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7 Best things to do near Atlanta Airport during layover
Explore the best things to do near Atlanta Airport during your layover, from visiting the Delta Flight Museum to enjoying a stroll in Piedmont Park.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta handles more passengers than any other airport in the US, and if you’re one of them, there’s a good chance you’ve got a layover to fill. Attractions sit within a short ride of the terminal: from the Delta Flight Museum to Piedmont Park and the Georgia Aquarium.
This guide rounds up the best things to do near Atlanta Airport, including travel times, costs, and opening hours, so you can plan around your flight. Moreover, we’ll show you the best way to stay connected while exploring the Atlanta Airport surroundings, once you leave the free WiFi zone.
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1. Explore the Delta Flight Museum
- Distance from ATL Airport: 10-15 minute car ride, but you can also take a cheaper 50-minute subway or bus from the Airport Station. While it is a longer journey, you won’t have to worry about rush hour or traffic if you take the subway.
- Cost: Ticket prices range from $10-15 (children under five can enter for free!)
- Opening hours: Open Thursday to Tuesday from 10 AM to 4 PM
One of the most exciting things to do near Atlanta Hartsfield Airport is visiting the Delta Flight Museum. Conveniently located at Delta’s Atlanta headquarters near the airport’s international terminal, this museum offers a glimpse into Delta Airlines’ rich history.
You can also explore vintage aircraft like the 1928 Northwest Airways Waco 125 biplane, special interactive exhibits, and even try out their full-motion flight simulator! You really want to go all in and can spare $425? Try a training session in the only full-motion simulator in the USA. For efficiency, download the “Delta Flight Museum AR” app onto your phone. Ensure you can access such apps and book tickets in advance using an eSIM for the USA.
2. Visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
- Distance from ATL Airport: 15-20 minute car ride or a cheaper 40-minute subway ride (from the Airport Station), including a 10-minute walk
- Cost: Entry is free!
- Opening hours: Open 9 AM to 5 PM daily
Just two blocks away from where the last scene of “Black Panther” was filmed, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park is easily one of the best free things to do near the Atlanta Airport.
Walk in the footsteps of the world’s greatest civil rights movement leaders and discover the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King was once a pastor. Next door, you’ll find the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change with multiple exhibits and the tombs of King and his wife, Coretta Scott King. For those interested, a 30-minute guided tour of King’s birth home is also available. Overall, it’s a great learning experience and one of the worthwhile attractions near Atlanta Airport.
Pro tip :Remember to pack comfortable shoes since the entire complex spans several city blocks.
3. Tour the Centennial Olympic Park
- Distance from ATL Airport: 15-20 minute car ride or a 30-minute subway ride from the Airport Station
- Cost: Entry is free!
- Opening hours: 7 AM to 10 PM daily
Located in downtown Atlanta and across the street from the College Football Hall of Fame, Centennial Olympic Park is a great option for those wondering what to do near Atlanta Airport. Originally built for the 1996 Olympic Games, this park is now one of the most visited areas in Atlanta and is also a comfortable distance from the airport. Centennial Park is also near other must-see sights in Atlanta, such as the SkyView Atlanta Ferris Wheel and the World of Coca-Cola,
The park also hosts special events like the Magic Theater every year. One of the park’s best elements is the Fountain of Rings, which comprises 251 water jets. You can watch the four daily water shows with jets shooting up to the beats of various songs, making it one of the fun things to do near Atlanta airport with kids.
4. Discover the World of Coca-Cola
- Distance from ATL Airport: 10-15 minute car ride or a 30-minute subway ride from the Airport Station
- Cost: General Admission tickets typically start around $21 for adults, but check the website for current pricing
- Opening hours: Open 7 days a week (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
If you’re after one of the most family-friendly things to do near Atlanta Airport with kids, the World of Coca-Cola is hard to beat. Located in downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Park District, this multimedia attraction walks you through the brand’s 130+ year history with hundreds of artifacts, films, and interactive exhibits.
The highlight for most visitors is the tasting room, where you can sample dozens of Coca-Cola products from around the world — including a few that won’t be to everyone’s taste. You can also meet the Coca-Cola Polar Bear, peek at the vault that holds the secret formula, and grab a quick bite at the Bottle Cap Café before heading back. Average visit time is around 2 hours, making it a comfortable layover option.
5. Take a quick trip to Piedmont Park
- Distance from ATL Airport: 15-20 minute ride or a 40-minute subway ride from the Airport Station
- Cost: No entry fee
- Opening hours: 6 AM–11 PM daily
Piedmont Park is one of the top destinations in Atlanta. Spanning over 200 acres, it is close to the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Midtown and is the perfect place to spend an afternoon, especially after a long-haul flight. It is also one of the best free things to do near Atlanta Airport.
There’s no shortage of activities here. From walking and jogging paths to dog parks and playgrounds, tennis courts with rentable tennis rackets, and a public swimming pool, it’s known as one of Atlanta’s best parks. If you’ve got a layover at Atlanta Airport, head out to this scenic location, which also hosts a variety of Atlanta’s top events, such as the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival and Music Midtown. Visting it is one of the things to do near Atlanta Airport for adults and kids alike.
6. Explore the exciting Georgia Aquarium
- Distance from ATL Airport: 10-15 minute car ride or a 30-minute subway ride from the Airport Station
- Cost: Tickets range from $40-$70 (book your ticket in advance to save more!
- Opening hours: Generally open from 9 AM to 9 PM (timings may vary according to the day)
Known as one of the world’s largest aquariums, the Georgia Aquarium is home to a multitude of marine life featured in eight different galleries. This is definitely among the top fun things to do near Atlanta Airport with kids. From freshwater animals in the “Southern Company River Scout” gallery to the gigantic whale shark tank in the “Ocean Voyager” gallery, it’s a crown jewel among aquariums worldwide.
One of its newest exhibits is particularly exciting. The “Sharks! Predators of the Deep” gallery features various shark species, including tiger sharks and hammerheads, in a massive 20-foot tank with over 1 million gallons of water.
7. Discover Atlanta’s Fox Theatre
- Distance from the ATL Airport: 15-20 minute car ride or a 25-minute subway ride from the Airport Station
- Cost: Ticket prices vary by performance and seat. Tour prices range from $15-25
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM
One of the city’s most iconic landmarks is only a 15-20-minute car ride from Atlanta Airport. Visit The Fox Theatre, inspired by the Karnak Temple Complex in Egypt and the Alhambra in Spain. If you’re looking for things to do around Atlanta Airport, visit this beautiful building. The best part is that you don’t need tickets to a show to explore its intricate interior.
You can choose to go on a tour, learn more about the building’s architectural details, and explore more than 10 locations within. It’s safe to say the biggest attraction inside is Mighty Mo, one of the world’s largest theater organs. If you’d like to experience a world-famous performance, you’ll have to book tickets in advance. But the Fox Theatre’s bright interiors still make it worth your time.
Tips for exploring near Atlanta Airport
Got a few hours before your next flight? With some quick planning, you can pick from plenty of things to do near Atlanta Airport during a layover instead of waiting in the terminal. Here’s what to know.
Match the attraction to your layover
How long you’ve got determines how far you can stray. A rough rule of thumb:
- 2-3 hours: stick close: The Delta Flight Museum is your best bet.
- 3-5 hours: Comfortably reach the Centennial Park District (World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park) by car or MARTA.
- 5+ hours: You’ve got time for Midtown: Piedmont Park, the Fox Theatre, or the MLK National Historical Park.
For a 4-hour layover specifically, factor in around 90 minutes of buffer for transit, security, and gate arrival , leaving roughly 2.5 hours of actual exploring.
Plan your transportation
The Airport Station MARTA train runs straight from ATL to downtown Atlanta in around 20 minutes, with no traffic to worry about. It’s the most predictable way back to the terminal.
Taxis and rideshare (Uber, Lyft) are faster outside peak hours but unpredictable during Atlanta’s rush hours. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes if you’re returning between 4 PM and 7 PM.
Dress for the weather
Atlanta runs hot and humid in summer (often 90°F+) and mild but rainy through spring and fall. Comfortable shoes are a must. The Centennial Park District spans several walkable blocks, and the MLK Historical Park complex covers an even larger area.
Stay connected throughout
Free Atlanta Airport WiFi is fine for the terminal, but speeds aren’t reliable for streaming, video calls with your loved ones, or live flight updates.
Holafly’s eSIM for the USA keeps you connected the moment you land, with unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 customer support.
Every Holafly eSIM also comes with Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data at no extra cost. Just keep the eSIM installed on your device, and you’ve got an emergency connection for anything a layover throws at you — calling a rideshare, rebooking a flight, or finding your gate when plans change.
Unlimited data. Peace of mind.
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Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!
