Megabus and Greyhound (Off-Airport)
Inter-city bus service to destinations across the Southeast and beyond — requires a connection via MARTA from the airport.
- Type
- Long-distance Bus
- Pickup
- Downtown Atlanta (Garnett MARTA Station for Megabus; Greyhound Atlanta Station)
- Estimated cost
- $10–80 depending on destination and advance booking
- Travel time
- 20 min MARTA + bus travel time
- · Cheapest long-distance option
- · Wide destination network (Greyhound)
- · Often $1 advance fares (Megabus)
- · No driving or rental car needed
- · Requires MARTA connection from airport
- · Slow vs. driving or flying
- · Buses can be late
- · Limited frequency to smaller destinations
Neither Megabus nor Greyhound operates direct service to Hartsfield-Jackson. Travelers connecting from ATL to inter-city bus service must take MARTA from the airport to downtown Atlanta and then walk or take a short cab to the relevant bus station.
Megabus departs from the Garnett MARTA Station downtown. From the airport, take the Gold or Red Line MARTA train to Garnett (about 20 minutes, $2.50 fare). The Megabus stop is at the station's main exit. Megabus serves Athens, Birmingham, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, and dozens of other regional cities. Pricing starts at $1 for advance bookings (typically $15–60 for typical bookings).
Greyhound operates from the Greyhound Atlanta Station at 232 Forsyth St SW. From the airport, take MARTA to Garnett station and walk 5 blocks (about 8 minutes), or take a short rideshare ($8–15). Greyhound serves a much broader national network than Megabus, including small cities not served by Megabus. Pricing is generally similar to Megabus but with less aggressive advance-purchase discounts.
Both services are practical for travelers prioritizing cost over speed. A typical Megabus or Greyhound trip to Birmingham (3 hours by bus) compares with a 2.5-hour drive (rental car ~$70+gas+parking) or a 1-hour flight (typically $200+ with bag fees).
Plan for the MARTA connection time when scheduling. Allow at least 90 minutes from arrival at the airport to departure from the bus station to comfortably navigate baggage claim, MARTA, and the walk/short transfer to the bus.