaged $2.90 to $4.39 over 14 consecutive days on AAA’s data. Above $4.40, the surcharge is $3 a trip. Ask the driver to confirm the fare before your bags go in.

Rideshare picks up in the North Economy lot

ATL lists Uber, Lyft, HeRide and Boogidy as the authorized rideshare providers. They pick up at the North Economy lot, a short walk from baggage claim. Go through North baggage claim to the escalators between doors N2 and N3, follow the orange signs, and request the ride only after you reach the pickup spot. Uber’s downtown page lists these averages.

Uber option Seats Average price
Wait & Save 4 $27
Share 1 $30
Women Drivers 4 $34
UberX 4 $35
Priority 4 $40
Comfort 4 $46
UberXL 6 $55
Black 4 $75

Lyft’s ATL page publishes no fares.

Shared-ride shuttles charge per person

Shared-ride shuttles pick up on Aisle B in the Ground Transportation Center. ATL gives these maximum trip fees per person.

  • Downtown: $16.50
  • Midtown: $18.50
  • Buckhead: $30

ATL’s ground transportation page lists the companies that serve Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead, with their phone numbers. ATL says to call them directly to reserve or ask questions.

Landing at the International Terminal

MARTA doesn’t reach this terminal, and you can’t walk to the Domestic Terminal. The free terminal shuttle runs 24/7 from the arrivals level to the Domestic Terminal’s baggage claim, and MARTA gives about 15 minutes of travel time. The Plane Train also links the two terminals. Our International Terminal shuttle page has the stop.

The other options load at the International Terminal itself. Taxis sit on the arrivals level outside door A1. Shared-ride vans are limited and load to the right of door A3. For rideshare, ATL’s page puts the pickup on the arrivals-level outer curb, across the crosswalk from doors A1 and A2, and a second line in the same section says inner curb, outside doors A1, A2 and A3. The page doesn’t say which applies, so confirm the spot with airport staff before you walk out. The page’s text names Uber and Lyft as the only two authorized companies, although the provider list under it also shows HeRide and Boogidy. You need the app on your phone either way.

Sources