Getting from the airport to the university

Learn even more about Transportation options and possiblities through the ISSP "Survival Guide."

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport is located in the southwest section of the Atlanta Metropolitan area. Emory University is located in the northeast section, about one hour from the airport. The airport is one of the busiest in the United States, but it is not too difficult to navigate.

When you arrive, you will need to proceed through both U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement inspections. Afterwards, you will follow signs to the terminal where you will pick up your luggage, arrange for ground transportation, etc. The terminal has two wings, Terminal-North and Terminal-South, connected by a corridor.

If you are not told where your luggage may be picked up, ask. Once you have your luggage, make arrangements for transportation to campus if you haven't already arranged for someone to meet you at the airport. Follow the signs “To Ground Transportation” which will take you past the MARTA Rail Station and outside the terminal.

The Ground Transportation Center houses all ground transport services, including buses, taxis, shuttles (shared ride) and city trains. Transportation services are available for persons with disabilities.

Taxi

A taxi cab is the most expensive, though probably simplest, option (approximately $25 to $40 though you may be able to "share" with someone going in the same direction). You may give the taxi driver your Residence Hall address or ask to be dropped off on central campus. Emory’s main address is: 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322Currently, ISSP is located in at 1784 North Decatur Road.  This location is next to but not on the central part of campus. For taxi information call 404-530-6698.

Shuttle Bus

A more economical alternative is the Daytime Transportation, Inc. Shuttle at $25, which must be paid in cash or traveler's checks only. Once you exit Baggage Claim, follow the arrows that point to Ground Transportation. Look for the Green Zone, Stall 9.

When you arrive at the stall, ask for Daytime Transportation. Shuttles leave for Emory at all times. Reservations are required ahead of time. For more information and to make reservations, call (770) 939-2337, fax (678) 406-9630, or email daytimetransport@aol.com You may ask the shuttle driver to drop you off at any Emory location.
Information on other shuttle services which travel to the Emory area can be accessed at www.atlanta-airport.com.

Public Transportation
An even more economical, though slightly more difficult and time consuming option, is the public transportation system, MARTA (Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), www.itsmarta.com.

MARTA trains depart from the airport from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Monday-Friday with the last train at 1:00am (departing about every 10-15 minutes), 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Saturdays, with the last train leaving at 1:05 am (departing about every 20 minutes), and 6:00am to 12:00am (departing about every 20 minutes) on Sundays and holidays (last train leaves airport at 12:46 a.m.).

In the terminal, follow signs to “MARTA Rail Station” and “Ground Transportation.”  Just before the doors which take you outside of the terminal, you will see the MARTA rail station entrance (on your left from Terminal-North, on your right from Terminal-South). Here you can buy a one-time use Breeze Ticket for $2.25 from a machine which allows you to pass through the gate/turnstile and proceed to the platform and board the train.

Attendants are on duty at the information windows and can provide additional information. MARTA maps are also available in the station. Only one train, the northbound train, leaves the airport.

You will have to take the MARTA train to one of two bus stations and then take a bus to Emory. The easiest route is to exit the train at ARTS CENTER STATION (N5 on the map) and take Bus #36 a short distance to Emory. Exit the bus at Emory Village, just across from the main entrance to the university (ask the driver to alert you when you have arrived at the correct stop).

Beware: Bus #36 does not operate on Sunday; it operates from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday (with departures approximately every 40 minutes); and it operates Monday through Friday from 5:21 a.m. until 7:21 p.m. (with departures approximately every 30-40 minutes).

Your other option is to exit the train at LINDBERGH STATION (N6 on the MARTA map) and take Bus #6, which rides through the Emory campus on Clifton Road. Exit the bus at Emory University Hospital, or at the stop at North Decatur Road and Oxford Road, at the main gates of the university (ask the driver to alert you when you have arrived at the correct stop).

Beware: Bus #6 does not operate from Lindbergh Station on Sunday; it operates Monday-Friday from 5:30a.m. to 12:37a.m., with departures approximately every 20-40 minutes; Saturday from 5:28 a.m until 12:41 a.m., with departures approximately every 40 minutes.

You may call MARTA at (404) 848-5000 or access the MARTA web page at www.itsmarta.com for additional information. Accessibility information is available by calling MARTA paratransit at (404) 848-5389. Upon arrival, you may report to your residence hall, to your department, or to the ISSP office, depending on your circumstances. Call our office at (404) 727-3300 if you have trouble.