Author Archives: MARTA Guide
MARTA to the Winter Beer Carnival
Atlantic Station hosts the Atlanta Winter Beer Carnival on Feb. 11, 2012. It is an annual event that includes beer sampling, DJs, carnival games and food from local restaurants. The closest MARTA is Arts Center on the red/gold rail line. It is about a 15 minute walk (take the West Peachtree Street exit out of the station and turn right, then turn left on 17th Street), or you can take the free Atlantic Station shuttle than runs every 5-10 minutes. Follow the signs to the buses/15th Street exit to pick up the shuttle in the bus bay (signage marks the drop off/pick up location). Bus 37 departs the station and also goes to the event. Exit at the main shopping/retail district.
If you wish to park and ride, the Lindbergh Center Station offers the closest parking. Park for free, then pay $5 roundtrip for the transit commute. Get on the first southbound train that arrives at Lindbergh and take it to the Arts Center.
For more information, see:
Lindbergh Center Station Parking
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Navigating the Arts Center Station
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to L.A. Fitness
There are several MARTA-accessible L.A. Fitness locations around Atlanta. See below for the list of gyms, with the easiest destinations listed first.
L.A. Fitness Perimeter Point
Take the red rail line (North Springs) to the Sandy Springs Station. The gym is next to the station in a shopping center at 1155 Mount Vernon Highway.
L.A. Fitness Midtown
Take any red or gold line train to the North Avenue Station or Midtown Station. Turn right on West Peachtree Street from North Avenue and walk to 5th Street and turn left and walk a block to the gym (75 5th Street). Or from Midtown, take the Peachtree Place exit out of the station and turn right. At West Peachtree Street, turn left and walk to 5th Street and turn right.
L.A. Fitness Atlantic Station
Take any red or gold line train to the Arts Center Station and follow the signs to the buses/15th Street exit. In the bus area is a free shuttle to Atlantic Station. Exit at the main retail center. The gym is next to the movie theater. Bus 37 also departs from the station and travels there.
L.A. Fitness Buckhead
Located at 3232 Peachtree Road NE, it is about a 15 minute walk from the Buckhead Station to the gym. Take a red line train to the station and after going through the fare gate, take the first set of stairs out of the station or use the elevator just beyond the stairwell. Turn right at street level and walk about three blocks. The gym is located below the Marshall’s department store. From the station exit you can also board bus 110 if you prefer not to walk.
L.A. Fitness Ansley Mall
From the Lindbergh Center or Midtown Station, board bus 27 to get to Ansley Mall. The trip is shorter from the Midtown Station. The bus runs in front of the shopping center where the gym is located. Exit near the stoplight where Publix and Starbucks are located.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Best of MARTA: Services
10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
MARTA to the BeltLine Eastside Trail
The BeltLine is Atlanta’s hopeful light-rail project that operate in a loop around intown Atlanta neighborhoods using existing rail beds. It will also include trails, the first of which will be the Eastside Trail, scheduled to open in 2012 and run from near the King Memorial MARTA Station to Piedmont Park.
MARTA currently crosses this trail in several places. Choose from:
- King Memorial Station – at street level turn right and walk about a block along Dekalb Avenue for the south end of the trail.
- Five Points and Candler Park Stations – board bus 3 on weekdays to reach the Eastside Trail in the Inman Park neighborhood. If getting on the bus at Five Points, make sure the destination of the bus is to the Candler Park Station. Exit the bus around Krog Street and Serpas. The bus will literally go over the trail.
- North Avenue, Candler Park and Decatur Stations – board bus 2 to connect with the Eastside Trail at Ponce de Leon Avenue and Ponce City Market. The bus travels underneath the rail bed and a new pedestrian ramp will be created there. Exit by the huge brick building at the stoplight (across the street is Whole Foods/Home Depot).
- Midtown Station – Bus 36 and 99 have stops next to the Eastside Trail, which runs along Park Tavern and Piedmont Park. Exit around 10th Street and Monroe Drive by the Grady High School stadium.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Best of MARTA: Fun/Recreation
10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
MARTA to Center Stage/The Loft/Vinyl
Center Stage, The Loft and Vinyl are live music venues in Midtown, located in the same building at 1374 West Peachtree Street. They are a short walk away from the Arts Center Station on the red/gold rail line. Take the West Peachtree Street exit out of the station and turn right on West Peachtree and walk about a block to 17th Street. The building is on the corner. Bus 37 departs from the station and also has a stop there.
For more information, see:
MARTA Maps
Navigating the Arts Center Station
Music Venues Near MARTA Stations
MARTA to the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival takes place at Atlantic Station on March 3, 2012 from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets cover unlimited sampling of bourbon and beer. Food is available at an additional cost.
The closest MARTA station to the festival is Arts Center on the red/gold rail line. There are several options to get to Atlantic Station from there:
- Walk. Take the West Peachtree exit out of the station and turn right on West Peachtree then left on 17th Street and walk over the bridge (see walking map). Walking time is about 15 minutes.
- Free Shuttle. Follow the signs to the 15th Street exit/To Buses and ride the free Atlantic Station shuttle. It runs every 5-10 minutes.
- MARTA bus 37 also departs from the Arts Center and travels to the event.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Navigating the Arts Center Station
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the Blue Grassroots Music and Arts Festival
The Stone Mountain Village Blue Grassroots Music and Art Festival will take place on March 31, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Stone Mountain Village, just outside the Stone Mountain Park. The village will have street music jams and contra dancing in addition to Bluegrass musicians on stage, an arts and crafts show and a children’s area. Admission is free. The event hosted by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and Main Street Stone Mountain.
To get there on MARTA, take bus 121 from the Kensington MARTA Station on the blue rail line. If you are coming from the red/gold rail line, such as from downtown or midtown, you’ll have to transfer at the Five Points Station to the Eastbound train platform and get on a train marked “Indian Creek”.
The bus ride is about 35 minutes — the Stone Mountain Village is at the end of the route. On Saturdays, bus 121 runs every 20 minutes and departs the Kensington Station at 15, 35 and 55 minutes past the hour. View the full Saturday schedule for bus 121 here.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Best of MARTA: Food/Drink
Music Venues Near MARTA
How to Use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the Dekalb Technical College
The Dekalb Technical College is located at 495 N Indian Creek Dr. in Clarkston, GA. The closest MARTA station is Indian Creek, but to get to the college on MARTA you have to take a bus from either the Avondale or Kensington Station on the blue rail line.
Bus 125 departs from the Avondale Station and stops in front of the college. Or choose from bus 121 at the Kensington Station. For that route, exit at Memorial Drive and Rockbridge Road/Clark Drive and walk 10 minutes north Clark Drive to reach the school (see walking map).
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the Mall at West End
The Mall at West End is located at 850 Oak Street SW, a 5-10 minute walk from the West End MARTA Station on the red/gold rail line. It is a small urban mall with Jimmy Jazz and Maxway the two largest stores. Other stores include Foot Locker, Radio Shack and Rainbow Apparel. All northbound and southbound trains stop at the West End Station, but if you are coming from the blue/green rail line, you must transfer to a southbound train at the Five Points Station.
Take the main exit out of the station and turn right on Whitehall Street. Turn left on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. then right on Lee Street. Bus 68 also travels to the mall and departs from the West End and Ashby MARTA stations.
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Best of MARTA: Retail
Top 5 Most Walkable MARTA Stations
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to Best Western Plus Inn at the Peachtrees
The Best Western Inn at the Peachtrees is a boutique hotel downtown located at 330 West Peachtree Street. The hotel features a daily hot breakfast buffet and business center.
The closest MARTA station is the Civic Center Station on the red/gold rail line. All north and southbound trains stop at this station as well as the Megabus and Atlanta regional bus routes. From the station, walk south (toward the skyline) on West Peachtree Street. The hotel is a block down on the right. Walking time is about 5 minutes.
Nearby restaurants include BLT Steak, Mellow Mushroom, Jimmy Johns, Room at Twelve and Max Lager’s Wood-Fired Grill & Brewery. Nearby attractions include the Georgia Aquarium, Civic Center and downtown Atlanta business district.
For more information, see:
Civic Center Station Guide
Megabus and MARTA
Civic Center Attractions
Tips for Riding MARTA to/from the Airport
MARTA to the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest
The Atlanta Winter Beer Fest takes place in January at the Masquerade, a music venue at 695 North Avenue. Plenty of beer and several stages of live music to go around. Tickets are $35 in advance or $45 at the door.
To get there on MARTA, board bus 2 at either the North Avenue, Candler Park or Decatur Station (yes Decatur fans, if you live near the Decatur Square or off Ponce, just hop on the bus — same with those who live in Poncey or Virgina Highland). Exit at the intersection of Ponce de Leon and Glen Iris Drive. Cactus Car Wash, Eats and City Hall East will be on the corner. Walk south on Glen Iris then turn left on North Avenue and walk about a block (see walking map). On Saturdays, the bus departs about every hour from Decatur and Candler park and every 35 minutes from North Avenue. Be sure to check the schedule.
For more information see:
Best of MARTA: Food/Drink
Music Venues Near MARTA
How to Ride MARTA Buses
How to use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to Castleberry Hill
Castleberry Hill is an eclectic and artistic neighborhood just southwest of downtown Atlanta that hosts a regular art stroll (see area map). The closest MARTA station is the Garnett Station on south red/gold line, though it is about a three block walk in a transitional area.
If you plan to bike or walk from Garnett, take the Trinity Street exit out of the station and turn left on Trinity. Keep right at the split in the road and go up and over the bridge. At this point, the street changes to Peters Street, which forms the edge of the neighborhood.
Bus 3 and bus 13 travel to the neighborhood as another option and depart from the Five Points Station.
For more information, see:
MARTA Safety Tips
How to Ride MARTA Buses
5 Most Walkable MARTA Stations
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the MLK March and Rally
The Martin Luther King Jr. March and Rally takes place annually on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in downtown Atlanta. Open to all, the march assembles at Peachtree and Baker Streets at 1:15 p.m. and begins at 2 p.m. down Auburn Avenue to the King Center.
The Peachtree Center MARTA Station on the red/gold rail line is right next to the starting point of the march. If you are coming from the east-west rail line, you will need to transfer to a northbound train at the Five Points Station, or exit at Five Points and take the Peachtree Street exit out of the station and turn left. The march route will be about two blocks up.
If arriving at the Peachtree Center Station, follow the signs to the Harris Street exit for closest access to the start of the march. See MARTA directions to the King Center for information on getting to the rally at the end of the march.
For more information, see:
Exploring the King Memorial Station Area
King Memorial Station Restaurants
How to use Google Maps for MARTA directions
Navigating the Peachtree Center Station
MARTA to the Buckhead Beer Fest
The Buckhead Beer Fest makes its debut on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. The event lasts from 1pm-6pm and is located next to the Lindbergh Center MARTA Station in the parking lot of the Gold Room. In addition to beer tastings, the $50 ticket price includes live music, food trucks and heated tents.
To get there on MARTA, take a red or gold line train to the Lindbergh Center Station. If your starting station is on the blue or green east-west line, you must transfer to a Northbound train at the Five Points Station. The Gold Room parking lot is located closest to the south end of the Lindbergh station, so if you are traveling northbound on the train, sit in the very last train car. If coming from the north, such as North Springs or Doraville, sit in the front train car.
After exiting the train, look for signs pointing to Main Street. Most the exits will then take you to Lindbergh Lane upon exiting the fare gate. Turn right on Lindbergh Lane, walk past the parking garage and turn left on the first street you reach (see area map).
For more information, see:
How to Ride MARTA Trains
MARTA Maps
Bars Near MARTA
Lindbergh Parking
Lindbergh Station Restaurants
Train Schedules and Frequency
King Memorial MARTA Station
The King Memorial MARTA station is located at 377 Decatur Street SE, on the blue and green rail line. It is an urban station near downtown Atlanta next to Oakland Cemetery, Pencil Factory Lofts, Cabbagetown, Memorial Drive and the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site.
Directions
To get to the station on MARTA, you must be on a blue or green line train, which run east and west. If you are coming from the north or south (such as the airport or North Springs/Doraville, you must exit at the Five Points Station and follow the signs to the Eastbound platform to transfer to the first eastbound train that arrives.
Parking
There is no public parking at this station, only short-term spots for passenger drop off and pick up.
Buses
Bus 21 departs from the station and travels away from downtown on Memorial Drive, providing access to Cabbagetown. Weekdays on alternating trips, bus 99 also stops at this station and goes to the Georgia State station in one direction and past the King Memorial and up Boulevard to Piedmont Park and the Midtown Station.
Commute Times
It takes 3 minutes to get to Five Points and from Five Points, 16 minutes to the airport.
More Information
Exploring the King Memorial Station Area
King Memorial Station Restaurants
King Memorial Attractions
MARTA to the Midtown Arts Cinema
The Midtown Arts Cinema is a neighborhood movie theater located at 931 Monroe Drive, across from Grady High School and Piedmont Park. The closest MARTA station is Midtown on the red/gold rail line. You can take the 10th Street exit out of the station and turn right (if coming up via the Federal reserve tunnel, turn left), and walk about 20 minutes down 10th Street where it dead ends at Monroe Drive. Turn right on Monroe and left into the Trader Joes shopping center. In the back is the theater. Wine are beer are available for purchase.
If you don’t want to walk, you can board bus 36 or bus 99 at the Midtown Station. Both have stops near the theater (exit by Trader Joes and Starbucks). The bus ride is no more than five minutes. Bus 99 also picks up passengers at the Georgia State station and in part of the GSU campus. If you plan to take the bus back to the station, be advised that bus 36 stops early in the evening.
Nearby restaurants/bars include Metro Fresh, F.R.O.G.S. Cantina, Mellow Mushroom, Jersey Mike’s Subs, The Highlander, Apres Diem, Rice Box, Desi Spice and Royal Orchid Thai.
For more information, see:
Best of MARTA: Fun/Recreation
How to Ride MARTA Buses
Navigating the Midtown Station
Midtown Station Restaurants
