Rosalynn Carter didn't want a monument. When she passed away at 96 in November 2023, the world expected something grand for a woman who had advised presidents and revolutionized mental health advocacy. Instead, she chose a spot within sight of her front porch. It's quiet there.
The Rosalynn Carter burial site isn't some cold marble mausoleum in a gated city cemetery. It is a humble patch of Georgia earth in her hometown of Plains. Specifically, she is buried at the Carter Home and Garden, a part of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.
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You’ve probably seen photos of the modest headstones. They aren't much different from those of any other neighbor in Sumter County. Honestly, that was the point. For the Carters, Plains wasn't just where they started; it was their center of gravity.
Finding the Peace at 1 Woodland Drive
For a long time after her funeral, the public couldn't actually get close to the grave. It was private property, shielded by a fence and the heavy presence of the Secret Service while President Jimmy Carter remained in the house. But things have changed. As of mid-2025, the National Park Service officially opened the Carter Gardens and Burial Site to the public.
If you're planning to head down there, the address is 1 Woodland Drive, Plains, GA 31780. It’s about a 2.5-hour trek south of Atlanta.
The walk to the site is remarkably normal. You aren't funneled through a gift shop or a massive security checkpoint. You just walk a paved, wheelchair-accessible path.
What the Memorial Garden Actually Looks Like
Rosalynn was a hands-on gardener. She didn't just approve a blueprint; she helped design the memorial garden itself. It’s packed with native Georgia plants. You’ll see:
- Milkweed and hydrangeas meant to attract pollinators.
- Black-eyed Susans and native azaleas.
- Butterfly gardens that are part of the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail.
The site overlooks a pond that Jimmy and his brother Billy built years ago. It’s the kind of place where you might see a heron or a fox if you’re there early enough. There are benches scattered around. It’s intended for "contemplation and reflection," which is park-service-speak for "please be quiet and soak it in."
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The headstones themselves are simple granite. They were inspired by the graves of Richard and Pat Nixon, which the Carters admired for their lack of pretension. No long lists of titles. No "39th President" or "First Lady of the United States" in giant gold letters. Just names, dates, and a sense of shared history.
Why They Chose Their Front Yard Over Washington
Most presidents and first ladies end up at their presidential libraries or national cemeteries like Arlington. The Carters could have chosen the Carter Center in Atlanta. It would have been a massive tourist draw.
But Rosalynn and Jimmy were "Plains people" through and through. They moved back to this tiny town in 1981 after losing the election, and they stayed. They shopped at the local piggly wiggly. They taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church.
Choosing to be buried at their home was a final statement on humility.
The house itself—the one they built in 1961—is still there, right next to the garden. While the burial site is open, the home remains closed to the public for now, though it has been deeded to the National Park Service. Eventually, it will become a museum. For now, you can see the exterior through the wrought iron fence. It’s a modest ranch-style house. It’s almost shocking how normal it looks.
Practical Stuff You Need to Know Before Visiting
Georgia summers are brutal. There’s no sugar-coating it. If you visit the Rosalynn Carter burial site in July or August, you are going to sweat.
The site is open daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It’s free. But here’s the kicker: there are no public restrooms at the garden site. You’ll want to stop at the Plains High School Visitor Center or downtown Plains before you pull into the driveway at Woodland Drive.
Parking is also a bit tight. You can fit a regular car or an SUV, but if you’re driving a massive RV or a tour bus, you’ll have to park about half a mile away and walk.
- Leashed pets are actually allowed on the south lawn and walkways, which is rare for a presidential site.
- Photography is fine, but obviously, keep it respectful.
- The site is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
The Shared Legacy
Jimmy Carter joined Rosalynn in early 2025, and they now rest side-by-side. Seeing the two graves together really drives home the "partnership" they always talked about. They were married for over 77 years.
When you stand by the pond and look at the butterfly gardens, you realize this isn't a place of mourning as much as it is a place of continuity. The monarchs still migrate through here. The fish still jump in the pond they dug themselves.
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It’s exactly what she wanted.
To make the most of your trip to Plains, start at the Plains High School Visitor Center to get the historical context of the town. Afterward, drive the short distance to 1 Woodland Drive to visit the burial site. If you have time, head over to the Boyhood Farm just outside of town to see where the values that built this legacy actually started. It provides a complete loop of a life lived with purpose, from the red clay fields to the White House and back to the garden by the pond.