New & Prospective Students - Travel to Georgia

General Information
Once you decide to study at UGA you will need to plan to get your visa, arrange your flight to the U.S. as well as determine how you get to Athens, Georgia.  Do not make your flight arrangements to fly to the USA prior to getting your student visa from the embassy. Also, be sure to carry your immigration documents with you onto the plane! These documents are valuable and can be difficult and expensive to replace. Sometimes bags that are loaded into the plane can be lost between connections.  It is a good idea to make extra copies of your immigration documents and your passport before you leave home just in case they get lost or stolen during your travels. 

In preparing to travel you should be aware that there are many foods that cannot be carried into the USA. There are places in Athens and Atlanta where international students can purchase traditional foods. Please make certain that you don’t bring illegal food into the U.S. by mistake. If you are thinking about bringing food with you, please talk to your travel agent or airline concerning food or any other restrictions.

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Georgia Bound Travel Newsletter
Concerning how best to travel to the University, the UGA Admissions office has included a helpful travel newsletter from ISL in your admissions packet called the Georgia Bound.  This document is a guide for new international students and contains information concerning international student orientation dates, travel information, hotel information, as well as contact information for various UGA offices and ISL student organizations.  If you did not receive a copy of the Georgia Bound you can download it from this Web site in pdf format.

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ISL Pickup Information (Airport, Bus, Shuttle, etc.)
ISL provides complimentary pickup service for new and transfer international students coming to study at UGA.  We can pick UGA international students up from various Athens locations and help them get to their permanent housing and/or the UGA campus.  ISL usually begins the Athens pickup service a few days before the ISL orientation date(s).  Unfortunately, we are not able to offer pickup service for individuals arriving to locations outside of the Athens area. 

Contact ISL at least 2 weeks (10 business days) in advance in order for us to have enough time to make arrangements for your pickup.  Students who do not give the office at least two business days notice in advance of their arrival may not be eligible for this service.  After receipt of your request, students will receive an email confirmation once the office has made the appropriate arrangements for your pickup.

Once again, this service is free for new and transfer international students.  However, individuals who cancel their confirmed pickup without notifying the ISL office in a timely fashion may be charged a fee to cover the expenses incurred for this service.  

If you would like to schedule an Athens Pickup with the ISL office, please email ugaisl@uga.edu with the following information:

Name
Contact information (email)
Arrival Date
Arrival Time
Arrival Location (Athens only)
(If you are flying into Athens, please also include your Airline, flight number, arrival date and arrival time, and if you are connecting from another city in the U.S.)

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Athens Airport Pickup Information
If you are able to fly directly to Athens, the ISL office will try to arrange for you to be picked up by volunteers from the Athens airport. In order to make arrangements for pickup service, students MUST contact ISL in advance so that we can make the necessary arrangements. Please send ISL your plane's arrival date, time, and flight number at least two weeks in advance of your arrival. You may fax this information to us at 706-583-0006 or send an email to ugaisl@uga.edu.

Please note: Most UGA offices are typically closed from December 25 through January 1 of each year. Unfortunately, if you contact ISL during this time period, no one will be in the office to receive your request for pickup. We suggest that you plan your correspondence accordingly.

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Atlanta Airport Pickup Information
Unfortunately, if your final flight destination is Atlanta, GA, ISL will be unable to coordinate a pickup. Please plan to take the AAA Airport shuttle to Athens. (See the Traveling from Atlanta to Athens section of this website for more information regarding the AAA Airport shuttle.)

Sometimes, student members of the ISL international organizations can provide transportation from Atlanta to Athens. Please use email to contact and correspond with the President of an appropriate international student organization to determine if Atlanta airport pick up is possible. Contact information and email addresses for ISL international organizations can be found within the student organizations section on the ISL website.

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Immigration & Visa Information
The Office of International Education handles all immigration matters for international students and scholars at UGA.  Visit their website at www.uga.edu/oie for comprehensive information concerning the necessary paperwork, visa information and other materials you will need to have a successful entry to the United States for your course of study at UGA.  The telephone number for International Student, Scholar and Immigration Services (ISSIS) is 706-425-3154. 

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Travel to Athens or Atlanta, Georgia
To Athens
By car, Athens is approximately 80 miles (or 127 km) from Atlanta. There is no train service to Athens from the nearest major airport – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Therefore, students may wish to consider taking a connecting flight to fly into Athens Ben Epps airport. If you do fly to Athens, ISL offers a free Athens Pickup service for new and transfer international students. See the Athens Pickup section below [link to Athens Pickup section] for more information concerning this free service. 

To Atlanta
You may need to fly into Atlanta instead of Athens. Unfortunately, if you fly to Atlanta, ISL cannot coordinate pickup service at the Atlanta airport. However, there may be other options for students who are interested.  Visit the Atlanta Pickup section of this Web site for more information.   While some students from our international student organizations may be able to pick you up at the Atlanta airport, many of you will have to find transportation from Atlanta to Athens on your own.

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Traveling from Atlanta to Athens
Students may choose to take the AAA Shuttle [link to AAA Shuttle below], take the Greyhound Bus [link to Greyhound below], or rent a car [link to Rent a Car & Drive below] (one-way) and drive from Atlanta to Athens.  The following details concerning each of the three options previously mentioned will help you determine the best way to arrive to UGA.  (ISL is providing the following information to you as a courtesy.  Information from any of the companies listed below is subject to change without notice.  Be sure to check websites and/or call to verify the following information.) 

AAA Shuttle
The simplest method to get from the Atlanta airport to Athens is to take the AAA shuttle [link to www.aaaairportexpress.com ]. The AAA shuttle carries 10-15 people from the Atlanta airport to Athens for $40 (one-way). The trip takes approximately one hour and thirty minutes and AAA travels 9 times per day between Atlanta and Athens at the following times:

Again, please note that all prices and times previously noted are subject to change without notice. For the most current information concerning the AAA Shuttle, it is best to visit their on-line website before making travel plans at www.aaaairportexpress.com. Additionally, it is recommended that you book your AAA Shuttle seat in advance. If you are in the USA already you can call 1-800-354-7874 to reserve your seat. If you are outside the USA, you can email AAA at aaaairportexpres@aol.com  If your email is not successful, your travel agent may be able to reserve a seat for you or you may call the AAA Shuttle Service directly by telephone at the following number +USA 404-767-2000 or by dialing 1-800-354-7874.  Upon your arrival, you may pay for your ticket from the shuttle driver with cash or a major credit card.

We recommend that you book a time with AAA that will allow at least 2 hours after you land (account one hour for delays and one hour for immigration control). For more information about the AAA shuttle, please visit the AAA Airport Express website.
 
After you have passed through immigration and picked up your luggage you should follow signs inside the airport to “Ground Transportation.” When you get outside the airport, follow the signs to “Non-Metro buses.” To be sure where to meet the shuttle, you should check the AAA Airport Express website before you leave on your flight.  The Atlanta airport may be under construction and the location for the shuttle may be changed accordingly.  You can also ask one of the airport attendants for help in finding the AAA Airport Express van to Athens before you leave the airport terminal.

The AAA shuttle drops passengers at various locations in Athens that are close to the University of Georgia campus. If you choose to stay in one of the following hotels, be sure to ask them for the student rate.  Six hotels that are close to the UGA Campus are as follows:

Foundry Park Inn
Courtyard by Marriott
Hilton Garden
Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn
UGA Georgia Center

Visit the Housing section of this website for contact information including addresses for these hotels. 

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Greyhound
The Greyhound Flight Link is located at the Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. It is located in the lower level of the North Terminal. Use the escalator down from the North Baggage Claim Area.  The number of buses that travel to Athens per day can vary, but is usually 1-2.  Check the Greyhound Web site for the most current information, schedules, and pricing.  You may also call Greyhound by dialing toll-free 1-888-287-6359 from any public telephone in the U.S. 

Tickets from the Atlanta airport to Athens can cost approximately $22 or more per passenger, one-way.  Prices listed are subject to change without notice. Check their website to verify. Greyhound may also have specific requirements concerning what time passengers need to arrive at the station in advance of the departure time. 

The Greyhound Station located in downtown Atlanta may also be another option for students. Check their website for more information concerning times, schedules, and hours of operation.  Keep in mind that you may need to take a taxi from the Atlanta airport to get to the downtown station, so you may not be saving money by choosing this option.  If you take a taxi, be sure to discuss the price in advance and make sure that the cab has a working meter.  If it does not, select another taxi with a functioning meter.

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Rent a Car & Drive to Athens
Once you get to baggage claim at the Atlanta or Athens airport, there will be signs to direct you to rental agencies for cars.  There are a number of options to choose from (especially in Atlanta).  Be advised, however, that many of the car rental agencies have an age requirement for their customers.  They may also have certain regulations concerning driver’s licenses.  Be sure to check information on the internet about the company you wish to use before coming to the U.S. to be sure you have the appropriate documentation.  Also, be sure to rent the car one-way and not round trip – otherwise the rental agency will expect you to return the car to the Atlanta airport!  Visit the Atlanta Airport Web site (click on Ground Transportation and the Car Rental links) for information about the companies that have offices at the airport in Atlanta.  

Directions to Athens from the Atlanta Airport:

1. Start by driving towards the AIRPORT EXIT on N TERMINAL PKWY toward Camp Creek PKWY - 0.8 miles
2. Take the I-85 NORTH ramp - 0.5 miles
3. Merge on I-85 NORTH - 3.9 miles
4. Continue on I-75 NORTH/I-85 NORTH - 7.4 miles
5. Continue on I-85 NORTH towards GREENVILLE - 21.3 miles
6. Exit ATHENS/LAWRENCEVILLE onto GA-316 East - 0.1 miles
7. Continue on GA-316 till it becomes EPPS BRIDGE ROAD.  (You will pass by Home Depot and then Walmart) - 40.4 miles
8. Continue on EPPS BRIDGE ROAD till you have to merge RIGHT onto ATLANTA HWY (HWY 78) - 3.0 miles
9. Continue on ATLANTA HWY / HWY 78 till it becomes BROAD STREET - 3.0 miles
10. You have arrived in Downtown Athens 

Total Est. Time:         1 hour, 29 minutes     
Total Est. Distance:   80.64 miles

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