Yes, Atlanta Airport (ATL) has designated smoking areas in outdoor zones at the main terminal. You’ll find them near doors N1, N4, N8, N10 (Terminal North) and S2, S6, S8, S12 (Terminal South), plus both levels of the International Terminal — all located before the TSA checkpoint. Indoor lounges closed permanently in January 2020, so these five outdoor zones are your options.
Atlanta is a major connecting hub — if you are flying on, see smoking at Chicago O’Hare Airport or smoking areas at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
Atlanta Airport Smoking Policy
ATL went fully smoke-free indoors in January 2020. The airport had operated several indoor smoking lounges for years before they were all closed. Smoking, vaping, and the use of any tobacco or nicotine products are no longer permitted inside any building on airport property.
To light up, use one of the designated outdoor smoking areas and stand at least 25 feet from any terminal entrance or air intake vent.
How ATL Is Laid Out
Understanding the layout helps you plan your smoking break. ATL has two domestic terminals (North and South) that share one large building on the ticketing and baggage claim levels. From there, seven concourses stretch out in a line and are connected by the underground Plane Train automated people mover.
The concourses are labeled T, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Concourses T through D handle domestic flights. Concourse E is a mix of domestic and international gates. Concourse F is the dedicated international concourse at the far end of the Plane Train. A separate building, the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, serves as the check-in and arrivals hall for international flights.
All five outdoor smoking areas are at the main terminal building. None of the seven concourses have any smoking areas whatsoever, indoors or outdoors.
Domestic Terminal North
The north side of the domestic terminal has two sets of outdoor smoking areas.
Departures Level (Ticketing): Step outside near Doors N1 and N4. You’ll find designated smoking areas with ash receptacles along the curb. These are on the upper level where taxis and ride-shares drop off passengers.
Arrivals Level (Baggage Claim): After collecting your bags, head to Doors N8 and N10 on the ground level. The smoking areas here are near the ground transportation pickup zone. If you just landed and need a cigarette before your ride, this is your quickest option.
Domestic Terminal South
The south side mirrors the north terminal layout.
Departures Level (Ticketing): Outdoor smoking areas are located near Doors S2 and S6 on the upper level. Follow the signs once you step outside.
Arrivals Level (Baggage Claim): Head to Doors S8 and S12 on the ground level. This area is close to the taxi queue and ride-share pickup lanes, so it works well if you want to smoke while waiting for your car.
Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal
The international terminal sits on the west side of the airport complex and has its own outdoor smoking areas on both levels near the main entrance. If you’re arriving on an international flight and have already cleared customs, you can step outside on the lower level. Departing passengers can use the upper level area before checking in.
Keep in mind that if you’re connecting from an international arrival to a domestic flight, your bags will typically need to be re-checked and you’ll need to pass through TSA security to reach the domestic concourses. Smoking before re-entering security is possible but adds significant time to your connection.
Concourse-by-Concourse Breakdown
Every concourse at ATL is completely smoke-free. There are no smoking rooms, outdoor terraces, or designated areas of any kind past the TSA checkpoint.
| Concourse | Airlines | Smoking Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| T | Delta, Others | None | Closest to domestic terminal; no airside smoking |
| A | Delta | None | Major Delta hub concourse |
| B | Delta | None | Delta domestic gates |
| C | Delta, Others | None | Mixed carrier domestic gates |
| D | Delta, Southwest, Others | None | Domestic gates |
| E | Delta, International carriers | None | Mixed domestic and international |
| F | International carriers | None | Farthest from terminal; 15-min Plane Train ride |
If you are at Concourse F and want to smoke, you’d need to take the Plane Train all the way back to the main terminal, exit through security, use an outdoor smoking area, and then clear TSA again. That round trip can easily take 45 minutes or more.
Re-Screening After Smoking
Because every smoking area is outside security, you will need to go through TSA screening again after your smoke break. At an airport this busy, re-screening typically takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on the time of day. Early mornings and late afternoons around the 4-6 PM wave tend to be the worst. If you have TSA PreCheck or Clear, the wait drops significantly, but you should still budget at least 30 minutes for the whole process.
As a general rule, don’t attempt a smoke break unless you have at least 90 minutes before boarding.
Summary
| Area | Location | Smoking Allowed | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal North Departures | Doors N1, N4 (upper level) | Outdoor only | Before security |
| Terminal North Arrivals | Doors N8, N10 (ground level) | Outdoor only | Before security |
| Terminal South Departures | Doors S2, S6 (upper level) | Outdoor only | Before security |
| Terminal South Arrivals | Doors S8, S12 (ground level) | Outdoor only | Before security |
| International Terminal | Upper and lower levels near entrance | Outdoor only | Before security |
| Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E, F | Past TSA checkpoint | No smoking | Airside — no access to smoking |
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.