Getting Around Atlanta with Kids: A Local's Guide

Hi friends, Kiersten here! Real talk — Atlanta is a CAR city. I-285 (the Perimeter) is basically a parking lot most weekdays from 7-9am and 4-7pm. After three kids and a decade of navigating this city, here's exactly how I get around with little ones.

FROM THE AIRPORT (ATL):

• MARTA train: My #1 pick. $2.50 per person, kids under 5 free. The Red/Gold line goes straight from baggage claim to downtown in 20 minutes. NO traffic, no rental car hassle, no carseat headache.

• Uber/Lyft: Around $30-45 to downtown. Faster than MARTA off-peak, brutal during rush hour. Request XL for car seats (they don't provide them).

• Rental car: Only worth it if you're staying outside the perimeter or doing day trips (Helen, Stone Mountain, Amicalola Falls).

THE BROOK FAMILY RULES:

• NEVER drive into downtown between 4-6:30pm on a weekday. Just don't.

• Park ONCE downtown and walk between Centennial Park attractions — the Aquarium, Coke, College Football HOF, Children's Museum, and SkyView are all within 5 minutes on foot.

• Buy the Centennial Park area parking deck pass ($15-20/day) instead of street parking — it's covered, secure, and saves you from meter stress.

• The Atlanta BeltLine is walkable/bikeable and connects Piedmont Park to Ponce City Market in about 25 minutes. Free strollers can rent bikes with kid seats!

MAMA HACKS:

• Always pack the car seat — Ubers don't provide them and most rental car seats are gross.

• Waze beats Google Maps in Atlanta — it knows the back roads locals use.

• If you're staying near MARTA stations (Midtown, Buckhead, Lindbergh, North Avenue), you can ditch the car entirely for downtown days.

• Sunday mornings before 11am are the only time Atlanta traffic is genuinely chill. Use that window!