Atlanta AMTRAK to Tucker/Stone Mountain

[kinzel]

So much for tourist friendly information.

And so, not being able to decipher the supposed information at the MARTA site...

does anyone have suggestions about how to get from Atlanta's AMTRAK station to the Tucker/Stone Mountain area between 8 am and 10 am on a weekday...while carrying a laptop and other luggage?

Taxi? Bus? Rail? Peachpit?

I found one travel guide assuming I'll fly in... and another explaining how far away the AMTRAK station is from downtown...where I am not going, I suspect.

So, can anyone help a Mainer find his way about town?

I'm looking at arriving Thursday, I think. This week.

The return trip should start either Thursday afternoon or late Friday morning, depending on how I sleep on way down. The return trip I'll be driving. Can you say sudden business trip?

...and right, I need to get tickets in the next 18 hours or so. Hello, internet...

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

The MARTA rail doesn't go that far, but the East route end terminal connects with buses that do. Or did, last time I took MARTA out that way. My stop was short of the end, so I can't help you further. The hours should be okay -- that's past main rush hour, and you are headed out rather than in. You may have to go downtown from AMTRAK to change lines, as the system operates north-south and east-west, only intersection being Five Points Station, and I have no idea where AMTRAK dumps people. I always came in by air. Last time being maybe five years ago, so all this is subject to change.

You can usually get a taxi right at the MARTA station, if you'd prefer that.

Email me if you have other stuff. And take a swing around Stone Mountain if you get a chance -- nice hunk of rock, even if they chintzed it up.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the pointers ...

the lurkers in email seem to feel that best use of time is to pay for taxi ride, which is what I expect I'll do.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I'd been leaning toward "taxi from AMTRAK" as a follow-up suggestion. Atlanta has become a mess in the decades since I lived there.

"Come to think of it, Mistah, you can't get theah from heah."

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

filkerdave pointed me in your direction.

A taxi will be expensiveish but uncomplicated.

From the Amtrak station, you can take a southbound bus to Arts Center MARTA station (or you could walk, but it's a fair hike), then take the train south to Five Points, then East to the end of the line. From there, you'll still be looking at a taxi or bus to whereever you're going, but it's probably slightly cheaper than a taxi ride from the Amtrak station.

http://itsmarta.com/ is the official MARTA web page, which has schedules and such.

http://www.atlanta.net/ is the web pge of the Atlanta Vistor's and Convention Bureau. They might have helpful information.

Atlanta is really not a transit-friendly town, I'm afraid.

Good luck!

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Hi ... and thanks...
yes, this is the advice I'm getting from several folks on our FoL mailing list.

Help is appreciated ...

hey, have they built any Tim Hortons around yet?

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

Nope. Down here, instead, you navigate by Waffle Houses.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Yep, I recall that from our trips to southern cons ...
Waffle Houses... but Tim's is expanding and may make it your way eventually...

got Macaroni Grill?

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

When I was up in Detroit visiting one of my sweeties, we went over to Windsor, ON, and while driving about amused ourselves by counting how many Tim Horton's we passed. We spotted at least 17 in about a 2 hour period of aimless wandering.

Yep, got Macaroni Grill.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I learned to make Penne Rustica at home so that I don't have to pay all that money for it. Besides, they don't take reservations.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

It sounds from the list that you have a local guide/driver now, but if not, I would suggest taking the Marta line only as far as the Avondale station on the East line--E7 Station, I think, but don't quote me--which is a few miles from Tucker and/or Stone Mountain. There is a U-Haul place about a mile from the station, if that's how you're planning on driving home, and there's usually taxis waiting at the station. I can get the address and phone number for the U-Haul place if you want. They're not large enough to show up for a one-way rental without a reservation, though.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Indeed, it does look like I have someone who can meet me at the train station -- an altogether better solution than dragging luggage around town, I'll wager.