Music Midtown is a major music festival that takes place in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. In addition to a large line-up of musicians, there are also large crowds and very little parking. That’s where MARTA comes into play and provides a great way to get to and from the festival. See these tips to make the commute easier so you can spend your time enjoying the festivities.
1. Purchase Your Fare Early
Make sure you purchase a roundtrip fare ($5), for your commute, and try to do so before the concert weekend, as there can be lines at the fare machines. If you already have a plastic Breeze Card, you can load your fare online. Allow one hour for processing before riding the train. If you plan to attend multiple days, make sure you add as many trips as you need on to your card at the beginning of the weekend. For new riders, a reminder that each person needs to have a Breeze card or ticket if you’re commuting with a group.
2. Prepare to Walk
The Midtown MARTA station is closest to Music Midtown, and it is about a 20 minute walk from the station down 10th Street. You can also exit at the Arts Center Station and walk 25 minutes — the station might be less crowded and provides easier access to the entrance with shorter lines near the bridge on Park Drive.
Even if you plan to take a bus part of the way, you’ll still be walking 5-10 minutes, so plan to wear shoes you can walk in. Bikes are also welcome on MARTA trains if you want to shorten your commute. Bike racks will be available at the festival at 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive.
3. Know Where to Park
The three parking decks at the Lindbergh Center MARTA station are closest to Music Midtown. Two of the decks are off of Lindbergh Drive and have free daily parking, but no parking past midnight unless you use the long-term parking deck off of Syndey Marcus Blvd.($8 fee). When you enter any of the parking decks, you’ll receive a paper parking ticket. Keep the ticket with you. When you return to Lindbergh Center, you can validate the ticket in a yellow machine within the MARTA station.
4. Consider Buses
You can also take a bus to Music Midtown (just like taking the Braves Shuttle). It is free to ride the bus when you transfer from the train. Bus 27 is one option…it has a stop at 14th Street and Piedmont Avenue near one of the entrance gates, and you can board it at the Lindbergh Center or Midtown Station. Bus 12 is also a good option for those commuting from Georgia Tech or West Midtown. Use OneBusAway app or website for real-time bus arrivals.
Note that bus 36 and 109 will be rerouted during the festival.
5. Don’t Miss the Train
Trains typically wind down for the night a little after 1 a.m. If you plan to stay out late and do any after-partying in the Midtown area, use promo code MARTAGuide with Uber to get $20 off your first ride. Note that if you are traveling northbound after the festival, be sure to board the first northbound train that arrives. If your final destination is Buckhead, Medical Center, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or North Springs, transfer to a North Springs train at the Lindbergh Center MARTA station.
More Information
Music Midtown Tickets
Music Midtown Festival Map
MARTA Trip Planning Options
Breeze Card FAQ
3 Apps That Will Improve Your MARTA Commute
