Where to Stay in Atlanta with Kids: Neighborhood Guide

Y'all, Kiersten here! As an Atlanta mom who has hosted approximately 1,000 visiting family members, I can tell you: where you stay makes or breaks your trip. Atlanta is HUGE and sprawling, so picking the right neighborhood saves you hours of traffic.

DOWNTOWN / CENTENNIAL PARK

Best for: First-timers hitting the big attractions

This is where I tell every visiting family to stay. The Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Children's Museum, College Football HOF, and Centennial Park are all within a 5-minute walk. The Omni Hotel literally shares a building with CNN Center and is steps from everything. Embassy Suites and Glenn Hotel are great too. Rooms tend to be bigger here than in Midtown.

MIDTOWN

Best for: Slightly older kids who'd love Piedmont Park and the Botanical Garden

Walkable to Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the Beltline. The Hyatt Centric and Loews Atlanta are gorgeous and have pools. You're a quick MARTA ride to downtown attractions. My favorite area for families with kids 5+.

BUCKHEAD

Best for: A quieter, upscale stay with mall access

Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza are right there for shopping and the AMERICAN GIRL store (my 6-year-old's heaven). The JW Marriott and Grand Hyatt are family-friendly. It's a 20-minute MARTA ride to downtown.

ATLANTA AIRPORT (LAYOVERS / EARLY FLIGHTS)

Best for: Long layovers or 5am departures

The Renaissance Concourse and Westin both have airplane-watching views my kids LOVE. Skip these for an actual vacation, but they're perfect if you're just passing through.

NEIGHBORHOODS TO AVOID FOR FAMILY TRIPS:

• Anywhere along the I-20 corridor east of downtown

• Cheap motels south of the airport (sketchier than they look online)

• Decatur is lovely but you'll spend half your trip in traffic

MAMA HACKS:

• Always book a hotel with a pool. ALWAYS. After a hot Atlanta afternoon, that pool is the only thing standing between you and a kid meltdown.

• Look for hotels with free breakfast — saves you $40-80/day with a family of four.

• Suite hotels (Embassy Suites, Residence Inn) are worth the upgrade for the separate bedroom once kids go down for naps.