Why Atlanta May Be A Bit More Difficult For Tourists To Navigate Than Other Cities

If you're planning a trip to Atlanta and plugging "Peachtree" into your GPS, you're going to need to be a bit more specific. While it may sound charmingly Southern, Atlanta's obsession with Peachtree-named roads can make navigating the area confusing for visitors — and honestly, even locals sometimes. Peachtree Street (aka Atlanta's Main Street), Peachtree Road, Peachtree Drive, Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Battle Avenue, and West Peachtree Street — no, it's not the same as Peachtree Street — all exist. In total, there are at least 71 Peachtree-labeled roads in the metro area. There's also Peachtree Corners and Peachtree City, which are entire towns.

So what's up with this peach preoccupation (aside from Georgia being the Peach State)? The name goes back centuries, long before Atlanta was a city. Back then, the region was home to the Muscogee (Creek) people, who had a settlement called Standing Peachtree where Peachtree Creek meets the Chattahoochee River — near today's Buckhead. Indigenous people referred to the area as "Pakanahuili," translated to "Standing Peachtree," although some historians argue it was "Standing Pitch Tree" instead, meaning pine rather than peaches. Trails from Standing Peachtree, once a key path for native traders and later settlers, eventually evolved into multiple Peachtree-named roads crisscrossing the city.

So when your GPS directs you to Peachtree, you may want to do a little extra digging. Are you heading to Peachtree Street in Midtown, Peachtree Road in Buckhead, or Peachtree Parkway in the suburbs? Whether you're looking for the best soul food spot in the city or heading to the Peach Drop to celebrate New Years with the kids, remember that not all Peachtree roads are the same.

Now that you know about Atlanta's infatuation with all things peach-related, we have some tips on how to avoid getting lost while trying to find that brunch spot everyone swears by. First, double-check the full street name. There's a world of difference between Peachtree Street in Midtown and Peachtree Circle over in Ansley Park. Secondly, remember that the most famous of the peach-named roads, Peachtree Street, runs right through Downtown and Midtown, past landmarks like the Margaret Mitchell House and a couple blocks from Piedmont Park. But it changes into Peachtree Road as you head into Buckhead.

Luckily, GPS does a pretty decent job of getting you where you need to go with enough details. Websites like 511GA and the Downtown Atlanta parking map are other useful resources. Don't be afraid to ask locals for help — just be ready for an answer that involves at least three turns, a "you'll see a Waffle House," and maybe a warning about one-way streets. (Oh yeah, there are plenty of those too.)

Lastly, take advantage of Atlanta's MARTA system — it can save you a lot of traffic-induced stress. While MARTA isn't as thorough as rail systems in New York or Chicago, it will get you most places you want to go, or at least in the vicinity. And if you flew into Hartsfield-Jackson, the world's busiest airport, you probably already saw signs of the city's infamous traffic. Atlanta is high on car culture, and locals often joke that Atlanta is an hour away from Atlanta. So build in buffer time when traveling by car. You may find yourself spending more time on Peachtree (whichever one it is) than you expected.