George Bush Intercontinental to Hartsfield-Jackson
688 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 1h 47m with 5 airlines operating direct service from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $119 return), with peak prices in August (around $357). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from George Bush Intercontinental
Houston George Bush Intercontinental is United Airlines' second-largest hub after Newark, with five terminals and a Skytrain people mover connecting them. METRO's bus 102 runs from the airport to downtown Houston in around 50 minutes; light rail does not extend to IAH. International long-haul through Houston is heaviest to Latin America (over 30 destinations) and Europe, with Lufthansa, KLM, Air France and British Airways all operating daily and growing Middle East service via Qatar, Emirates and Turkish.
Arriving in Atlanta
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson is 10 miles south of downtown Atlanta. MARTA Red and Gold lines run from the airport's own station directly into downtown in 20 minutes for $2.50 — the cheapest big-city airport transfer in the country. Fares to Atlanta peak around the Masters (early April) and SEC football weekends (autumn Saturdays); January and August are the cheapest months despite August's heat.
Who flies IAH to ATL?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 1h 47m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 1h 47m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 1h 47m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 1h 47m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 1h 47m | Economy |
5 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly IAH→ATL
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Houston to Atlanta FAQs
Direct flights from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) take approximately 1h 47m for the 688-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $119. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
5 carriers operate direct service from George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL): United Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is the primary international airport for Atlanta. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.