A new study by Rightway Parking ranks the most stressful major airports in the U.S., and, you guessed it: Hartsfield-Jackson made the list. Keep scrolling to see why the ATL airport is one of the most stressful… and our tips for how to make it a stress-free experience!
The busiest airport in the world
The Atlanta Airport regularly ranks as the ‘busiest airport in the world‘ usually narrowly beating-out Dubai International.
When it comes to busy, stressful spots… the Atlanta Airport is no stranger.
In Rightway Parking’s study, Atlanta ranks as the #18 most stressful U.S. airport, just after
St. Louis Lambert International (STL, and just before Jacksonville International (JAX).
How did Rightway Parking come up with this ranking?
To find the most stressful airports in the U.S., Rightway Parking calculated five factors:
- delay rate
- cancellation rate
- how much delays have worsened since 2021
- how far from downtown
- how long it actually takes to get there from downtown
According to the study,
Nearly one in four Atlanta flights was delayed in 2025. Its 23.25% delay rate tied with Austin-Bergstrom for the 14th-highest among the airports studied, above LaGuardia’s 21.67%, JFK’s 20.77% and Los Angeles International’s 18.01%.
How to navigate the Atlanta Airport like a pro
So… how do you avoid all this stress, then? If you want to navigate the Atlanta Airport like a native & frequent-flyer, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the tips & tricks to help you stay stress-free at the Airport.
- Arrive early. On-time is LATE! – The Atlanta Airport is BUSY! And there are lots of moving parts. So take that 2.5-hours early for domestic flights and 3-4-hours early for international flights rule seriously. Checking a bag? Add another 30 minutes. And that means when you arrive at the AIRPORT, not when you start looking for parking.
- If you’re traveling during peak hours (5-9am or 4-7pm), high season, or days with events in Atlanta (conventions, SEC games, concerts), make it 3 hours.
- Use the Plane Train. It’s there for a reason. You’ll cut down on travel time considerably if you use the plane train, which stops at each concourse, all day long.
- Have your ID ready. You have to show ID at security–have it in your hand while you’re in line to cut down on wait times.
- Yes, TSA PreCheck and CLEAR are worth it. Considering getting TSA PreCheck? GET IT! Atlanta is BUSY! And that helps you avoid the long line.
- Use MARTA. Avoid parking at the airport altogether by just taking MARTA directly to the airport. It’s fast, efficient, and takes you to exactly the right place. No guess work needed.
- Have enough time to check it out. The Atlanta Airport is FULL of amazing arts, cultural artifacts, historical documentation, delicious food, fun drinks and great shopping. It’s like its own little city, and you don’t wanna miss out.
See all of the airport’s tips and tricks on their website, here!
Happy flying, Atlanta!