Greyhound buses leave D.C. all hours of the day and night heading to Atlanta. At least six buses per day are available for this route. Greyhound does not require advance reservations. They recommend simply arriving at least an hour before the bus departs and purchasing a ticket. Advance tickets are available, but seating is first come, first serve. An advance ticket does not guarantee a seat. Greyhound makes additional buses available to handle overflow should a bus sell out. As of November, 2010, ticket prices from Washington to Atlanta were $101 for a standard ticket, and $88 if purchased online. Greyhound tickets are not refundable, but higher fare tickets are available to ensure refund. A bus ride from D.C. to Atlanta ranges from 15 to 19 hours in length, dependant upon scheduled stops en route.
Train travel is slightly faster and is less confined than the bus. As of November, 2010, Amtrak offers a daily overnight trip that leaves Washington, D.C. at 6:30 p.m. and arrives in Atlanta, Georgia at 8:15 a.m., for a duration of 13 hours and 45 minutes. Standard rates for this train as of November, 2010 are $105. Seniors over 60 receive a 15% discount, and children under 15 years of age can ride for half price. There is no additional fee for refundable Amtrak tickets, but not every ticket is refundable. Business Class and First Class are available for an extra fee, as are special sleeping accommodations. Most Amtrak trains have dining cars, which enable travelers to leave their seat and go have a meal, or to bring food back to their car.
Flying is obviously the fastest option from Washington to Atlanta. It is not the cheapest method, but if travel dates are flexible, there are some good deals to be found. As an example, both US Airways and AirTran fly from D.C. to Atlanta, with flights departing as many as 20 times a day. As of November, 2010, non-holiday time rates begin as low as $178 for non-refundable, round-trip coach tickets. Flight length from D.C. to Atlanta is just under two hours. Flying does mean extra fees, however. In the case of AirTran, a $20 fee is charged for the first checked bag and $25 for the second. US Airways charges $20-$25 for the first checked bag and $30-$35 for the second. Other fees are applied for reserving a ticket in a method other than online.
