Getting around Columbus: I-185, 10 METRA bus routes with live tracking, the airport off Exit 8, free Uptown garages and Broadway's two-hour limit.
Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts on this page come from METRA, the city’s transit and parking agency, Columbus Airport, the Columbus Consolidated Government and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Current closures are on our road construction and closures page.
Columbus’s interstate is I-185, and the city has buses run by METRA, a regional airport off I-185 and free public garages in Uptown. Before you drive, check Georgia 511 or dial 511 for crashes and lane closures.
Who to call
- METRA bus information and Transfer Center: 706-225-4673
- Dial-A-Ride/ADA paratransit: 706-225-4596
- Uptown parking, garages and tickets: 706-225-4584, RiverCenter Garage, 919 Broadway
- METRA administrative office: 706-225-4581, 814 Linwood Blvd.
- Live bus tracking: metracolumbus.com
- Road conditions: Georgia 511
Roads
- I-185 is the interstate through Columbus. Exit 8 serves Airport Thruway and Columbus Airport.
- New interchanges are being built at I-185 and Buena Vista Road and at I-185 and Old Cusseta Road; the city’s 2025 financial report and GDOT list both as under construction.
- Veterans Parkway, Victory Drive and Airport Thruway are among the main corridors, and METRA routes are named for them.
Road projects, detours and the Buena Vista Road closure at the Spiderweb are on our road construction and closures page, refreshed weekly.
METRA buses
METRA runs 15 buses on 10 routes, according to its route information page. METRA’s Transfer Center is at 9th Avenue and 15th Street.
Plan a trip: the system map, live bus map and stop arrival times, or call the Transfer Center at 706-225-4673 with your start, destination and time.
Riding: board at a METRA stop sign only, and have exact fare ready; drivers do not carry change. Reduced fares need photo ID, and seniors qualify at 62. Fares are on the fares and passes page. METRA also runs Dial-A-Ride paratransit for riders whose disability keeps them from using regular buses, and a demand-response service to the Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic. Check the holiday schedule before Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Columbus Airport
Columbus Airport (airport code CSG) has commercial service through Delta. It is off I-185 at Exit 8, Airport Thruway; the Columbus Airport Commission’s address is 3250 W. Britt David Road.
Parking in Uptown
METRA’s parking division runs the public garages:
| Garage or lot | Address | Public parking |
|---|---|---|
| RiverCenter Garage | 919 Broadway | Free, except reserved spaces |
| Front Avenue Garage | 1028 Front Ave. | Free on the first floor |
| Bay Avenue Garage | 4 12th St. | Monthly leases; call 706-571-6059 |
| 9th Street Lot | 9th Street and 2nd Avenue | 125 spaces behind the Government Center |
| City Services Center Garage | 1601 Midtown Drive | Free on the first and second floors |
The rules on the street, from METRA’s parking management page:
- Enforcement covers Uptown from 9th to 14th streets and from Bay Avenue to 3rd Avenue.
- Broadway: no more than two hours a day on any one block. Move to another block and the two hours start over.
- Other Uptown streets: when time is up, move to another block or to the other side of the street.
- METRA’s pages do not list enforcement hours; follow the posted signs.
- Unpaid tickets double after 10 days. A car with three or more unpaid tickets, the latest at least 30 days old, can be booted, then towed after 24 hours.
- Uptown residents can apply for a residential parking permit at the RiverCenter Garage; it is renewed each year.
Pay tickets online, by mail to P.O. Box 1340, Columbus, GA 31902-1340, or in person at the RiverCenter Garage. The city has also announced an Uptown on-demand golf cart shuttle; see METRA news.
Walking and biking
The 22-mile Chattahoochee RiverWalk links Uptown with Lake Oliver to the north and Fort Benning to the south. The Fall Line Trace and the Dragonfly Trails network add more paved routes; the city is building the Dragonfly Trails Midtown Connector now. See parks and trails and walking and biking trails.
What this means for you
- For Uptown, park free at the RiverCenter Garage and walk.
- Do not leave a car more than two hours on one block of Broadway.
- Track the bus live at metracolumbus.com before you head to the stop.
- Check 511 and our road closures page before a trip on I-185.
Related: moving to Columbus and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
Does Columbus, Georgia, have public transit?
Yes. METRA, the city’s transit system, runs 15 buses on 10 routes, plus Dial-A-Ride paratransit. Track buses live at metracolumbus.com or call the Transfer Center at 706-225-4673.
Where can I park for free in Uptown Columbus?
The RiverCenter Garage at 919 Broadway is free except for reserved spaces, the first floor of the Front Avenue Garage at 1028 Front Ave. is free, and the City Services Center Garage at 1601 Midtown Drive is free on its first two floors.
How long can I park on Broadway in Columbus?
Two hours a day on any one block. After that you must move to another block, where the two hours start over, according to METRA’s parking division.
What airlines fly from Columbus Airport?
Columbus Airport (CSG) has commercial service through Delta, the airport says. It is off Exit 8 of I-185, Airport Thruway.
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