Everything you need to know if you plan to visit The Carter Center to pay your respects this weekend

On Saturday, President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral process will commence, featuring various observances over several days, and concluding with a funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. the following Thursday.

The arrangements for the multi-day event are elaborate, kicking off this weekend as President Carter rests in repose at The Carter Center in Atlanta.

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Below, find important logistical information for President Carter’s tributes and observances in Atlanta and Plains, Georgia this weekend.

Throughout this period, the general public is welcome to witness the departure ceremony for President Carter at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and offer their respects along the motorcade route, which includes the Highway 280 entrance road to Phoebe Sumter.

According to the medical center, the public may park and view the motorcade from the pecan grove on the east side of the entrance road. There is a memorial area along the campus entrance road, as well, where people can leave tokens of tribute.

• 9 a.m. | Highway 280 in the area of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center will close, so people are urged to arrive and park in the area before then.
• 10:15 a.m. | President Carter’s family will arrive at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center
• 10:20 a.m. | His remains will be carried to a hearse by Secret Service agents who were assigned to him
• 10:30 a.m. | The motorcade will depart Phoebe Sumter Medical Center
• 10:50 a.m. | The Carter family and motorcade will pause in front of the family farm and National Park Service will conduct a salute & ringing of the farm bell 39 times (as Carter was the 39th president)
• 10:55 a.m. | The Carter family and motorcade will depart Plains for Atlanta

The Joint Task Force-National Capital Region said the there will be public viewing opportunities along the motorcade route to Atlanta — Preston, Ellaville, Butler, Reynolds, and Fort Valley. As the motorcade passes through each city, it will slow down for people to pay their respects.

• 3 p.m. | The Carter motorcade will arrive in Atlanta and pause at the Georgia State Capitol. Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and members of the Georgia General Assembly and Georgia State Patrol troopers will observe a moment of silence.
• 3:05 p.m. | The motorcade will leave the Capitol for The Carter Center.
• 3:45 p.m. | President Carter’s remains will be carried into The Carter Center with an arrival ceremony.
• 4 p.m. | A private service will be held.
• 7 p.m. | President Carter will begin lying in repose with public visitation available until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

• The public is allowed to visit The Carter Center 24 hours a day until 6 a.m. on Tuesday to pay respects as President Carter lies in repose.
• Bags are not allowed either at The Carter Center or on MARTA shuttles going to and from the center. An exception will be made for diaper bags only.
• Other prohibited items: aerosols, ammunition, animals other than service animals, bicycles, balloons, coolers, drones, and other unmanned aircraft systems, explosives, firearms, glass, thermal or metal containers, laser pointers, mace, packages, selfie sticks, toy guns, weapons of any kind, or any other items determined to be potential safety hazards.

No. Photos and video are not permitted. 

By foot or by bike, there’s no real driving access unless you plan to find public parking further away from The Carter Center itself in surrounding neighborhoods (see further down). For MARTA availability, see below.

For a little overview of the trail access and the layout of the grounds, see the map below:

• Free bus shuttles will depart from King Memorial Station every three to five minutes around the clock, beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7
• You must take the train to King Memorial Station and ride the shuttles to The Carter Center. Rail service will operate continuously for 60 hours. 
• While the bus shuttles to The Carter Center are free, customers must still pay a fare ($2.50 one-way trip) to ride MARTA to King Memorial Station.
• Mobility service will run every 15-20 minutes from King Memorial. Mobility customers must still call the reservations office to secure a ride. 

There is none available. If you’re driving in and parking, it will have to be in public spaces in the neighborhoods near The Carter Center. Some public parking may be available in the popular commercial area of the Inman Park neighborhood along Highland Avenue, which leads to the Eastside Beltline and Freedom Trail that offer a half-mile or so walk to the Carter Center.

It’s important to note that East John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE is temporarily closed near the area. Click here to see a map from the Atlanta Department of Transportation of the closure. 

The Georgia Department of Transportation has put out a statewide traffic alert for Saturday, warning drivers that there will be temporary rolling closures in the morning and afternoon hours for the following areas:

• Surface streets in Sumter County
• I-75 N in Byron, GA
• I-475
• I-75 N heading into Atlanta