Getting here
While most visitors drive to Athens, many flying in from out of state arrive at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, 70 miles away, then rent a car or hop on a shuttle. Flights to the local Athens-Ben Epps airport, a few miles east of downtown, are available through charter service only.
Charter Flights
If you’re planning on flying private, Aero Center Atlanta, Wheels Up, Georgia Jet and AirStar Charter all service Athens-Ben Epps airport. Visit accgov.com/airport for more information.
Groome Transportation
This airport shuttle service runs multiple times a day from Hartsfield-Jackson to Athens and back. There are several pick-up and drop-off spots around town, including the Georgia Center and The Classic Center. Fares range from $25 to $59, and one pet is allowed to travel with you for an additional $15 fee. Online booking discounts are available.
Getting around
Campus Transit
The UGA bus system can save you the time and expense of looking for parking, and it travels far beyond campus. Regular bus services do not run during home football games, when the university is closed or the weekend immediately before or after a holiday. Download the UGA app for route information.
Athens-Clarke County Transit
Athens Transit is a free city bus with 20 different routes. Hours of operation end at 9:45 p.m. during the week and at 6:45 p.m. over the weekend. Buses don’t run on major holidays. Download the MyStop app for route tracking and additional information.
Downtown Parking
Parking downtown can be tricky for visitors and locals alike, but you’ll usually have better luck finding a spot on side streets and farther away from the Arch. Metered parking is $2 an hour with a two-hour maximum from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and all meters take credit cards. After 6 p.m., you may purchase additional time, and after 10 p.m., the meters are not monitored.
You can find city-operated decks on College Avenue, a few blocks from the Arch, and on West Washington Street, closer to restaurants and music venues. Parking in these lots is typically free for the first 30 minutes, and $1 per additional hour. The downtown area has several spots and lots that can be reserved and paid for via the ParkMobile app, which is also utilized by several UGA decks.
Most street parking is free on Sundays and major holidays and is not monitored after 10 p.m. Many university lots are free and unrestricted on non-game weekends.
Visitors centers
UGA Visitors Center
405 College Station Road
Here you can schedule campus tours, get directions and find answers to all your UGA-related questions. The Visitors Center is open Monday through Friday and on select Saturdays. Student-led campus tours consist of an admissions presentation, a ride on a UGA bus and an hour-long walking tour of historic North Campus. Registration is required for all guests, but self-guided tour maps are also available.
Historic Athens Welcome Center
280 E. Dougherty Street
Stop by the Church-Waddel-Brumby House, which is considered the oldest surviving residence in Athens, to grab a map, sign up for tours and get Athens-themed gifts. Open seven days a week, the welcome center offers both guided and self-guided tours about Black history, local music, historic homes and more.
This article was originally published in The Red & Black fall/winter 2025 Visitors Guide.
