ATL Spotting Locations
Many plane spotters in the USA have heard of the ATL Renaissance Hotel, a hotel famous for its view of ATL from its hotel rooms. But when you don't want to pay tons of money to plane spot, here are the many other spotting locations around ATL.
Terminal South Parking Deck (West Side)
This spot is great for viewing departures from runway 9L/27R and arrivals on 9R/27L, with fair views of arrivals and departures on runway 10/28. The end of Concourse T obstructs part of the view down runway 9L/27R, and it is known to be very frustrating to some spotters. It costs $3 an hour to spot here. Security guards may ask you to leave if they see you plane spotting. Rank: 7/10
Terminal North Parking Deck (West Side)
This spot is nice for viewing departures from runway 8R/26L and arrivals on 8L/26R. The deck is behind the runways, and there is a small set of obstructions that blocks a small part of both runways. You can see all the way to the east side of the airfield from this spot. However, heavy aircraft rarely use runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R, and is a drawback to many spotters. It costs $3 an hour to spot here. Rank: 6/10
Terminal South Cell Phone Parking Lot (West Side)
Located next to the Terminal South deck, this spot offers a great ground-level view of arrivals and departures on 9L/27R and 9R/27L. It is free to park here, however there is a chain-link fence that obstructs the view a bit. Using a ladder or other device that would elevate you to see above the fence is definitely not recommended, as this location is right next to the parking deck and road. Rank: 8/10
Airport Park-Ride Parking Deck (East Side)
This spot is located on the east side of the airport. It offers great views of runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R, along with obstruction-laced views of 9L/27R and 9R/27L. There are virtually no obstructions when viewing runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R. Also, there are amazing views of the Delta Tech-Ops center, and there are always lots of Delta aircraft there ready to be fixed. It costs $3 an hour to spot here. Rank: 9/10
**NOTE: There is a difference between the international parking deck and the park-ride parking deck. If you go to the international parking deck, all you will see is a huge wall**
Renaissance Hill (North Side)
This spot is located just east of the ATL Renaissance Hotel. It is a stretch of elevated land that is about 100 feet long. Certain parts of this spot offer amazing views of the Landmark Aviation ramp and the backup aircraft ramp. It has views of runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R, but there are many obstructions between the spot and the runways. This spot is almost always used just to take photos of aircraft that are sitting at the many ramps around the area. Rank: 4/10
Loop Road Money Spot (Northeast Side)
Located directly under the final approach to runway 26R, this spot gives great overhead views of landing aircraft. Also, there are fair views of departures on runway 8R/26L that provide nice views of "sharkfin takeoffs", when the airplane is rolling and the fuselage "sinks" below view, leaving only the tail visible from the spot. This area is located on the side of Loop Road, a road that provides easy access to other parts of ATL. However, this may require you to park in the Renaissance parking lot and make the quite lengthy walk to the spot. Since it is located on the side of the street, you may have to deal with large trucks blocking the view of aircraft, and you are also vulnerable to passing cops. Don't worry, they'll only ask you to leave if they catch you. Spotting here is free. Rank: 6/10
ITP Skymeadow (Southeast Side)
Similar to the Loop Road Money Spot, this spot is located under the final approach to runway 27L. Larger, more interesting aircraft/foreign carriers usually use runway 9R/27L more frequently than runway 8L/26R. The difference between the ITP Skymeadow and the Loop Road Money Spot is that the Skymeadow is located in a field, rather than the side of the road. Also, a forest blocks the view of the departure runway. Spotters here can be easily noticed because they are in the middle of a large field. Road noise from this spot isn't too bad. It's free to spot here. Rank: 8/10
OTP Dumping Grounds (Southeast Side)
Named after its resemblance to a dumping ground, this spot is the quietest, most secluded spotting location at ATL. It is located hundreds of feet down a dirt road called Weems Street. It provides a view of aircraft landing on runway 28, the southernmost runway at ATL. It is very unlikely that anyone will notice you spotting at this location. The only con to this spot is that aircraft tend to choose inner runways during times of low activity. It's free to spot here. Rank: 7/10
Special thanks to fellow ATL spotter Matt Cochran for finding/naming most of these locations.
Many plane spotters in the USA have heard of the ATL Renaissance Hotel, a hotel famous for its view of ATL from its hotel rooms. But when you don't want to pay tons of money to plane spot, here are the many other spotting locations around ATL.
Terminal South Parking Deck (West Side)
This spot is great for viewing departures from runway 9L/27R and arrivals on 9R/27L, with fair views of arrivals and departures on runway 10/28. The end of Concourse T obstructs part of the view down runway 9L/27R, and it is known to be very frustrating to some spotters. It costs $3 an hour to spot here. Security guards may ask you to leave if they see you plane spotting. Rank: 7/10
Terminal North Parking Deck (West Side)
This spot is nice for viewing departures from runway 8R/26L and arrivals on 8L/26R. The deck is behind the runways, and there is a small set of obstructions that blocks a small part of both runways. You can see all the way to the east side of the airfield from this spot. However, heavy aircraft rarely use runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R, and is a drawback to many spotters. It costs $3 an hour to spot here. Rank: 6/10
Terminal South Cell Phone Parking Lot (West Side)
Located next to the Terminal South deck, this spot offers a great ground-level view of arrivals and departures on 9L/27R and 9R/27L. It is free to park here, however there is a chain-link fence that obstructs the view a bit. Using a ladder or other device that would elevate you to see above the fence is definitely not recommended, as this location is right next to the parking deck and road. Rank: 8/10
Airport Park-Ride Parking Deck (East Side)
This spot is located on the east side of the airport. It offers great views of runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R, along with obstruction-laced views of 9L/27R and 9R/27L. There are virtually no obstructions when viewing runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R. Also, there are amazing views of the Delta Tech-Ops center, and there are always lots of Delta aircraft there ready to be fixed. It costs $3 an hour to spot here. Rank: 9/10
**NOTE: There is a difference between the international parking deck and the park-ride parking deck. If you go to the international parking deck, all you will see is a huge wall**
Renaissance Hill (North Side)
This spot is located just east of the ATL Renaissance Hotel. It is a stretch of elevated land that is about 100 feet long. Certain parts of this spot offer amazing views of the Landmark Aviation ramp and the backup aircraft ramp. It has views of runways 8R/26L and 8L/26R, but there are many obstructions between the spot and the runways. This spot is almost always used just to take photos of aircraft that are sitting at the many ramps around the area. Rank: 4/10
Loop Road Money Spot (Northeast Side)
Located directly under the final approach to runway 26R, this spot gives great overhead views of landing aircraft. Also, there are fair views of departures on runway 8R/26L that provide nice views of "sharkfin takeoffs", when the airplane is rolling and the fuselage "sinks" below view, leaving only the tail visible from the spot. This area is located on the side of Loop Road, a road that provides easy access to other parts of ATL. However, this may require you to park in the Renaissance parking lot and make the quite lengthy walk to the spot. Since it is located on the side of the street, you may have to deal with large trucks blocking the view of aircraft, and you are also vulnerable to passing cops. Don't worry, they'll only ask you to leave if they catch you. Spotting here is free. Rank: 6/10
ITP Skymeadow (Southeast Side)
Similar to the Loop Road Money Spot, this spot is located under the final approach to runway 27L. Larger, more interesting aircraft/foreign carriers usually use runway 9R/27L more frequently than runway 8L/26R. The difference between the ITP Skymeadow and the Loop Road Money Spot is that the Skymeadow is located in a field, rather than the side of the road. Also, a forest blocks the view of the departure runway. Spotters here can be easily noticed because they are in the middle of a large field. Road noise from this spot isn't too bad. It's free to spot here. Rank: 8/10
OTP Dumping Grounds (Southeast Side)
Named after its resemblance to a dumping ground, this spot is the quietest, most secluded spotting location at ATL. It is located hundreds of feet down a dirt road called Weems Street. It provides a view of aircraft landing on runway 28, the southernmost runway at ATL. It is very unlikely that anyone will notice you spotting at this location. The only con to this spot is that aircraft tend to choose inner runways during times of low activity. It's free to spot here. Rank: 7/10
Special thanks to fellow ATL spotter Matt Cochran for finding/naming most of these locations.