---
title: "Layover and connection guides · ATL Airport Guide"
description: "Every ATL guide on layovers and connections: 14 guides, each answering one question."
url: "https://atlairportguide.com/guides/layovers-and-connections/"
updated: "2026-11-15"
airport: "ATL"
type: "guide"
---

> Independent guide, not the official ATL website. All pages: https://atlairportguide.com/llms.txt

# Layover and connection guides

Every ATL guide on layovers and connections: 14 guides, each answering one question.

Updated November 15, 2026

What you can do with the time between flights at ATL: how long a connection really needs, how to move between concourses without leaving security, what a long layover can hold, and what to do when the connection is tight. Each guide answers one of those questions.

Looking for the listings themselves? They are on the [Connecting flights](https://atlairportguide.com/connections/) page.

![Rows of empty black gate seats on charcoal carpet beside a steel column and a long window wall on Concourse B at Atlanta airport.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/concourse-c-gate-12-counters-v13-800.webp)

[A two-hour layover at ATL: what fits and when to stay put](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/two-hour-layover-at-atl-what-you-can-do/)

Two hours at ATL fits a meal and one Plane Train hop, and no trip outside security. What to eat quickly, and when to stay on your concourse.

- [Two hours leaves no room to leave](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/two-hour-layover-at-atl-what-you-can-do/#two-hours-leaves-no-room-to-leave)
- [Food that suits a short clock](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/two-hour-layover-at-atl-what-you-can-do/#food-that-suits-a-short-clock)
- [Make a hop worth it](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/two-hour-layover-at-atl-what-you-can-do/#make-a-hop-worth-it)
- [When to stay put](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/two-hour-layover-at-atl-what-you-can-do/#when-to-stay-put)

![The orange phoenix mural on the grey concrete front of MARTA's Five Points Station in downtown Atlanta, with flagpoles and a flower planter in the plaza.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/five-points-station-street-v17-800.webp)

[An eight-hour layover at ATL: going into Atlanta and back](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/eight-hour-layover-at-atl-going-into-atlanta/)

MARTA reaches Five Points in 17 minutes. Count back from ATL's two hours before a domestic flight, or three before an international one, to your train.

- [The ride and what it costs](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/eight-hour-layover-at-atl-going-into-atlanta/#the-ride-and-what-it-costs)
- [Count back from your flight](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/eight-hour-layover-at-atl-going-into-atlanta/#count-back-from-your-flight)
- [Back through security, the hour picks your checkpoint](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/eight-hour-layover-at-atl-going-into-atlanta/#back-through-security-the-hour-picks-your-checkpoint)
- [If your layover runs into the night](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/eight-hour-layover-at-atl-going-into-atlanta/#if-your-layover-runs-into-the-night)

![The arrivals hall of the International Terminal at Atlanta airport, with round silver columns and a ribbon of blue light along the white ceiling.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/intl-arrivals-hall-floor-v19-800.webp)

[ATL arrivals and departures: how to check a flight](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/arrivals-departures-at-atlanta-airport-how-check-flight/)

Search ATL flights by number, airline or city, then read the gate, bag claim and terminal columns. Covers pickups, send-offs and delays.

- [Look up the flight](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/arrivals-departures-at-atlanta-airport-how-check-flight/#look-up-the-flight)
- [How to read an arrivals row](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/arrivals-departures-at-atlanta-airport-how-check-flight/#how-to-read-an-arrivals-row)
- [Picking someone up](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/arrivals-departures-at-atlanta-airport-how-check-flight/#picking-someone-up)
- [Seeing someone off](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/arrivals-departures-at-atlanta-airport-how-check-flight/#seeing-someone-off)
- [Which terminal and concourse a flight uses](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/arrivals-departures-at-atlanta-airport-how-check-flight/#which-terminal-and-concourse-a-flight-uses)
- [When a flight says Delayed](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/arrivals-departures-at-atlanta-airport-how-check-flight/#when-a-flight-says-delayed)

![The brick-paved platform of MARTA's Airport Station under a white steel lattice roof, with a silver train waiting at the far end.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/airport-station-faregates-v16-800.webp)

[Can you leave Atlanta airport on a layover?](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/can-you-leave-atlanta-airport-layover/)

MARTA's Airport Station is inside the Domestic Terminal. ATL asks you to be back two hours before a domestic flight and three before an international one.

- [Leaving from a domestic arrival](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/can-you-leave-atlanta-airport-layover/#leaving-from-a-domestic-arrival)
- [Leaving from the International Terminal](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/can-you-leave-atlanta-airport-layover/#leaving-from-the-international-terminal)
- [Coming back, plan around ATL’s two or three hours](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/can-you-leave-atlanta-airport-layover/#coming-back-plan-around-atls-two-or-three-hours)

![The empty centre of Concourse T at Atlanta airport, with a silver column, a round floor medallion, blue gate seating and the oval skylight ring above.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/concourse-t-center-news-v8-800.webp)

[How long is a safe connection at Atlanta airport?](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-long-safe-connection-at-atlanta-airport/)

ATL publishes no minimum connection time or ride times between concourses. It does give a Plane Train wait and a 15-minute shuttle from the International Terminal.

- [What ATL publishes, leg by leg](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-long-safe-connection-at-atlanta-airport/#what-atl-publishes-leg-by-leg)
- [Between concourses, the train is the plan](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-long-safe-connection-at-atlanta-airport/#between-concourses-the-train-is-the-plan)
- [Landing from abroad takes a left turn](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-long-safe-connection-at-atlanta-airport/#landing-from-abroad-takes-a-left-turn)
- [The shuttle to the Domestic Terminal takes you outside security](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-long-safe-connection-at-atlanta-airport/#the-shuttle-to-the-domestic-terminal-takes-you-outside-security)

![The seating area of the Delta Sky Club on Concourse E at Atlanta airport, with tall windows onto the apron, armchairs and a curved banquette.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/concourse-e-piano-bar-v6-800.webp)

[How to spend five hours at Atlanta airport](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-spend-five-hours-at-atlanta-airport/)

Five hours at ATL fits a sit-down meal, a lounge or suite and one trip to another concourse. ATL publishes no ride times, so plan the return first.

- [Pick the concourse that’s worth the ride](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-spend-five-hours-at-atlanta-airport/#pick-the-concourse-thats-worth-the-ride)
- [Walk there, then ride back when time gets short](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-spend-five-hours-at-atlanta-airport/#walk-there-then-ride-back-when-time-gets-short)
- [Rest in a lounge or a private suite](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-spend-five-hours-at-atlanta-airport/#rest-in-a-lounge-or-a-private-suite)
- [Work back from your gate](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/how-spend-five-hours-at-atlanta-airport/#work-back-from-your-gate)

![Looking down the steel side and handrail of a long escalator at Atlanta airport toward the lower hall and its video screen.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/domestic-terminal-west-crossover-v4-800.webp)

[Is Atlanta airport easy to navigate? A first-timer's map of ATL](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/atlanta-airport-easy-navigate/)

ATL is two terminals, seven concourses and one underground train. Here's the layout in plain terms and the mistakes first-timers make.

- [The layout in plain terms](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/atlanta-airport-easy-navigate/#the-layout-in-plain-terms)
- [Where first-time visitors go wrong](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/atlanta-airport-easy-navigate/#where-first-time-visitors-go-wrong)
- [Take the Plane Train between concourses](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/atlanta-airport-easy-navigate/#take-the-plane-train-between-concourses)
- [A free shuttle bus links the two terminals](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/atlanta-airport-easy-navigate/#a-free-shuttle-bus-links-the-two-terminals)
- [Ask a Customer Experience Representative](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/atlanta-airport-easy-navigate/#ask-a-customer-experience-representative)

![A curved-roofed SkyTrain station on its concrete guideway above the trees by the Gateway hotels at Atlanta airport.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/skytrain-gateway-stop-v16-800.webp)

[Overnight layover at Atlanta airport: hotel or terminal?](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/overnight-layover-at-atlanta-airport/)

A free SkyTrain reaches four hotels all night. Minute Suites sells eight hours inside security if you start by midnight. How to pick by flight time.

- [Hotels on the SkyTrain have a ride that runs all night](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/overnight-layover-at-atlanta-airport/#hotels-on-the-skytrain-have-a-ride-that-runs-all-night)
- [What stays open inside security](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/overnight-layover-at-atlanta-airport/#what-stays-open-inside-security)
- [Pick by your flight time](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/overnight-layover-at-atlanta-airport/#pick-by-your-flight-time)

![A green velvet prayer rug laid on grey floor tiles in a quiet prayer room.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/dt-atrium-chapel-door-v19-800.webp)

[Quiet places at Atlanta airport without a lounge: sensory room and chapels](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/quiet-places-at-atlanta-airport-without-lounge/)

ATL lists a sensory room on Concourse F, a prayer room and two chapels open 24 hours. No quiet seating. Past those, it's Minute Suites or a day pass.

- [Where ATL puts its quiet rooms](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/quiet-places-at-atlanta-airport-without-lounge/#where-atl-puts-its-quiet-rooms)
- [The sensory room on Concourse F](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/quiet-places-at-atlanta-airport-without-lounge/#the-sensory-room-on-concourse-f)
- [Chapels: what the airport lists, and when they’re in use](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/quiet-places-at-atlanta-airport-without-lounge/#chapels-what-the-airport-lists-and-when-theyre-in-use)
- [Calmer seating: what ATL doesn’t say](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/quiet-places-at-atlanta-airport-without-lounge/#calmer-seating-what-atl-doesnt-say)
- [When a free room doesn’t work](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/quiet-places-at-atlanta-airport-without-lounge/#when-a-free-room-doesnt-work)

![A long airport hall at Atlanta airport seen from an upper walkway, with a polished floor and a display car.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/dt-atrium-nw-news-v9-800.webp)

[Terminal N, S and I at ATL: what the letters mean](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/terminal-n-terminal-s-terminal-i-at-atlanta-airport-what/)

ATL has no Terminal N, S or I. It has a Domestic Terminal with North and South sides and a separate International Terminal. See what each side uses.

- [What ATL calls each one](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/terminal-n-terminal-s-terminal-i-at-atlanta-airport-what/#what-atl-calls-each-one)
- [Where letters do show up at ATL](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/terminal-n-terminal-s-terminal-i-at-atlanta-airport-what/#where-letters-do-show-up-at-atl)
- [Which side of the Domestic Terminal do you want?](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/terminal-n-terminal-s-terminal-i-at-atlanta-airport-what/#which-side-of-the-domestic-terminal-do-you-want)
- [Which airline uses which side?](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/terminal-n-terminal-s-terminal-i-at-atlanta-airport-what/#which-airline-uses-which-side)
- [The International Terminal is a separate building](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/terminal-n-terminal-s-terminal-i-at-atlanta-airport-what/#the-international-terminal-is-a-separate-building)

![An empty Plane Train platform at Atlanta airport seen from low down along the closed silver doors, with no train.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/plane-train-platform-no-train-v5-800.webp)

[The Plane Train and walking between ATL concourses](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/plane-train-walking-between-atl-concourses/)

The Plane Train links every ATL concourse. ATL's own story gives a 108-second wait and no walking times. Here's how it runs and what to do if it's slow.

- [What the train links](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/plane-train-walking-between-atl-concourses/#what-the-train-links)
- [When it runs and how long you wait](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/plane-train-walking-between-atl-concourses/#when-it-runs-and-how-long-you-wait)
- [You can walk, but ATL gives no distance](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/plane-train-walking-between-atl-concourses/#you-can-walk-but-atl-gives-no-distance)
- [If the train is slow or stopped](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/plane-train-walking-between-atl-concourses/#if-the-train-is-slow-or-stopped)

![The open front of a whiskey bar on Concourse B at Atlanta airport, with a long white-topped bar, globe lamps and black gate seats in front.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/concourse-b-gate-33-distillery-v13-800.webp)

[Things to do at Atlanta airport, by how much time you have](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/things-do-at-atlanta-airport/)

Under 30 minutes, stay on your concourse. With an hour, ride the Plane Train for a spa or duty free. A table shows what each ATL concourse has.

- [Under 30 minutes: stay on your concourse](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/things-do-at-atlanta-airport/#under-30-minutes-stay-on-your-concourse)
- [About an hour: ride one stop for what your concourse lacks](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/things-do-at-atlanta-airport/#about-an-hour-ride-one-stop-for-what-your-concourse-lacks)
- [Two hours or more: pay for a break or sit down properly](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/things-do-at-atlanta-airport/#two-hours-or-more-pay-for-a-break-or-sit-down-properly)

![The moving sidewalks in the walkway between Concourses T and A at Atlanta airport, with history panels along the walls.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/concourse-t-gate-21-market-v16-800.webp)

[What is the best concourse at ATL? What each one holds](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/what-best-concourse-at-atlanta-airport/)

Your gate letter sets where you board. What each of ATL's seven concourses holds for lounges, sleep and food, and which suit a long wait.

- [Your gate picks the concourse](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/what-best-concourse-at-atlanta-airport/#your-gate-picks-the-concourse)
- [What each concourse holds](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/what-best-concourse-at-atlanta-airport/#what-each-concourse-holds)
- [Which one suits a long wait](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/what-best-concourse-at-atlanta-airport/#which-one-suits-a-long-wait)
- [How far apart they are](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/what-best-concourse-at-atlanta-airport/#how-far-apart-they-are)

![A long hall of Concourse D at Atlanta airport with tan stone-tile walls, a shiny pale floor and escalators far along it.](https://atlairportguide.com/images/atl/concourse-t-gate-10-stretch-v3-800.webp)

[Which concourse is my airline at ATL? Gate letter and check-in building](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/which-concourse-my-airline-at-atl/)

At ATL the letter in your gate number is your concourse, T to F. Domestic flights check in at the Domestic Terminal, flights abroad at the International.

- [Find the concourse from your gate](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/which-concourse-my-airline-at-atl/#find-the-concourse-from-your-gate)
- [Airlines whose pages name a concourse](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/which-concourse-my-airline-at-atl/#airlines-whose-pages-name-a-concourse)
- [Where Delta, United and American have a desk or lounge](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/which-concourse-my-airline-at-atl/#where-delta-united-and-american-have-a-desk-or-lounge)
- [Which building each airline checks in at](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/which-concourse-my-airline-at-atl/#which-building-each-airline-checks-in-at)
- [North or South inside the Domestic Terminal](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/which-concourse-my-airline-at-atl/#north-or-south-inside-the-domestic-terminal)
- [If you’re at the wrong building](https://atlairportguide.com/guides/which-concourse-my-airline-at-atl/#if-youre-at-the-wrong-building)