Category Archives: Sports and Outdoors
MARTA to Flicks on 5th
Flicks on 5th is one of the several free outdoor movie options for Atlanta, hosted by Georgia Tech. A portion of 5th Street between Spring and Williams Street is closed off and a few vendors provide snacks and drinks while local restaurants offer “to go” meals.
To get to Flicks on 5th by MARTA, take a red or gold line train to the North Avenue Station and take the Fox Theatre exit off the train platform. After going through the fare gates, walk straight ahead through the indoor mall and out the doors to 3rd Street. Turn left on 3rd, right on West Peachtree and then left on 5th Street.
Although a slightly longer walk, you can also get off at the Midtown Station. Exit on to Peachtree Place and turn right. At West Peachtree Street turn left and walk down to 5th Street.
For more information, see:
North Avenue Station Restaurants
Midtown Station Restaurants
Top 5 Most Walkable MARTA Stations
MARTA to the Peachtree Road Race
The Peachtree Road Race is held on July 4th each year and starts just outside the Buckhead and Lenox MARTA Stations. You can either:
- Take a gold line train to the Lenox Station and follow the “To Mall” exit off the train platform. Walk straight out of the station and up Lenox Road.
- Take a red line train to the Buckhead Station and take the first set of stairs out of the station and turn left on Peachtree Road and walk about two blocks…making sure you cross over GA 400 and go by Lenox Square Mall. If you don’t, then you are walking the wrong way.
The best place to park your car and ride the train is at the Lindbergh Station at 2424 Piedmont Avenue. There are three free parking decks and all northbound trains from this station are one stop away from the start of the race. Just remember to take your parking ticket with you so you can validate it inside the station on your return trip. For other good parking locations, see the link at the bottom of the page.
The end of the race is at Piedmont Park at 10th and Charles Allen. If you need to get back to your car or other destination, the closest train station is the Midtown Station at 41 10th Street (see area map). All northbound trains at this station go to Lindbergh and all southbound trains go to Five Points.
Other Things to Know
The trains start running at 6 a.m. on the weekend. Be sure to purchase a roundtrip fare at the start of your trip ($4 for the 2011 race). Get a Breeze ticket if you don’t ride MARTA often, or get a reloadable plastic Breeze card if you plan to ride again in the future.
For more information, see:
Lindbergh MARTA Parking
Top 5 MARTA Stations to Park and Ride
Midtown Station Weekend Train Schedule
Buckhead Station Restaurants
Lindbergh Station Restaurants
MARTA to Chastain Park
Chastain Park offers outdoor music in the summer in the Chastain Park Amphitheater and recreation throughout the year. It is not near a MARTA station, but you can take bus 5 from the Lindbergh or Dunwoody Station. All gold and red line trains stop at Lindbergh, or take a red line train to Dunwoody. Exit the bus at the intersection of Roswell Road with Interlochen Drive and walk about 10 minutes to reach the center of the park.
If you are planning to attend a concert at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre, exit the bus at Roswell Road and W. Wieuca Road and walk a mile (see walking map).
For more information, see:
How to ride MARTA buses
How to use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
Top 10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
MARTA to Turner Field
Most people going to a Braves Game take the Braves Shuttle. However, you can walk or take other buses. The closest MARTA station to Turner Field is actually the Georgia State station on the blue/green rail line. Walking time is about 25 minutes. From the station, turn left on Piedmont Avenue and walk south toward the Capitol.
Bus 55 and bus 32 depart from the Five Points Station and also go to Turner Field. Plan ahead and look at the bus schedules online to know departure times, or use Google Maps on your smartphone for trip information and next arriving bus when going to or leaving the game.
For more information, see:
How to Ride the Braves Shuttle
Navigating the Five Points Station
MARTA Train Schedules and Frequency
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
5 Common Mistakes Made By Braves Game MARTA Riders
MARTA to the Atlanta Zoo
Zoo Atlanta is located in Grant Park, southeast of downtown Atlanta. The zoo is known for having pandas, and it also features a children’s area and regular events such as Brew at the Zoo and Jazzoo.
The closest MARTA station is the King Memorial Station, but unless you want to walk 30 minutes, it is best to take a bus (see walking directions from the King Memorial Station if you would like to walk and combine travel with eating at an area restaurant).
Bus 32 goes to the zoo from the Civic Center and Five Points Stations. Tell the driver your destination for an easy commute. The bus runs every 30 minutes on the weekend and every 20 minutes weekdays, plus additional bus service during rush hour. Riders can print schedules online or pick up a printed copy of the bus schedule at the Five Points Station. If you plan to connect to the bus at Five Points, the bus picks up at the intersection of Alabama and Forsyth Streets. Take the Forsyth Street exit out of the station and turn left. Once on the bus, the ride from Five Points to the zoo is about 10 minutes (see area and bus stop map).
The zoo is not very visible from the street, but sits in the southern end of the park. Next to the zoo you will also find the Cyclorama and Civil War Museum, which has the world’s largest painting (of the Battle of Atlanta).
For more information, see:
How to ride MARTA buses
How to Use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA
MARTA to the Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is located near the Woodruff Arts Center and Piedmont Park, closest to the Arts Center Station on the red/gold rail line. In addition to the gardens themselves, there are regular events, including Cocktails in the Garden, art installations and Sun Trust Concerts in the Botanical Gardens.
If you exit at the Arts Center Station, the only option is to walk 20 minutes to the gardens through Ansley Park. Follow the signs to the 15th Street exit (which is up one level) and turn left on 15th Street after walking through the bus bay. Walk up the hill, cross over Peachtree Street and keep walking through the neighborhood until Piedmont Avenue. Turn left onto Piedmont and walk up to the next stoplight, which will be the entrance to the garden (see map). It is about a 20 minute walk.
If you rather not walk, take a red or gold line train to the Midtown Station and get on bus 27. Tell the driver your destination, or exit at Piedmont Avenue and The Prado (first stoplight after the bus turns on Piedmont Avenue). You can also board the bus at Lindbergh Center, but the bus ride will be longer.
For more information, see:
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
How to Ride MARTA Buses
10 Popular Atlanta Tourists Attractions and How to Get There on MARTA
MARTA to Piedmont Park
Piedmont Park is one of Atlanta’s largest and nicest public parks and regularly hosts the Dogwood Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Pride Festival, and Green Concert in addition to Unplugged in the Park (live music at the Park Tavern). The park also features playgrounds, dog park, a public swimming pool, athletic fields, running track and tennis courts (see area map).
If you are gearing up to take the train, you have two options. You can exit at the Arts Center Station and take 14th Street into the park, which gets you closer to the sports fields, running track, pavilions and slightly closer to the lake, pool and Saturday morning Green Market. Walking time is about 15 minutes from this station. Take the West Peachtree Street exit out of the station and turn left onto West Peachtree Street. Walk one block and turn left onto 14th Street and take that all the way to the park, about three blocks.
Or, you can exit at the Midtown Station and take 10th Street down to the park. This route will put you closer to meadow and Park Tavern. It is approximately a 10 minute walk to the edge of the park. Exit the Midtown station onto 10th Street and turn right (if you come up from the Federal Reserve station exit, turn left).
Three buses will also put you next to the park if you don’t want to walk the 10-15 minute distance from or to the train. All buses depart from the N4 Midtown station:
- Bus 36 goes down 10th Street and onto the Highlands and Emory
- Bus 99 also goes down 10th Street and then south on Monroe Drive
- Bus 27 has a stop just outside the 14th Street park entrance and then travels on to the Botanical Garden
For more information, see:
How to Use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
10 Easiest Destinations to Get to on MARTA
MARTA to the Peachtree Road Race
Tips for Taking MARTA to the Dogwood Festival
Midtown Station Restaurants
MARTA to Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park features water fountains, greenspace and regular events throughout the year including ice skating, Fourth Saturday Fun Days (summer months), Wednesday WindDowns, Fourth of July fireworks and more.
There are two MARTA stations that are close to the park: Peachtree Center on the red/gold line and the Georgia Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena Station on the blue/green rail line.
From the Peachtree Center Station, take the Harris Street exit off the train platform, then follow the signs to Peachtree Street West. At street level, turn right or left on Peachtree Street and at the first intersection you come to, walk west down Andrew Young International Blvd. or Harris Street to reach the park (see walking map). These streets will also put you closer to the ice rink as well as the Children’s Museum, World of Coke and the Georgia Aquarium.
From the Dome Station, follow the signs pointing to Philips Arena to exit the station. Go up the tall escalators and keeping walking straight ahead up the stairs and along Centennial Olympic Park Drive to reach the park. Philips Arena will be on your left.
For more information, see:
Georgia Dome/Philips Arena Station Restaurants
Navigating the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena Station
Navigating the Peachtree Center Station
5 Most Walkable MARTA Stations
How to Use Google Maps for MARTA Directions
MARTA to the Braves Shuttle
The Braves Shuttle departs outside of Kenny’s Alley at Underground Atlanta, about equally distant from the Five Points and E1 Georgia State stations (see area map).
If you exit at Georgia State, turn left onto Piedmont Avenue toward the Capitol, then turn right at the first street (Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.) and walk about a block to reach the back entrance to Underground Atlanta.
If you exit at Five Points, just follow the signs to street level once you exit the train. You need to be more careful of signage if you are coming from the north or south rail lines, as not all escalators go up to street level. Be sure to follow the signs that read “To Street”.
If you exit your train to the outside of the platform you’ll find the elevators, so if you are with a bike, have a stroller or wheelchair, be sure to exit on the outside platforms and avoid the center platform.
The station has plenty of signs directing patrons to the shuttles once you reach street level. Take the Peachtree Street exit out of the station, then walk through Underground Atlanta to get to the shuttle pick up. If you need an elevator, take the Peachtree Street exit completely out of the station, cross over Peachtree and there will be a pavilion on the corner with an elevator down to Underground Atlanta.
For more information, see:
How to Ride the Braves Shuttle
Navigating the Five Points Station
Navigating the Georgia State Station
Using Google Maps for MARTA Directions
5 Common Mistakes Made By Braves Game MARTA Riders
