Atlanta - Should I rent a car?

Let's face it, mass transit in Atlanta is just about non-existent.  When you compare Atlanta to other metropolitain cities on a mass transit basis, there just really is no comparison:  Atlanta's transit system, MARTA, is way behind and some of it's not their own fault.  One of the reasons is that every county here seems to want their "own little system" instead of integrating into one large regional system.  And of course there's the NIMBY syndrome:  "Not in my back yard".

One of the biggest decisions for someone visiting Atlanta is whether or not to rent a car.  Atlanta's attractions are numerous but they're spread apart geographically by great distances.  For example, the distance between Stone Mountain Park and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, two famous sites from the Civil War, is almost 40 miles.  Not exactly a distance you'd want to take the bus (if there was one).

Unless you want to go North, South, East or West on the train - mass transit that's quick and easy just doesn't exist.  It's a great way to get from the airport to Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead (the financial/business district) and even the north side near Dunwoody.  There are lots of attactions in those areas, but many outside those areas are not easily acesible.  I'm not a bus person so I can't tell you anything about that in Atlanta.

My advice:  if you can afford to rent a car while you're visiting, do it.  If not, you'll still be able to see lots of things, just not as much as with a car.