Conference Hotel & Travel
Courtyard by Marriott – Cartersville
5460 Highway 20, Cartersville, Georgia, USA
Conference Room Rate: $169/night plus taxes
Rate is good from Monday, August 17 through Saturday, August 22, 2026.
To make a reservation online:
Book your group rate for SE Planatarium Association
To Make a reservation by phone:
Call the hotel directly at +1 678-721-1660 and let them know you would like to book a room under the SE Planetarium Association group rate.
Getting to Cartersville
Cartersville is about 50 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and about 75 miles from the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA), about an hour’s drive for each. Although most attendees will fly into ATL, it is worth looking into pricing for CHA as well. There are several options for traveling after you land that you can use:
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
Simplest for individuals or pairs. Average fare from ATL and CHA runs around $90 and $70, respectively, with an average trip time of about 64 minutes from ATL or 75 minutes from CHA. Booking in advance (Uber Reserve) helps you avoid surge pricing and guarantees a car waiting when you land.
Rental Car
Worth it if you’re staying multiple days or want flexibility to explore Bartow County between sessions. At ATL, rental counters are at the ATL Rental Car Center, a short shuttle ride from baggage claim. If flying into CHA, rental counters are located inside the terminal, near baggage claim.
Private / Group Shuttle
Companies like GO Airport Shuttle and MTI Limo & Shuttle run scheduled or chartered service between ATL and Cartersville, with flat, upfront pricing. Worth considering if several of you land around the same time and want to split a ride. Depending on the shuttle, they may not take you directly to the hotel and will take you to a nearby drop-off location instead.
Carpool with Fellow Members
Many of our members drive to the conference from within the region, and connecting with someone already on the road can be an easy, affordable option. If you’re driving to Cartersville and have room to spare, consider posting your route and departure time on the SEPA Facebook page/group — you might save a colleague a solo drive. Look for or post things like “driving from X, have room for 2” or “flying into ATL, looking for a ride.”
Carpool arrangements are informal and made directly between members — SEPA isn’t coordinating, vetting, or taking responsibility for rides, just providing a place to connect.