Various control measures need to be taken to ensure the safety of isolated curved girder bridges as they produce large elastic- plastic deformation under strong earthquakes. The classical Bouc- Wen model was used, and the nonlinear dynamic equation for isolated curved beam bridges considering the upper structure’s eccentricity was established to solve the dynamic response of the structure under rare earthquakes. In view of the large elastic- plastic deformation of isolated curved girder bridges under rare earthquakes, the nonlinear vibration control equation was established. After equivalent linearization treatment for the equation, sequential optimal control (SOC) and classical linear optimal control (COC) were used to study the vibration control of the bridge. The results show that under rare earthquakes, the lower structure and isolation layer of the curved bridge enter the plastic stage, and a small amount of residual displacement is generated. Both the SOC and COC can effectively reduce the horizontal and residual displacements of the isolated curved girder bridge under elastic- plastic conditions and also effectively restrain its torsional effect. Compared with the COC, the SOC algorithm can greatly reduce the peak response of the curved bridge.