The rational planning of land use in rural residential areas is of great significance for balancing the contradiction between urban and rural land use. Taking Zhangjiajie City as an example, geographic information system (GIS) analysis methods were first used to analyze the spatial differentiation characteristics of rural residential areas. Secondly, 14 indicators related to location, transportation, natural environment, and socio-economic aspects, such as distance to highways, rivers, schools, hospitals, elevation, temperature, and precipitation, were selected. The future land-use simulation (FLUS) model was then used to predict the land use status for 2025, 2030, and 2035 under natural development scenarios. Finally, the land use data for rural residential areas in 2030 were extracted, and the ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm was used for spatial layout optimization based on the geographical simulation and optimization systems (GeoSOS) platform. Quantitative analysis of landscape patterns was conducted before and after optimization, and recommendations were provided. The results show these as follows. In recent years, the land use of rural residential areas in Zhangjiajie City has increased but the degree of aggregation has decreased, showing a distinct "dense in the central and eastern parts, sparse in the northwestern parts" differentiation characteristic, with significant fragmentation, indicating the need for scientific and rational planning. The distribution density of rural residential areas in Zhangjiajie City is in the order of Yongding District > Cili County > Wulingyuan District > Sangzhi County, and the layout patterns can be divided into clustered, strip-shaped, scattered, and clustered patterns according to their basic forms. The FLUS model predicted that the scale of rural residential areas in 2025, 2030, and 2035 tended to stabilize after expansion, with local density growth but overall density changes not significant, and the shape was relatively simple compared to other land use types. After optimization, the overall layout of rural residential areas tended to concentrate in flat areas, with the form showing "overall aggregation and local dispersion". The results can provide technical support for regional rural land use layout planning.