Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, located in Plains, Georgia, preserves sites associated with Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States.
A national historical park inside Plains
Visits rose 18% in 2025
The National Park Service counted 39,101 visitors in 2025, up from 33,031 the year before. Visitors ↓
Americus is the nearest base
Americus is 10 miles east, with 12 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Oct and Nov
October and November are mild and quieter than average, with highs of 68–78°. When to go ↓
Established in 1987
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park dates from 1987 and is run by National Park Service. About ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Crowds and weather, month by month
Bars: average monthly visitors, 2022–2025. Line: the typical afternoon high. Green months are mild and quieter than average.
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
The Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, located in Plains, Georgia, preserves sites associated with Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States. These include his residence, boyhood farm, school, and the town railroad depot, which served as his campaign headquarters during the 1976 election. The building which used to be Plains High School (opened in 1921 and closed in 1979) serves as the park's museum and visitor center. When Carter lived in Plains, the area surrounding the residence was under the protection of the United States Secret Service. The residence is also the burial site of Carter and his wife, First Lady Rosalynn Carter (1927–2023). While the residence itself is undergoing renovation and is not open to the public, the adjoining Carter gravesite and memorial garden is publicly accessible.
- Type
- National Historical Park
- Established
- 1987
- Elevation
- 509 ft
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1987)
- Wikipedia readers
- 20K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/jica
Before you go
Where to stay near Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Americus (12) and Dawson (6), and Columbus has the most rooms in the area (80).
Americus
15,617 people
10 mi east of Plains High School Visitor Center and Museum · 10 mi to the park
Dawson
4,131 people
19 mi south of Plains High School Visitor Center and Museum · 18 mi to the park
Richland
1,394 people
16 mi west of Plains High School Visitor Center and Museum · 14 mi to the park
Columbus
The most places to stay in the area, and a base for a longer trip.
202,171 people
43 mi northwest of Plains High School Visitor Center and Museum · 42 mi to the park
Compare 9 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plains | in town | — | 1 1 hotel | 531 | $255K | — |
| Americus | 10 mi east | 15 min | 12 5 hotels · 3 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 15,617 | $108K | D− |
| Dawson | 19 mi south | 30 min | 6 3 hotels · 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins | 4,131 | $106K | C+ |
| Richland | 16 mi west | 25 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 RV park | 1,394 | $48K | — |
| Ellaville | 15 mi north | 20 min | 2 2 campgrounds | 1,529 | $161K | B |
| Buena Vista | 21 mi north | 30 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 campground | 1,583 | $81K | — |
| Cuthbert | 30 mi southwest | 45 min | 4 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 RV park | 3,026 | $126K | — |
| Oglethorpe | 26 mi northeast | 40 min | 2 2 RV parks | 955 | $65K | — |
| Columbus | 43 mi northwest | 1 hr | 80 63 hotels · 10 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 4 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 202,171 | $194K | D |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Also near Jimmy Carter
Other well-known places within 62 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw119 mi National Historic SiteAndersonville National Historic Site62K visitors a year
61 mi MuseumLittle White House
231 mi State parkProvidence Canyon State Park
62 mi GardenCallaway Gardens37 mi MuseumU.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection
61 mi MuseumMuseum of Aviation
41 mi MuseumNational Infantry Museum300K visitors a year
329 mi MuseumGeorgia Veterans State ParkPhoto credits
Andersonville National Historic Site: Jud McCranie at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Little White House: Dsdugan, CC0 · Providence Canyon State Park: Robbie Honerkamp, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Callaway Gardens: Thomsonmg2000, CC0 · Museum of Aviation: United States Geographical Survey, Public domain · National Infantry Museum: The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center from Columbus, GA, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Georgia Veterans State Park: Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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39,101 visitors in 2025
Every full year the Park Service has counted. 2020 (gold) was the pandemic year. Green is the record (2016).
Visiting Jimmy Carter
Is Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains?
Yes. It’s inside Plains, GA. The address is 300 North Bond Street, Plains, GA 31780.
When is the best time to visit Jimmy Carter National Historical Park?
October and November, with highs of 68–78°. March is the busiest month (about 5,346 visitors).
How many people visit Jimmy Carter National Historical Park each year?
39,101 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 66,441, set in 2016.
What is the closest airport to Jimmy Carter National Historical Park?
Southwest Georgia Regional (ABY), about 37 miles away. The nearest big hub is Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta (ATL), about 111 miles.
Where should I stay near Jimmy Carter National Historical Park?
Americus (10 mi, 12 places to stay), Columbus (43 mi, 80 places to stay) and Dawson (19 mi, 6 places to stay).
Tips from people in Plains
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Plains’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.