SAM Shortline train in Plains, Georgia
Plains

Home to President Jimmy Carter, Plains is a bucolic town two-and-a-half hours south of Atlanta.

The Jimmy Carter National Historic Park highlights the areas of town where Carter left his stamp. Start at Plains High School, the visitor center, where he and his wife Rosalynn graduated. At the Boyhood Farm, see where the president grew up helping his father grow corn, cotton, peanuts and sugar cane. The Plains Train Depot is the oldest building in Plains (constructed in 1888) and served as Carter’s campaign headquarters. During his run, approximately 10,000 people a day visited Plains.

Everyone will want a selfie with the Smiling Peanut — a massive nut with a toothy grin — and a bag of peanut brittle from Plain Peanuts downtown. Grab a pulled-pork sandwich at Buffalo Cafe at the Old Bank while on Main Street. If you'd like a guided tour, check out the options provided by Plains Tours.

30 minutes east of Plains is the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum in Leslie. It houses the largest collection of antique telephones and telephone memorabilia in the world. Also worth the drive is Andersonville National Historic Site, a Civil War prison for Union troops that saw war-time atrocities and today is a memorial for all American prisoners of war.

35 miles west of Plains is Providence Canyon State Park, often referred to as Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon.” The sherbet-orange and pale-pink walls are incredible geologic finds and make it a must-see.

End your trip with a stay at The Plains Historic Inn, where seven rooms were built by President Carter himself.

Learn More about Plains

Visitor Information Center

1763 U.S. Hwy. 280
Plains, GA
31780
Local: (229) 824-5373
Plains Travel Guides

View and download resources for planning a vacation in Plains, Georgia. Find trip ideas, attractions, events, activities accommodations, maps, travel resources and much more.

Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm Brochure
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