Getting Around Atlanta

Try to time your arrival in Atlanta after rush hours when it is easier to navigate the high-speed expressways and meandering main streets. Rush hours in general are from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and from 3:30 to 7 p.m. during which expressway traffic in both the city and the suburbs is often bumper-to-bumper. Observe posted speed limit signs.

Interstate traffic in the Metro Atlanta area is monitored and managed by NAVIGATOR, the Georgia Department of Transportation's Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). NAVIGATOR's Traffic Management Center provides 24/7 information and alerts on traffic delays, incidents and road construction.

By Car
Major highways provide speedy access to Atlanta from nearly all directions. Three interstate highways cross the Perimeter (I-285), which circles the city. I-75 (the Northwest Expressway) joins I-85 (the Northeast Expressway) just north of downtown to become the Downtown Connector (I-75/85), which passes to the east of downtown.

From the southeast I-75 becomes the South Expressway to the point south of downtown near Turner Field, where it meets I-20 from the east (the East Expressway) and the west (the West Expressway).

Other roads also run from I-285 toward downtown. I-85 approaches the city from the southwest, joining the South Expressway within I-285. The Arthur Langford Parkway (SR 166) also connects the southwest portion of I-285 with the South Expressway. US 78 from the east passes Stone Mountain before crossing I-285, after which it runs into Scott Boulevard and Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Additional highways that approach the city include SR 400 (toll 50c) from the north, which crosses I-285 and ends on I-85 just north of the I-85 and I-75 connector; US 41 from the northwest, which runs into the Northside Parkway inside I-285; and US 19, which becomes Roswell Road, Peachtree Street and finally Spring Street as it moves south. Because of the profusion of expressways, be sure to use a detailed map of the city.

Street System
The center of the downtown area is the Five Points Intersection, where Peachtree, Marietta, Decatur, Edgewood and Whitehall converge near the site of the original surveyor's stake. It also is where the city's four geographical divisions--N.E., N.W., S.E. and S.W.--merge.

Atlanta is not laid out in the traditional grid, so there are few rectangular blocks and square intersections. The main street is Peachtree, extending north and south through the center of the city; North and Ponce de Leon avenues are the principal east-west links. The Downtown Connector (I-75/85) skirts the business district. The East and West expressways (I-20) carry traffic from the city center.

Though Peachtree Street is the main thoroughfare, there are more than 100 other streets, avenues and lanes in the metro area that include the name. Do not be misled by West Peachtree Street, Peachtree Memorial Drive, Peachtree View, Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Heights, Peachtree Place, Peachtree Battle Avenue, Peachtree Hills Avenue or a similar name.

Parking
On-street parking in the downtown business district is virtually nonexistent. However, garages and lots are plentiful throughout the city, with rates usually $1 for the first half-hour or $7-$8 per day. Rates downtown, especially near the CNN Center, the Georgia World Congress Center and the Philips Arena, exceed $7 per day. Many parking lots and decks now offer "early bird specials": Drivers parking before 9 or 10 a.m. and leaving after 2 or 3 p.m. pay $4-$5 per day. Metered parking is available in other areas, but it is usually strictly enforced during business hours and violators' cars are often towed.