Thanks for sharing your experience! I've also used the MARTA shuttle recently and found it surprisingly efficient. For those looking for alternatives, Shuttlefare is another option worth considering, especially if you're traveling with a lot of luggage or at odd hours. But honestly, sticking with MARTA seems to be the consensus for convenience and cost-effectiveness.
Thank you for the review. I am flying Thursday and was worried about how they would pull off the bus bridge. More curious / skeptical about leaving the airport.
I flew in yesterday and used the shuttle. They have decent signs set up, and employees stationed to help guide / load you.
Depending on how much luggage you have, they may throw it in the back / in a luggage compartment depending on the bus you get.
Generally, I was impressed by how smooth it all went. I didn't have to hardly wait, even if our bus was pretty packed tight.
It certainly wasn’t as fast as it is when airport station is open but as far as the temporary solution goes I think MARTA did good, just allow an extra 15-20 minutes in your travel plans
I heard there’s a bottle neck at the ticket machines when the shuttle gets to College Park from the Airport. Tell your guests to download the Breeze Mobile app to avoid having to wait to buy a Breeze card before getting on the train at College Park.
I took it too!!! So so easy. I also feel like taking the shuttle to college park for free and then Uber-ing home from there would be cheaper and easier than doing it from the airport.
Curious how well lit the College Park station is and how easy all of it is… my dad is considering taking it around 8:30pm and it makes me kind of nervous since he’s old and gets stressed easily.
I have only been to College Park late one time, but felt surprisingly safe. It was still pretty busy and didn’t have any odd encounters. MARTA also has a heavy police presence there
College Park lot is good at nights and you can park near the manned longterm area, or near the police stn onsite if you choose. Never had a problem in the lot (the big lot) in two decades.
Knowing Marta I was expecting an old ass fucking school bus that came around every 20-30 minutes while smelling of urine. Glad that only applies to the trains. In all seriousness, have some friends coming into town next week that will be using Marta to get north otp. Appreciate the info.
Idk what MARTA buses you've been riding but every one I've ridden the past year has been modern and nice. Now the trains are ass and dirty enough to require you to wash your clothes immediately after, but the buses have been consistently good.
TBH don’t ever ride the buses. Last time I did I was probably in HS and taking the shuttle from the Marta station to Turner Field so sometime between 04 and 08. Just making a wee joke about the overall state of Marta facilities (buses excluded I guess). The station I usually use to get The Benz is Kensington and it reeks of urine 99% of the time.
Like just put in restrooms. So frustrating not being able to use the bathroom after getting off the train especially after games/events where I’ve been drinking.
That is a poor excuse to not put in bathrooms imo. I’m sure there is a solution. It can’t be the case that every metro system across the world has no bathrooms because of the homeless. Do better, Marta. I know that’s asking a lot.
The 1 or 2 they have at Kensington are eternally closed for whatever reason. They do have bathrooms that are like a trailer but I think they say staff only. Not sure, been a minute.
I just got off from a red eye into ATL and it was really a seamless experience getting on the shuttle bus (essentially a greyhound type bus)
I flew with ski bags and was able to put my bags under the bus ez pz
maybe added 10-15 min to my commute
I also had a smooth experience with the shuttle. A full bus was pulling out as we exited the airport, but another empty one was there waiting for us to board. We got to College Park in 10 minutes and they unloaded our baggage for us.
Curious what the luggage situation is like. I’m flying out next week and was taking golf clubs in a hard case. I’m flying early so would be to the shuttle before 7am and assuming it wouldn’t be crowded but is there room to take large luggage like that on the shuttle bus?
There’s no extra charge for the shuttle bus. Just the regular fare you pay once you get on the train at College Park (or at your starting point if you’re heading TO the airport).
Just to add another datapoint:
College park to airport (from exiting the train to exiting the bus): 16 min.
Airport to college park (from closing the bus doors to train leaving): 7 min.
All in all it seems quite efficient.
Man I've been waiting in line at the airport RN to get to the shuttle and it's atrocious with the traffic, the shuttles have been coming like 1 every 30 minutes and there are literally hundreds of people in line
It’s right outside the station exit, connected to the building and would be well lit at night. At least when I went (10am today) there were about 10 MARTA employees and multiple police stationed around the station to help and direct traffic, as well as temporary signs everywhere. I didn’t see any signs about when the next shuttle would be, but it seemed like they had a solid fleet and you won’t be waiting outside too long
Agree. I got off at College Park at 10:30PM last night and multiple people on the platform and up top directing folks to the airport shuttles.
At least so far Marta is doing a good job on this.
> It took a total of 15 minutes from getting off the train at college park to walking into the airport
So did OP fly? "It took a total of 15 minutes from getting off the train at college park to walking into the airport"
When you get off the shuttle bus, you walk into the airport. The bus doesn't drive you into the airport doors.
Op took the bus which took less than 15 minutes. And then exited the bus and entered the airport using their feet
to walk.
There's no crossing roads - if you look at the station on[ google maps,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/College+Park+Transit+Station/@33.6508802,-84.4484794,18.75z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x88f4e2b7eddd3bb3:0x6639d956a54b23bd!8m2!3d33.6516804!4d-84.448801!16s%2Fg%2F1jkxlqb5j?entry=ttu) you can see the loops for the bus bays. Basically, you'd get off the train, follow the signs to buses (and I'm sure there's signage to the airport shuttle specifically. I can't speak about frequency information.
To walk from the station to the airport you would need to cross roads: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/bkpFQxVVdLP3WEe56](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bkpFQxVVdLP3WEe56)
Thanks for sharing your experience! I've also used the MARTA shuttle recently and found it surprisingly efficient. For those looking for alternatives, Shuttlefare is another option worth considering, especially if you're traveling with a lot of luggage or at odd hours. But honestly, sticking with MARTA seems to be the consensus for convenience and cost-effectiveness.
Thank you for the review. I am flying Thursday and was worried about how they would pull off the bus bridge. More curious / skeptical about leaving the airport.
Go to the Marta site and there’s a good video that walks you through it
It was shockingly well coordinated and labeled - I used it today to get from the airport north to midtown.
I flew in yesterday and used the shuttle. They have decent signs set up, and employees stationed to help guide / load you. Depending on how much luggage you have, they may throw it in the back / in a luggage compartment depending on the bus you get. Generally, I was impressed by how smooth it all went. I didn't have to hardly wait, even if our bus was pretty packed tight.
Thank you for this post. People see station closed and complain when they have not experienced the shuttle service.
It certainly wasn’t as fast as it is when airport station is open but as far as the temporary solution goes I think MARTA did good, just allow an extra 15-20 minutes in your travel plans
It's so weird that people assume Atlanta's transit is bad.
It is. I was 2 hours late to work once because they were understaffed and stopped service between blue green line
Also tried it yesterday - timed it. 14 minutes extra. Not bad.
I heard there’s a bottle neck at the ticket machines when the shuttle gets to College Park from the Airport. Tell your guests to download the Breeze Mobile app to avoid having to wait to buy a Breeze card before getting on the train at College Park.
Thanks for sharing. I have a friend coming into town who was worried about the shuttle
That's good to hear.
I took it too!!! So so easy. I also feel like taking the shuttle to college park for free and then Uber-ing home from there would be cheaper and easier than doing it from the airport.
Curious how well lit the College Park station is and how easy all of it is… my dad is considering taking it around 8:30pm and it makes me kind of nervous since he’s old and gets stressed easily.
the College Park station is pretty well lit including the parking lots on both side of the tracks.
I have only been to College Park late one time, but felt surprisingly safe. It was still pretty busy and didn’t have any odd encounters. MARTA also has a heavy police presence there
It should be totally fine. 8:30pm isn’t late at all by Atlanta standards, it should be pretty busy and well lit with police presence on site
College Park lot is good at nights and you can park near the manned longterm area, or near the police stn onsite if you choose. Never had a problem in the lot (the big lot) in two decades.
Good looking out homie
Knowing Marta I was expecting an old ass fucking school bus that came around every 20-30 minutes while smelling of urine. Glad that only applies to the trains. In all seriousness, have some friends coming into town next week that will be using Marta to get north otp. Appreciate the info.
Idk what MARTA buses you've been riding but every one I've ridden the past year has been modern and nice. Now the trains are ass and dirty enough to require you to wash your clothes immediately after, but the buses have been consistently good.
The trains are at least being replaced soon so there's that. The system as a whole is cleaner than systems in the northeast though.
Rode the 37 last summer during one of those high 90s days and the AC was busted. I shit you not it felt downright chilly when I stepped off that bus
TBH don’t ever ride the buses. Last time I did I was probably in HS and taking the shuttle from the Marta station to Turner Field so sometime between 04 and 08. Just making a wee joke about the overall state of Marta facilities (buses excluded I guess). The station I usually use to get The Benz is Kensington and it reeks of urine 99% of the time.
That's true the stations smell like homeless piss. Buses are aight.
Like just put in restrooms. So frustrating not being able to use the bathroom after getting off the train especially after games/events where I’ve been drinking.
But once you put in restrooms, then the homeless immediately setup camp and they become a concentration of the current problem but in one room.
That is a poor excuse to not put in bathrooms imo. I’m sure there is a solution. It can’t be the case that every metro system across the world has no bathrooms because of the homeless. Do better, Marta. I know that’s asking a lot.
Every MARTA station has restrooms, but most of them are locked except at key stations (Five Points, end-of-line terminals).
The 1 or 2 they have at Kensington are eternally closed for whatever reason. They do have bathrooms that are like a trailer but I think they say staff only. Not sure, been a minute.
Why’s it closed?
Renovation
Yup. They said they could either shut down the airport station for a few months, or single track it for years. Good decision for once.
I just got off from a red eye into ATL and it was really a seamless experience getting on the shuttle bus (essentially a greyhound type bus) I flew with ski bags and was able to put my bags under the bus ez pz maybe added 10-15 min to my commute
I also had a smooth experience with the shuttle. A full bus was pulling out as we exited the airport, but another empty one was there waiting for us to board. We got to College Park in 10 minutes and they unloaded our baggage for us.
glad i saw this, i completely forgot the station was closed
Curious what the luggage situation is like. I’m flying out next week and was taking golf clubs in a hard case. I’m flying early so would be to the shuttle before 7am and assuming it wouldn’t be crowded but is there room to take large luggage like that on the shuttle bus?
The shuttles are charter buses. They have large luggage areas at the bottom like a greyhound bus.
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you for sharing your experience! Was debating trying this next week but after reading your post, I think I’m going to give it a go.
Have some work trips coming up so I appreciate this. Am I charged for the bus?
There’s no extra charge for the shuttle bus. Just the regular fare you pay once you get on the train at College Park (or at your starting point if you’re heading TO the airport).
Cool, thank you drooling cat
Just to add another datapoint: College park to airport (from exiting the train to exiting the bus): 16 min. Airport to college park (from closing the bus doors to train leaving): 7 min. All in all it seems quite efficient.
Came to this subreddit specifically find reviews about this, got an early flight tomorrow. Thank you!
If I park at the long term parking at the College Park Station, can I take this shuttle to the airport for free?
Man I've been waiting in line at the airport RN to get to the shuttle and it's atrocious with the traffic, the shuttles have been coming like 1 every 30 minutes and there are literally hundreds of people in line
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It’s right outside the station exit, connected to the building and would be well lit at night. At least when I went (10am today) there were about 10 MARTA employees and multiple police stationed around the station to help and direct traffic, as well as temporary signs everywhere. I didn’t see any signs about when the next shuttle would be, but it seemed like they had a solid fleet and you won’t be waiting outside too long
Agree. I got off at College Park at 10:30PM last night and multiple people on the platform and up top directing folks to the airport shuttles. At least so far Marta is doing a good job on this.
There is no way to walk to the airport from the College Park station. I mean, you can, but you would be killed by traffic.
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It would take you like an hour to walk. That's never going to be faster than waiting for the shuttle.
> It took a total of 15 minutes from getting off the train at college park to walking into the airport So did OP fly? "It took a total of 15 minutes from getting off the train at college park to walking into the airport"
When you get off the shuttle bus, you walk into the airport. The bus doesn't drive you into the airport doors. Op took the bus which took less than 15 minutes. And then exited the bus and entered the airport using their feet to walk.
That makes more sense! Clearly failed at reading comprehension today
There's no crossing roads - if you look at the station on[ google maps,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/College+Park+Transit+Station/@33.6508802,-84.4484794,18.75z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x88f4e2b7eddd3bb3:0x6639d956a54b23bd!8m2!3d33.6516804!4d-84.448801!16s%2Fg%2F1jkxlqb5j?entry=ttu) you can see the loops for the bus bays. Basically, you'd get off the train, follow the signs to buses (and I'm sure there's signage to the airport shuttle specifically. I can't speak about frequency information. To walk from the station to the airport you would need to cross roads: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/bkpFQxVVdLP3WEe56](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bkpFQxVVdLP3WEe56)
I know someone who missed a flight to PR this morning because they took MARTA and they had the airport line partially shut down for construction.