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Atlanta air right now

ModerateAQI 65

Atlanta’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

65
AQI now
16.7
PM2.5 · µg/m³
4 cleaner spots within 3 hr drive

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Blue Ridge looks like the better move.71% cleaner air with a verified 1 h 50 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Atlanta Local readings Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Ellijay
Cel-shaded illustration of Ellijay
AQI 27
#1EllijayChecking road route

Georgia· Good

North Georgia apple-country town at the edge of the Blue Ridge, with cabins and cool foothill air.

71% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.8 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.8/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

71% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Blue Ridge
Cel-shaded illustration of Blue Ridge
AQI 27
#2Blue Ridge~1 h 50 min drive

Georgia· Good

Mountain town in the north-Georgia Blue Ridge, a cool forested reset with a walkable core of inns and cabins.

71% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.8 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.8/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

71% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Clarkesville
Cel-shaded illustration of Clarkesville
AQI 27
#3ClarkesvilleChecking road route

Georgia· Good

Northeast Georgia mountain town near Tallulah Gorge, a waterfall base with cool ridge air and inns.

71% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.8 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.8/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

71% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Helen
Cel-shaded illustration of Helen
AQI 27
#4Helen~1 h 55 min drive

Georgia· Good

Alpine-themed village on the Chattahoochee headwaters in the north-Georgia mountains, a cool foothill escape with inns.

71% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.9 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.9/22 × 7 = 1.6 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

71% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Gainesville
Cel-shaded illustration of Gainesville
AQI 36
#5GainesvilleChecking road route

Georgia· Good

Lake Lanier resort city in the north Georgia foothills, with open-water air and lakeside lodging.

62% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.4 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.4/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

10.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

62% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Gainesville monitor.

Directions
Dahlonega
Cel-shaded illustration of Dahlonega
AQI 36
#6Dahlonega~1 h 25 min drive

Georgia· Good

Gold-rush town in the north-Georgia foothills, set higher than Atlanta with wineries, inns and B&Bs.

62% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.4 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.4/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

10.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

62% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Gainesville monitor.

Directions
Cleveland
Cel-shaded illustration of Cleveland
AQI 36
#7ClevelandChecking road route

Georgia· Good

North Georgia foothills town near Helen and Unicoi, higher and cooler than metro Atlanta, with cabins.

62% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.4 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.4/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

10.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

62% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Gainesville monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Forest Park
Cel-shaded illustration of Forest Park
AQI unavailable
#8Forest ParkChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Vinings
Cel-shaded illustration of Vinings
AQI unavailable
#9ViningsChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Clarkston
Cel-shaded illustration of Clarkston
AQI unavailable
#10ClarkstonChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Chamblee
Cel-shaded illustration of Chamblee
AQI unavailable
#11ChambleeChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Morrow
Cel-shaded illustration of Morrow
AQI unavailable
#12MorrowChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Hiawassee
Cel-shaded illustration of Hiawassee
AQI 26
#13HiawasseeChecking road route

Georgia· Good

Lakeside town beneath Georgia's highest peaks, with open-water air on Lake Chatuge and mountain lodges.

72% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.6 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.6/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

12.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

72% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Murphy
Cel-shaded illustration of Murphy
AQI 26
#14MurphyChecking road route

North Carolina· Good

North Carolina's far-southwestern mountain town near the Georgia and Tennessee lines, with cool ridge air.

72% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.6 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.6/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

12.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

72% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Tellico Plains
Cel-shaded illustration of Tellico Plains
AQI 27
#15Tellico PlainsChecking road route

Tennessee· Good

Cherokee National Forest gateway on the Tellico River, a quiet Smokies-adjacent base with cabins.

71% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.8 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.8/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

71% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the ATHENS monitor.

Directions
Dillard
Cel-shaded illustration of Dillard
AQI 27
#16DillardChecking road route

Georgia· Good

Georgia's northernmost mountain valley on the North Carolina line, a quiet high-country lodge base.

71% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.9 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.9/22 × 7 = 1.6 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

71% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Highlands
Cel-shaded illustration of Highlands
AQI 27
#17Highlands~2 h 40 min drive

North Carolina· Good

One of the East's highest towns near 4,100 feet on the Blue Ridge plateau, with cool clear mountain air and boutique inns.

71% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.9 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.9/22 × 7 = 1.6 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

71% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Tuscaloosa
Cel-shaded illustration of Tuscaloosa
AQI 3
#18TuscaloosaChecking road route

Alabama· Good

Alabama community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

96% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.6 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.6/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

16.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

96% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Duncanville Middle School monitor.

Directions
Pigeon Forge
Cel-shaded illustration of Pigeon Forge
AQI 11
#19Pigeon Forge~4 h 30 min drive

Tennessee· Good

Smoky Mountains resort town just below Gatlinburg, set in the foothills with a huge stock of hotels and cabins.

88% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

14.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

88% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the MARYVILL monitor.

Directions
Banner Elk
Cel-shaded illustration of Banner Elk
AQI 11
#20Banner ElkChecking road route

North Carolina· Good

High-country ski town near 3,700 feet between Grandfather and Beech mountains, with cool alpine air.

88% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 16.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

14.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Atlanta right now

88% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Spruce Pine monitor.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in Georgia →
Augusta air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Greenville air qualityBirmingham air qualityMontgomery air qualityKnoxville air qualityColumbia air qualityNashville air qualityCharlotte air qualityTallahassee air qualityCharleston air qualityPensacola air qualityJacksonville air qualityWinston-Salem air quality

What this means · Atlanta

Moderate

AQI 65

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Most people can stay active outside.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people should consider shorter or easier outdoor effort.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 16.7 µg/m³ (Polluted), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Polluted.

16.7 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

5.3/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 16.7 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 16.7/22 × 7 = 5.3 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →