An astounding 70,000 people are buried in the 43-acre (17-hectare) Oakland Cemetery. Though the last plots were sold in 1884, burials still continue through the use of family-owned plots and city exceptions for notable figures. Today the site also functions as a beautiful park with winding stone paths, shade-producing trees, and blossoming flowers. You can explore the cemetery on your own at any time without paying an entry fee, or upgrade for a self-guided tour map with information about notable graves or a guided tour with the Historic Oakland Foundation on the weekends (no reservation required). When you first get to the cemetery, be sure to stop by the Visitors Center for maps and information.
To get the most out of your visit to the Oakland Cemetery, go as part of an Atlanta guided tour via Segway or a Gone with the Wind tour, which shows you the cemetery through the eyes of the famous book-turned-film.
Oakland Cemetery is lovely for anyone looking for a little serenity.
Discounts on tours are available for students and seniors.
Private tours and tours by golf cart are available at any time.
The cemetery offers limited wheelchair access.
Oakland Cemetery is located just north of Grant Park, roughly a 10-minute drive from downtown Atlanta. There is free on-site parking. If traveling by MARTA, the closest stop is King Memorial Station.
The cemetery is open from dawn until dusk every day of the year; the Visitors Center is open from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday with seasonal weekend hours. Throughout the year, Oakland Cemetery hosts events such as the very popular annual Victorian Street Festival, during which some patrons come dressed in period clothing. Music festivals, special topic tours, and various events also fill up the cemetery’s calendar.
While you’re in the area, be sure to check out the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park, just a 5-minute drive away from Oakland Cemetery. It’s also only a 10-minute drive from other must-see downtown Atlanta attractions such the CNN Center, the Georgia Aquarium, and the World of Coca-Cola.