Atlanta travelers ditch cars for trains amid high gas prices this Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend has kicked off the summer travel season, with many in metro Atlanta opting for trains over cars. Higher gas prices and heavy road traffic have pushed travellers toward alternatives like MARTA and Amtrak. Both services are preparing for a surge in passengers over the long weekend. Christina Diaz decided against driving or flying for her holiday trip. Rising fuel costs and convenience led her to book an Amtrak train instead. She is not alone—many are making similar choices to avoid the hassle of congested roads.

In Atlanta, MARTA is expecting up to 10,000 daily riders during the weekend. Amy Williams, visiting family and attending a jazz festival, picked MARTA over Uber to save money. Adhyot Singh also chose the system after a friend recommended it for its affordability. To ease traffic, Georgia has suspended interstate lane closures until Tuesday morning. Despite this, heavier congestion is still anticipated on major routes.

The shift toward trains reflects concerns over fuel costs and road delays. MARTA and Amtrak are seeing higher demand as travellers seek budget-friendly options. The holiday weekend will test how well these services handle the increased numbers.