virginia to alabama road trip

17 Spectacular Southern USA Road Trip Itinerary Ideas

From the peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains to the sandy beaches of the Lowcountry, and from the music of Nashville to the food scene of New Orleans, there is no shortage of wonderful options when looking for the best southern USA road trip itineraries.

I’ve been taking road trips in the south for my entire life, crisscrossing across the southeast USA visiting cities, towns, national parks, beaches, marshes, and beyond.

And yet, even after all that time, there are still plenty of southern road trip routes on my wish list.

In order to give perspectives beyond my own, I asked several other travel bloggers to share their favorite road trips in the south, and the result is a road trip bucket list that would take even the most dedicated road-tripper years to complete!

From weeks-long deep south road trip itineraries to quick weekend getaways, these southeast US road trip ideas cover an enormous variety of landscapes and interests.

No matter what kind of adventure you’re looking for, we have a southern USA road trip itinerary here for you!

Table of Contents

Quick Tips for Your Southeast USA Road Trip

Deep south usa road trip itinerary ideas, other multi-state southern usa road trip routes, more single-state southeast road trip itineraries.

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Ideally, take your southern road trip in the spring or fall.

While you can technically take all of these southern USA road trips year-round, the south’s notoriously brutal summer means that it’s best to avoid the months of June, July, and August if you can (unless you plan to spend most of your time on the beach, of course).

Winter, depending on the location, can be gray and rainy, but can also be a joyous time to visit cities, towns, and mountains that see far less tourism in the winter (but don’t underestimate the possibility of snow in the mountains, either: it may be the south, but the Smokies still get snow!).

If you’re renting a car, shop around.

The best company to rent a car from for your US south road trip will likely vary dramatically depending on where and when you’re traveling.

Sometimes large international carriers offer the best prices, sometimes local outfits. Sometimes one company has an excellent base price, but terrible rental requirements.

The best way to find your rental car is to search through  Discover Cars , which will sift through dozens of companies to find the best combination of low prices and reasonable rental terms for your USA road trip.

Browse rental cars  for your southern USA road trip today!

We have offered suggestions for the best hotels in each place but if you are doing this as a true road trip it is really cool to do it in an RV. You can rent incredible RVs and camper vans from Outdoorsy, book here for your next road trip!

Read the rental requirements carefully.

Especially make sure you know how many miles you’ve been allotted (or ideally, if they’re unlimited), if you need to return the car empty or full of fuel, what to do if the car breaks down, and what damages you’re liable for in the event of an accident.

Don’t underestimate the south’s national parks!

The wide-open spaces and epic landscapes of the American West are often the typical images conjured up when imagining the USA’s national parks–but the south has plenty to offer, as well!

In fact, Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee is the most-visited national park in the country, and its gorgeous vistas and jaw-dropping waterfalls are well worth exploring.

Other southern national parks to consider adding to your road trip through the south include Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Everglades National Park in South Florida, and Congaree National Park in South Carolina–just to name a few!

Make sure you pack the right gear.

From safety gear to snacks, a deep south road trip requires bringing the right tools along, whether you’re taking a short vacation, trying out van life, or something in between.

We recommend taking a look at the suggestions on  our road trip packing list  before you go!

Don’t overextend yourself.

Exploring every nook and cranny of the US south is a project for a lifetime, not one trip!

As tempting as it is to add on additional driving to stop at just one more beach or small town, make sure that you leave enough time to thoroughly explore each destination rather than spending the entirety of your road trip driving from one spot to the next.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Scenic Byway

From Charles of US Gulf Coast Travel

One of the best scenic coastal drives in the United States is the Gulf Coast Scenic Byway (US Highway 90 / Beach Boulevard) in  Coastal Mississippi , where for 11 glorious miles there is nothing between you and the soft sugar sand and Gulf of Mexico water.

The most awe-inspiring section of the Gulf Coast Scenic Byway is from Henderson Point Beach to the Port of Gulfport Mississippi.

Drive this portion, or this entire road trip, in either direction, but we suggest west to east because you are closer to the water.

Start this road trip after an overnight in Bay St Louis or New Orleans (55 miles away).

In Bay St Louis, fuel up at Mockingbird Cafe (try their pulled pork and grits) or Serious Bakery (superb chicken salad).

Drive across the iconic St. Louis Bay Bridge and your senses will activate and heighten with your first Gulf and sand view.

Stop as often as you want because parking is free!

The coastal drive continues through Gulfport and into Biloxi.

Visit the new Mississippi Aquarium, stroll the Biloxi Beach Boardwalk, and eat at White Pillars or The Blind Tiger.

After crossing the Biloxi Bay Bridge, make time to explore the wonderful small town of Ocean Springs.

Stroll the gorgeous oak-lined Washington Avenue, stop at Walter Anderson Museum of Art, and eat at Vestige.

Highway 90 continues through Pascagoula (Jimmy Buffett’s birthplace) and into Mobile, Alabama, where you can turn around and complete this classic deep south road trip again.

Driving Distance

Bay St Louis to Pascagoula is 50 miles. New Orleans to Pascagoula is 107 miles and it is another 35 miles to Mobile, Alabama.

Recommended Road Trip Length

You can drive this coastal scenic drive in a couple of hours but we suggest allowing three or more days to fully experience the spectacular sugar sand, seafood, sunsets, and small beach towns of Coastal Mississippi.

Alabama Black Belt Road Trip

From Lori of Southerner Says

A road trip through the Black Belt region of Alabama is one of the best southern USA road trips around.

Named for the dark fertile soil of the region, the Alabama Black Belt is made up of twenty-three states across central and south Alabama.

This part of Alabama is the place where significant law-changing history was made, where literary giants were born, and is home to some of the best food that can be found in the United States.

For first-time visitors or someone flying in, there’s no better way to start an Alabama southern road trip than by including the capital –  Montgomery.

Plan on visiting important civil rights sites and the renowned Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

Next, drive west approximately fifty miles to Selma, Alabama on Highway 80.

This route is the same route as the important Selma to Montgomery march for voters’ rights that took place in 1965.

See the places that put this small town on the map and made it crucial in the civil rights movement.

Walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge, eat locally caught catfish, and sleep in a hotel that was built in 1837 . 

After saying a farewell to Selma, drive county backroads approximately seventy miles to the literary capital of the south.

As unbelievable as it may seem, Harper Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird and Truman Capote – Breakfast at Tiffany’s were childhood friends in the south.

They both grew up in Monroeville, Alabama – the next stop on this southern road trip. Take a walk around the charming downtown square to spot murals that pay tribute to these well-known books and authors.

From Monroeville, it’s easy to hop on Interstate-65 north to return to Montgomery or take the scenic route for a few more towns and sites on your southern road trip.

Driving Distance 

Recommended road trip length  .

This itinerary would be good for a weekend or long weekend.

Since the Alabama Black Belt is a rather large region there is an abundance of small towns and sites that can be added to a southern road trip.

Visitors could easily spend a week or two in the area.

Mississippi’s Highway 61 (Blues Trail)

From Hannah of HH Lifestyle Travel

A road trip from Memphis to New Orleans down Mississippi’s Highway 61 is rich in music history; and the inevitable river lore that pervades a road trip running parallel to the Mighty Mississippi.

In true road trip style, the road itself is part of the fun of the journey.  

Highway 61 is long and flat and often sits higher than the fields and levees below it.  It is punctuated by quaint southern churches, glimpses of the Mississippi River, and cities rich in blues history. 

Enjoy visiting one of the legendary ‘juke joints’ in  Clarksdale, Mississippi .  

If there is one stop on the road trip to learn about the history of blues music in the area, it’s Clarksdale.  

Visit the Devil’s Crossroads, the Delta Blues Museum, and many more Blues Trail plaques.

Your next stop is Vicksburg.  Brimming with Civil War history, Vicksburg mixes reverence with rejuvenation.  

Pay your respects to meaningful Civil War history, but then enjoy a day spa and quality craft brewpub experience.

Natchez sits on an important bluff on a bend in the Mississippi River with a long history.  

The historic district of Natchez Under-the-Hill has a prime position along the river and was once famous for gambling and river pirates.  

Nowadays it’s a cute place to see the Mighty Mississippi and have lunch in one of the historic buildings.

End your road trip in the vibrant and magnetic city of New Orleans .

Driving Distance  

It takes around 9 hours of non-stop driving time from Memphis to New Orleans, but with time spent in the stops above it would suit a 5–7-day road trip.  

Plan a bit longer if you want to spend time in both Memphis and New Orleans before and after this deep south road trip experience.

Coastal Georgia and South Carolina Road Trip

From Noel of Travel Photo Discovery

One of the fabulous road trips in the southeastern USA travels along the historic coastal corridors of Georgia to South Carolina, finishing in Charleston.

From the Georgia border to Florida, the major artery is Hwy 95, you’ll pass through so many historic and recreational sites along the way to make this a few days or even a longer visit depending on how many places you want to see and experience.

Some of the cool and historic places to visit in Georgia include St. Marys and Cumberland Island, Brunswich and St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island , Tybee Island , and Savannah .

Places to explore around South Carolina’s southern coastline from Savannah include Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto Island, and Charleston.

Each of these areas caters to historic sites or recreation getaways that are fun to explore when you have more time to visit each area on this road trip.

Even though you can go directly on Hwy 95 from the Georgia border all the way to South Carolina, it’s the small detour expressways and backcountry roads that will give you a better insight into visiting some of these gems in the region.  

If you only have a few days or longer then the major cities of Savannah and Charleston are memorable cities to prioritize to experience the local lifestyles foods that you’ll enjoy on this southern road trip experience.

Savannah, with its historic squares, fabulous architecture, and historic district that remains intact includes so much to see, do and experience around the historic center of the city.

Charleston on the other hand is more compact and walkable with a tighter historic district to enjoy and explore on your own or with some tour operator sharing the main attractions to see in town.

It’s 107 miles to drive straight from Savannah to Charleston.

If you’re focusing on Savannah and Charleston, 5 days is a comfortable length for this USA southern road trip itinerary.

Add additional days for each city, small town, or island that you’d like to visit.

The Classic Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip Route

From Bret Love & Mary Gabbett of Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide

The Blue Ridge Parkway, which stretches 469 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, is such an unimaginably epic USA road trip, that veterans almost envy people who are experiencing it for the first time.

There are a lot of reasons it’s the #1 most visited unit in the US National Park system (with more than 15 million annual visitors), including 200 jaw-dropping BRP overlooks that offer stunning Blue Ridge Mountain vistas and provide access to the region’s most incredible hiking trails, landmarks, mountain towns, and waterfalls.

Designed as part of FDR’s New Deal to protect American wilderness and provide jobs in the wake of the Great Depression, construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began back in 1935.

Most of the scenic route was completed by 1966, but the popular 8-mile stretch around the iconic Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina (including the engineering marvel known as the Linn Cove Viaduct) wasn’t finished until 1987.

The BRP is the longest linear park in the country, taking travelers through the Jefferson, George Washington, Nantahala, and Pisgah National Forests.

So naturally, there are a lot of exciting things to do along the way. 

At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River, with lots of challenging hiking trails and a relatively easy paved path to the observation platform at the summit.

Grandfather Mountain State Park is also home to epic hiking trails (including several with ladders to climb massive boulders), and the neighboring Grandfather Mountain attraction is home to the Mile-High Swinging Bridge, a small zoo featuring native North Carolina animals, and myriad picnic areas. 

Virginia’s Mabry Mill is the most photographed spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and one of the region’s many historical attractions.

There’s very little commercial development along the Parkway, with only a few hotels and resorts (including the historic Switzerland Inn in  Little Switzerland NC ,  and the Peaks of Otter Lodge in Bedford VA).

But part of the fun is exploring some of the charming little mountain towns along the way, including Cherokee, Blowing Rock, and Boone in NC, and Bedford, Lexington, and Waynesboro in VA.

You could drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway in as little as 15-16 hours if you wanted, but that would totally defeat the purpose.

Some people like to break it up into weekend getaways, basing themselves in a local town.

But you could also spend a week or two driving the entire route, spending nights in lots of little towns along the way.

Chattanooga, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina

From Kim of Traveling Swansons

A Chattanooga, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina southeast road trip takes you on a tour of some of the most breathtaking scenery in the region.

Chattanooga is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and located along the Tennessee River.

There are many fun things to do here including the Tennessee Aquarium, Lookout Mountain, Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway.

After leaving Chattanooga, your next stop will be Knoxville, Tennessee.

Check out the Sunsphere Tower, which was built for the 1982 World’s Fair.  Walk around Market Square and grab a bite to eat and shop.

After leaving Knoxville, your next stop will be Pigeon Forge. 

Here you find no shortage of attractions including the popular Dollywood. 

Right next to Pigeon Forge, you’ll find the town of Gatlinburg. 

In Gatlinburg, you will also find plenty of attractions including Anakeesta and the Gatlinburg Skybridge. 

Gatlinburg is one of the busiest and most popular gateway towns to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park  has many amazing hiking trails, waterfalls, and views. 

Drive the breathtaking scenic Newfound Gap Road to Cherokee, North Carolina. Jump out along the many turnouts along the way and enjoy the scenery. 

Once you reach Cherokee, explore the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.  Shop for some authentic Cherokee arts and crafts.

The drive from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina is 191 miles and takes 3 hrs 51 minutes if driving straight through. 

Since there is so much to do on this southern USA road trip, you will want to spend at least 5 days here in order to take in as much as you can along the way.

NOLA to Nashville Southern Road Trip Itinerary

From Agnes of The Van Escape

The southern USA road trip from New Orleans to Nashville is extraordinary.

Why? Nashville and New Orleans are music cities.

New Orleans – the world capital of jazz and Nashville – the capital of American country music – anyone who likes live concerts will appreciate this combination.

And indeed, in both cities, you can listen to music at every turn!

Concerts, music events, live music in almost every restaurant, bar, and even on the streets – Nashville and New Orleans are alive with sounds.

Moreover, there are many great  things to do in Nashville and in New Orleans.

In Nashville visit Jonny Cash Museum, Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Grand Ole Opry, reproduction of the Parthenon, and Downtown with famous Broadway Street.

In New Orleans, visit the French Quarter, the Jazz Museum, the Woodoo Museum, the National WWII Museum, explore one of the famous cemeteries, sign up for a swamp tour. Enjoy the best cocktails at the famous Bourbon Street.

Both cities are also known for their excellent cuisine. In New Orleans, you’ll melt at the tastes and smells of Louisiana Creole cuisine, and in Nashville, you’ll delight at the famous juicy BBQ ribs and more.

That’s not all. Both cities are famous for the finest spirits.

New Orleans offers great alcoholic cocktails and in Nashville, you can try classic Tennessee Jack Daniels whiskey , whose distillery is nearby.

The driving time from NOLA to Nashville is about 8 hours, and 4-5 days is perfect for this road trip.

You can cover the distance in one day or split it into two days and spend one night in Birmingham, the largest city in Alabama.

To feel the atmosphere of each city and immerse yourself in its music world, we recommend two nights in New Orleans and two in Nashville.

Virginia Beach, Virginia to Hilton Head, South Carolina

From Alex of Wander With Alex

If you’re planning a road trip from Virginia Beach, VA to Hilton Head, SC, and need a few stops along the way, we’ve got you covered!

While Virginia Beach and Hilton Head are both popular southern beach towns, the experience is very different!

They are both, however, family-friendly vacation destinations with lots of unique things to do and see.

While in Virginia Beach, VA you’ll want to check out the main beach at the Oceanfront.

There are 35 miles of beachfront, an amusement park on Atlantic Ave, and tons of souvenir shops for you to choose from.

If you’re looking for something free to do, check out the Creative ViBE District for murals, sidewalk art, and other creative artwork!

Now that’ll you’ve explored Virginia Beach, it’s time to hit the road!

After being on the road for seven and a half hours, you’ll be nearing Savannah, GA! If you’ve never been to Savannah, consider staying overnight.

You can take a riverboat dinner cruise on the Savannah River or enjoy a low country dinner at one of the best restaurants in Savannah .

And since Hilton Head is only 45-minutes from Savannah, you can stick around for a few hours in the morning and to Tybee Island before heading over to Hilton Head!

Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is a laid-back resort town offering beautiful beaches and tons of golf courses.

Additionally, Hilton Head is incredibly bike-friendly.

Head over to Hilton Head Outfitters, rent bicycles for the whole family, and go exploring!

And if you are a seafood lover, you’ll have tons of waterfront restaurant options!

A road trip from Virginia Beach, VA to  Hilton Head, SC  via Interstate-95 is approximately 589 miles.

If you do not want to stay overnight in Savannah, you can make the trip in seven and a half hours.

However, if you prefer slow travel and wish to explore Savannah, you should consider making this a two-day drive.

Gulf Coast Beach Road Trip from Alabama to Florida

From Ashlee of The Happiness Function

One of the best-kept secrets in the South are the sugar-white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama to the Florida panhandle.

If you have never heard of Dauphin Island, Alabama, it is a must-visit southern destination.

Take the ultimate beach road trip from Dauphin Island, Alabama, to Pensacola, Florida!

Dauphin Island, Alabama, is a beautiful place to visit. The island is home to many different wildlife species, including sea turtles, and the scenery is simply stunning.

If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy nature, Dauphin Island is the perfect spot. Plan to stay at least two days.

From Dauphin Island, take the ferry across Mobile Bay to Fort Morgan, where visitors can continue the road trip to Gulf Shores.

Be sure to visit Gulf State Park and enjoy the incredible beaches from Gulf Shores to Orange Beach! Plan at least two days in Gulf Shores.

Gulf Islands National Seashore in Fort Pickens is a popular tourist destination offering a variety of activities such as catching some sun on beaches, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and exploring the historic fort.

Camp at the  Fort Pickens Campground  for a few days to enjoy all the island offers.

From Gulf Shores, continue east into the Florida panhandle towards Pensacola.

A road trip along the southern coast of Alabama into the Florida panhandle makes for an incredible beach road trip any time of year.

We recommend taking about a week to enjoy this road trip in the US south.

This way, road trippers can enjoy each destination for two days.

Savannah, Georgia to Clearwater, Florida Road Trip

From Terri of FemaleSoloTrek.com

If you’re looking for beautiful beaches and fun in the sun, plan a short southern road trip route from Savannah to Clearwater.

Plan to start at dawn from Savannah on a Saturday so you can arrive by noon in  Clearwater, Florida .

Google Maps or Waze will offer you the choice of traveling down I-95 toward Orlando and then across to Tampa/St. Pete outposts.

Alternatively, you can drive through Jacksonville and then cut across the state via US-301 S and I-75 S.

The estimated time is 6 hours if you don’t hit bad traffic on I-95.

You will also have time to eat fried grouper at Clearwater Beach for lunch, then hit the Clearwater Aquarium for an afternoon adventure.

Dedicate the evening to drinking margaritas and watching the sunset.

You might want to watch the sunset (while sipping a cocktail) at Pier 60 on Saturday night or delay until Sunday because you will be exhausted from your early morning drive.

Clearwater is also a great place to settle while you plan day trips to Tampa, St. Pete, and Sarasota.

While you can easily make the drive in a day, it’s best to set aside a week for this US south road trip as you will lose two days to travel.

Florida’s Gulf Coast deserves a minimum five-day stay so you can experience different beaches.

Southeast USA Road Trip from Washington DC to Florida

From Keri of Bon Voyage With Kids

One of the best road trips in the southeast US is from Washington, DC to  Anna Maria Island, Florida . 

If you want to break it up with overnights and stops, I recommend going from Washington DC to Raleigh, NC on Day 1.  On Day 2, drive from Raleigh, NC to Savannah, GA.  Then on Day 3, drive from Savannah, GA to Anna Maria Island, FL.

Starting in Washington, DC, where there is much to see from the Capitol to the Washington Monument to the Smithsonian Museums, you can begin heading on the road toward Virginia and the Carolinas. 

In Virginia, the historic college town of Williamsburg is well worth a visit. 

In addition to being a beautiful town, home to William and Mary College, it is also where you can step back in time at Colonial Williamsburg and learn a bit about American history. 

From here, head into North Carolina and stop in Raleigh if you plan to spend the night.

Then head into South Carolina, where a drive-through or stop in Charleston is a great thing to do. 

The historic and lavish architecture is well worth a look, and the southern hospitality and walk on the waterfront are worth it even just for a short visit. 

From here, continue into Georgia, where a stop in Savannah is a must. 

If you have a bit of time to spend in this southern city, the hop on hop off trolley, walking tours, and a 90-minute riverboat sightseeing cruise would be worth doing. 

This beautiful and historic city really is a gem on this road trip, so be sure to build in a bit of time, and even book a bed and breakfast for the night.  

Continue on from Georgia into northern Florida, where if you can stop in Jacksonville for a visit to the University of Florida or in St. Augustine for lunch or a walking tour of this beautiful and historic city. 

There is an old town part of St. Augustine well worth visiting, and depending on the time of day, is a great stop for a lunch. Continue on from St. Augustine to Anna Maria Island, Florida.

You may pass through Orlando and Tampa, which if you have time, may want to stop in one of these cities. 

While Orlando is home to many theme parks and activities, you won’t have time on this drive to do many of those unless you build in another day or two to your drive.

Instead, I suggest stopping in Tampa, where you will get to view this fantastic seaside city, where you can enjoy a cruise, walk around Ybor City, or grab a meal at the famous (and delicious) Columbia Restaurant. 

While you are also right at Clearwater Beach, you may want to save that beach visit for Anna Maria Island, just about an hours drive from Tampa, on the Gulf Coast, and renowned for its teal Caribbean-like water, white soft sand, quieter beaches, and home rentals perfect for a beach getaway. 

It’s the perfect destination to such a cultural and historic road trip, and one of the best road trips in the south USA.

Approximately 945 miles (about 14 hours total) one way.

Approximately 945 miles (about 14 hours total) one way, this road trip is at least a two to three-day drive, depending on how much you would like to stop along the way. 

The Outer Banks of North Carolina Road Trip

From Candice of CS Ginger

One of the best Southern USA road trips is driving through the Outer Banks. There are so many fun things to do in the Outer Banks  and its sweeping coastal scenery is gorgeous.

The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands off the North Carolina coast filled with beautiful beaches, lighthouses, and fun beach towns.

A great historic stop in the Outer Banks is at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

This is where the Wright brothers completed the first controlled flight in December of 1903.

There are a fun visitor’s center, some historical markers, and a replica of the first plane.

The Outer Banks is also home to the tallest brick lighthouse in the world. You can climb to the top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. There are 257 steps to the top.

The lighthouse and Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a great place to spend the afternoon. The beaches are beautiful and not crowded.

After spending time at Cape Hatteras, you can take the ferry over to Ocracoke Island.

There is another lighthouse on this smaller island, but it is not open to visitors.

There are, however, beautiful beaches making this island a fun spot to explore.

The distance from the northern town of Corolla through Hatteras, the southern point, is about 95 miles.

If you continue to the ferry to Ocracoke, the mileage is longer.

You can easily fill 4-5 days with fun activities during your Outer Banks road trip, and spend even more time in the area if you want to relax on the beach.

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

From Anna of Stuck On The Go

One of the best road trips in the southern US winds through Shenandoah National Park offering stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you drive Skyline Drive straight through it only takes a little under 3 hours but there are so many hikes, overlooks, and small towns to stop and explore. This is the perfect road trip for outdoorsy people.

You can start at the Front Royal Entrance Station and on your first day hike to Compton Peak where you’ll find a gorgeous view as well as unique geological formations that resemble the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland .

In the afternoon, head out to the town of Luray where you can shop in the boutiques along Main Street and visit the famous Luray Caverns.

If you like to camp then stay the night in Mathews Arm Campground, otherwise rent a room at the Skyland Resort inside the park.

For day two you can fit in two hikes – Stony Man and Hawksbill – which both offer stunning mountain views and are 2 of the best hikes in Shenandoah .

Have lunch at Big Meadows and make sure you get the blackberry ice cream pie for dessert!

In the afternoon you can hike Dark Hollow Falls or just head into Elkton or Sperryville.

Visit Sperryville for wineries and Elkton for breweries. Tonight stay at the Lewis Mountain Cabins & Campground.

On the last day of the road trip, hike Doyles River Falls and Blackrock Summit.

Stop for lunch at Blue Mountain Brewery and check out some of the other Waynesboro breweries. Main Street in Waynesboro is also very quaint.

For many people, 3 days is enough to spend in Shenandoah National Park.

However, if you are very outdoorsy and love to hike and explore small towns then you can spend a week in the Shenandoah Valley.

Northwest Arkansas Road Trip Loop

From Lydia of Lost With Lydia

Arkansas is an underrated state with a lot to offer for outdoor adventurers!

The state has beautiful state parks, incredible mountain biking trails, a uniquely historic national park, and much more.

The northwest portion of Arkansas is where you’ll find the most beautiful natural areas along with some fantastic cities. 

This road trip begins in Bentonville, a city known for mountain biking, modern art, and as the Walmart headquarters.

There are miles of mountain biking trails in parks around the city and trails range from beginner to advanced. 

Continue on from Bentonville to Buffalo National River, a beautiful river with epic canyon walls towering above it.

After the National River, enjoy hiking in the Ozark National Forest (the most famous hike is Whitaker Point) and take in the views at Mount Magazine and Mount Nebo. Mount Magazine is the highest point in the state. 

Be sure to not miss the most iconic state park in Arkansas: Petit Jean. This state park is a favorite of many and is home to a 95-foot waterfall, caves, and several unique rock formations. 

Spend some time in Little Rock for great food and interesting history. 

Things to do in Little Rock include visiting the Little Rock Central High School Museum, exploring the vibrant SOMA neighborhood, and hiking at Pinnacle Mountain. 

Finally, end your road trip with a visit to Arkansas’ only national park: Hot Springs.

Hot Springs National Park was a resort destination in the early 1900s and there are a couple of bathhouses still in operation today.

In addition to the spas, you can visit a brewery inside of a bathhouse and enjoy the views from the observation tower. 

A week is the minimum amount of time you’ll want to fully explore the cities and hiking destinations along the way.

Ideally, take 10 days or more to take your time and enjoy this underrated southern USA road trip itinerary.

Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast Road Trip

From Lori of Travlinmad

If you’re looking for an ideal year-round  road trip destination, Florida’s Gulf Coast  offers dreamy beaches, fantastic food, and some of America’s most (in)famous history!

Begin your road trip in Tampa, where you can spend 2 days exploring the city’s Cuban history in Ybor City and enjoy the amazing cuisine before heading south to Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Spend the next day in Sarasota admiring the mid-century architecture and visiting the Ringling Museum.

Shoppers will no doubt stay longer on St. Armand’s Circle, then head to Siesta Key later in the day to take in the new age vibes of the nightly drumming circle on the beach at sunset.

The next day, drive south to Casperson Beach in Venice and rent a “Florida snow shovel” for a few dollars to dig in the sand for prehistoric megalodon shark teeth.

Millions of them wash ashore every day and you just might find a big one to treasure!

Spend the night at Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, one of Southwest Florida’s most historic towns before heading out the next morning for Fort Myers.

Situated where the Caloosahatchee River meets the Gulf of Mexico, the city of Fort Myers is worth a few days to explore the history and the beautiful beaches on Sanibel and Captiva.

Visit the summer homes of neighbors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, whose mansions are popular tourist attractions today.

The last stop on your road trip is Naples and Marco Island on the southwestern coast. This stunning region is known as the Paradise Coast and it’s easy to see why.

Spend your days on the soft white sand beaches, shopping at the luxury stores and dining downtown, or get out into the Everglades for some adventure.

It is 180 miles from Tampa to Marco Island.

Plan on 7-10 days for this southern road trip route.

There is plenty to see in the major cities of Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and Marco Island, but you’ll find the real gems in between!

Virginia’s Eastern Shore Drive: Chincoteague to Cape Charles

Recommended by Erin Gifford of Go Hike Virginia

There’s so much to love about  Virginia’s Eastern Shore .

Roll down the windows and breathe in the salt-infused air as you make the 70-mile drive north to south from Chincoteague to Cape Charles.

Get ready to make stops for sandy beaches, ice cream shops, and verdant wetlands just right for a scenic paddle.

Start at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to miles of stroller-friendly hiking and biking trails.

The Chincoteague Lighthouse Trail is a must-visit to ogle the red-and-white striped Assateague Lighthouse.

Take a guided kayak tour or nature cruise across pristine coastal waterways with Assateague Explorer.

Keep your eyes open for wild ponies, as well as native wildlife, like sandhill cranes and eastern mud turtles, that call the wildlife refuge home.

Order up a scoop of Mint Chip or Pony Tracks at Island Creamery.

Spend the night at the Refuge Inn, a mainstay in Chincoteague since 1973. Chincoteague is also home to several camping resorts, including KOA and Jellystone Park.

Continue on to Onancock, a historic waterfront town.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast sandwich at Janet’s Café before strolling the hamlet’s tree-lined streets that wow with Victorian-style homes.

Take a tour of Ker Place, a historic Federal-style home.

On the south end of Virginia’s Eastern Shore is Cape Charles, which is home to gentle beaches and vibrantly-colored sunsets.

Spend the day on the beach at Kiptopeke State Park, then order hush puppies at The Shanty.

Cap off the day with a scoop at Brown Dog Ice Cream and settle in at the Sunset Beach Hotel on the Chesapeake Bay.

70  miles.

This trip is best enjoyed over at least 3 days, including one day in Chincoteague, one day in Onancock, and one day in Cape Charles.

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

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15+ Amazing Stops To Make For An Awesome Alabama Road Trip

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Ready to road trip Alabama? Alabama is a fantastically diverse state with mountain, beaches, cities and a fascinating history. Did I mention the great food and friendly people? You should consider these 15 amazing stops  for your road trip in Alabama whether you are just passing through Alabama on a longer visit to the  Southern USA or are spending the entire time on an Alabama road trip. In Northern Alabama, you must visit Rocket City Huntsville as well as some of the other small cities. As you go through Central Alabama, you will visit Birmingham Alabama and Montgomery Alabama. Finally there is coastal Alabama with its international flair and beautiful white sand beaches. There’s no doubt that the beautiful state of Alabama has something for everyone.

Alabama Road Trip

There’s no two ways about it – getting around Alabama is easiest by car. Hence, you can create your own standalone Alabama road trip or include it as part of a larger southern USA road trip. The conditions are great for road trips in Alabama – the roads are in great condition and there are plenty of roadside service stops if you need fuel or food.

Along with my suggestions for an Alabama road trip, I have included some fellow travel writers ideas and suggestions for what to do in Alabama, too. 

Alabama Road Trip Ideas

Are you thinking about an Alabama road trip as part of a larger Southern USA road trip ? Plenty of people I know have created a southern USA road trip that included the state of Alabama so I have broken this Alabama road trip guide into sections for Northern Alabama, Central Alabama and Coastal Alabama. You can work the section of Alabama that you will be near into your own personalised road trip adventure.

Here are some examples of nearby big cities and their distance from places in Alabama:

• New Orleans to Mobile is a 3 hour drive.
• Both Chattanooga and Nashville in Tennessee is a 2 hour drive to Huntsville.
• Both Memphis Tennessee and Atlanta Georgia are a 3 1/2 hour drive to Huntsville.
• Atlanta Georgia is also a 2 or 3 hour drive to Birmingham or Montgomery, respectively.

Continuing an Alabama Road Trip to New Orleans

In Mobile I met visitors from Lithuania who were combining a visit to the   theme parks in Orlando Florida with a Louisiana Mississippi Alabama road trip.

After Mobile, they were heading to the casinos in Biloxi Mississippi and then party central, New Orleans. How is that for a fun road trip for adults? 

One of the most memorable places to visit on a road trip in the US south is Coastal Mississippi. Calling itself  the “ Secret Coast, ” Coastal Mississippi is located between New Orleans and Mobile Alabama and below the I-10 interstate highway along the luscious US Gulf Coast, and is well worth discovering its secrets —whether for an detour scenic drive off I-10 or a one week vacation getaway. Some strongly suggested things to do in Coastal Mississippi include seeking sun and sport on USA’s largest man made beach, sampling scrumptious seafood and coastal cuisine, and savoring scintillating sunsets (and sunrises).   The Coastal Mississippi beach between Henderson Point and Biloxi is 26 miles long and 200 feet wide and most of it is undeveloped with unobstructed water views and free parking right along the sand. Take advantage of it!   Anywhere along the water in Coastal Mississippi is the perfect place to witness phenomenal sunsets. Coastal Mississippi restaurants with James Beard honored chefs include Vestige in Ocean Springs , White Pillars in Biloxi , and Doe’s Eat Place at Margaritaville Resort Biloxi. Countless other coastal Mississippi adventures await you. Make sure to spend time in the sweet small beach towns of Ocean Springs and Bay St Louis , visit amazing attractions like the brand new Mississippi Aquarium and fantastic museums—including Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art , INFINITY Science Center , Walter Anderson Museum of Art , and Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum —and paddle and explore an abundance of nature areas—including Gulf Islands National Seashore barrier islands , several bayous, and Biloxi Bay.   – by Charles McCool at McCool Travel

Blue sky and sea, and white sand in coastal Mississippi very similar to coastal Alabama (Image credit: Charles McCool)

Road Trip Alabama

I decided to road trip Alabama in its entirely from the Northern Alabama to Coastal Alabama. Although I had people question whether there would be enough interesting sites to road trip Alabama for two weeks, I found  myself wishing I had even more time! 

When you road trip Alabama you realize how much there is to see in the state sandwiched between the mountains of Northern Alabama and the white sand beaches of Coastal Alabama.

Road trips in Alabama take you through quirky small towns, big cities and farmland.  You will sample plenty of delicious food, meet friendly people and learn some fascinating history. 

A sign showing where the Civil War prison in Montgomery Alabama was located.

Why did I decide to road trip Alabama? After all, the news was full off the religious right’s assault on women’s rights in Alabama (to the horror of more liberal Alabamians ) . Yes, there are liberals in Alabama!

On the other hand, an Alabama road trip promised history, great food and quirky attractions – definitely my interests. So I dropped my son off in Rocket City Huntsville for his two weeks at the camps run at the NASA Space Center before I ventured off on my Alabama road trips.

I spent 8 days driving from Huntsville to Mobile in coastal Alabama and then looped back up to Northern Alabama. It took me 2 days to visit Birmingham Alabama, 3 days to visit Montgomery Alabama and 3 days in coastal Alabama.

I would suggest a minimum of 3 days in Huntsville and Northern Alabama too.  Although this itinerary covers the four biggest cities in the state of Alabama, I would encourage you to branch out and visit some of the smaller cities and towns nearby.

Alabama Road Signs

And, of particular note are the amusing Alabama road signs. You really get a flavor for the state by the unique Alabama road signs. Sorry for the picture quality – my trusty navigator/assistant photographer/son is still honing his craft.

Various Alabama road signs you come across as your road trip Alabama

Just a small selection of the Alabama road signs that caught my attention. Technically the giant cross is not a road sign but I have never seen such a huge church on the side of an interstate. 

Apparently, the “Go To Church or the Devil Will Get You” sign is famous in Alabama. The owner took it down, but there was an outcry, and he replaced it. As one person said to me, you see that sign and you know you are in Central Alabama.

The signs for personal injury lawyer Alexander Shunnarah signs are everywhere in Alabama and it’s become a meme in its own right. 

The ubiquitous Shunnarah Alabama road signs have elevated him to meme-status.

Yeah, there really was a drug dealer feeding a squirrel meth in Alabama to make it more vicious. The police released it into the wild when the drug dealer got arrested. So there is some poor Meth Squirrel out there in Alabama detoxing in the wild. 

What To Do in Northern Alabama

I have to say Northern Alabama surprised me. I had no idea it was so mountainous! Coming in from Atlanta into Huntsville, we had a brief period where my SatNav refused to work because we had no WiFi. My son learned how to read a paper map which I assured him was a useful life skill. 

Momentary panic when the SatNav refuses to work in the mountains of Northern Alabama.

Rocket City Huntsville

Our first destination in Alabama was Huntsville – nicknamed Rocket City because of the NASA headquarters.

Two of the biggest attraction in Alabama are in the Rocket City Huntsville. Huntsville is a quirky cool city in Northern Alabama with all of the attractions of a major American city but with a better quality of life.

At the number one spot there is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center . Not only is it a museum, but the NASA space center runs weekly programs for school children during the summer.

My son signed up for Space Camp and Aviation Challenge and loved his two weeks there. So  much so that he is now going to his third Space Camp.

The NASA US space center has a great museum as well as well-run summer camps for kids.

Even if you are not a science person, there’s plenty to do in Rocket City Huntsville. The Number 3 most visited attraction in Alabama is the Huntsville Botanical Center .

The Huntsville Botanical Center is a great place to visit with kids.

There are also plenty of other museum, historical sites and shopping areas to keep you occupied. The city also has a burgeoning craft brewery scene as well as many great restaurants. After all, those well-paid scientists need somewhere to spend their money!

What Else is There in Northern Alabama?

Northern Alabama has several small towns to visit as well as a lot of outdoors activities.. As you know, I’m a city girl. Besides, I was being bitten alive by mosquitos everywhere in Alabama.

I skipped a lot of the nature stuff because I feared venturing further into a mosquito lair. I know the rest of my family would have loved  activities like hiking along the Natchez Trace , checking out the bioluminescent glowworms at Dismals Canyon and a cave tour of the gigantic   Cathedral Caverns .

The small towns I visited were all easy day trips from Huntsville and make great road trips in Alabama.

In Florence Alabama , I went to see where musical legends like Cher and the Rolling Stones created history at Muscle Shoals Recording Studio , the birthplace of Helen Keller at Ivy Green  and the Rosenbaum House , the only Frank Lloyd house in Alabama. 

The charming town of Florence Alabama is host to many interesting tourist sites.

My son loved Decatur Alabama  for the fantastic Cook Museum of Natural Science and the Point Mallard Park . Decatur has a long history from the very beginning of Alabama history through the Civil War. 

Scottsboro is home to a shopper’s paradise at the Unclaimed Baggage Center which has warehouses full of stuff that unlucky airline passengers have lost.

Scottsboro also has a sad historical connection as the place where the so-called Scottsboro Boys (9 African American teenagers) were falsely accused of raping two white women. This story and that of the subsequent trials is told a the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center .

Nearby Lake Guntersville is the largest lake in Alabama and great for all types of water sports. If you want to experience more of Lake Guntersville, head to Guntersville and Lake Guntersville State Park .

The Unclaimed Baggage Centre is one of the road trips in Alabama you can take.

Practicalities for Northern Alabama  

With so many visitors to the NASA space center, Huntsville has both an airport as well as a wide choice of hotels. I stayed at several hotels in Huntsville Alabama during the 8 days I spent in the city because I wanted to see what the different options were.

Like many cities in the USA, Huntsville is pretty spread out. You have hotels in the historic downtown area, near the NASA Space Center as well as newer areas of the city.

I did regret that I did not stay at the super cool GunRunner Hotel in Florence Alabama . It’s a car warehouse conversion which would be totally in keeping with any stylish hotel in any major international city like London or New York. 

Huntsville to Birmingham

How far is Huntsville from Birmingham? A little over 100 miles. 

Getting from Huntsville AL to Birmingham AL is a super easy drive of a little over 2 hours. Once you get to Decatur Alabama, you can go straight along Interstate 65-S to Birmingham for most of the 100 miles.

Pitstop:  Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman Alabama

If you are into quirky roadside attractions on your way from Huntsville to Birmingham, check out the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman Alabama. About an hour from Huntsville, take exit 308 from I-65S for a short distance to reach the Ave Maria Grotto.

At the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, a German Benedictine monk has created stone miniature replicas of world-famous Catholic religious places of worship on a 4 acre park.

We are talking everything from Jerusalem to the Shrine at Lourdes . This grotto is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

For good measure, he threw in some secular places like the leaning Tower of Pisa. By the way, the monk only visit about 6 of the 125+ places he created in stone so it’s not necessarily that accurate. On the other hand, the dedication needed to achieve something like the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman is pretty extraordinary.

The Ave Maria Grotto is an easy stop to take a break and stretch your legs on your way from Huntsville AL to Birmingham AL. The address for the Ave Maria Grotto is 1600 St Bernard Drive SE, Cullman AL 25055. It is open daily except for Christmas and New Year’s days.

What To Do in Central Alabama

Central Alabama covers a wide swathe of the state. The city of Birmingham is considered north central in the state and the city of Montgomery is south central. You find Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama, in west central Alabama.

Visit Birmingham Alabama

Birmingham Alabama is the largest city in Alabama. If you visit Birmingham Alabama with kids, the Birmingham Zoo is the second most visited attraction in Alabama.

Visit the historical highlights of Birmingham and also the district that was a key player in the Civil Rights Movement . I took a civil rights tour of Birmingham which included the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute , the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park .

When you visit Birmingham Alabama, you must visit the Civil Rights Institute.

I stayed at a fabulous boutique hotel in downtown, Elyton Hotel, which has got a great location near many restaurants and the Alabama Theatre, an iconic showplace since 1927. Birmingham even has a craft beer scene that you can tour .

If you are looking to visit Birmingham Alabama directly, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport is only a few miles from the city.

Here’s another perspective on Birmingham, Alabama:

The Deep South is unlike any other part of the U.S. – and that’s exactly why we loved our Deep South road trip through it. One of our favorite stops along the way was Birmingham, Alabama, a surprisingly hip and hipster town that was the site of many important (and tragic) events in America’s past. There’s so much to learn about in Birmingham, and the Vulcan Museum and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) a re both absolute must-sees. The Vulcan Museum is home to the world’s largest cast-iron statue, and the exhibits next door illustrate the city’s founding and its rise as a major geopolitical center of the South. The BCRI is the most comprehensive museum on the Civil Rights Movement, covering everything from desegregation to the Civil Rights Act, as well as present-day immigration and human rights issues around the world. Birmingham is also underrated as a foodie destination, and every meal we had there was delicious. Head to Crestline Bagels in the suburb of Mountain Brook for the perfect bagel, downtown’s Brick and Tin for gourmet sandwiches, and Delta Blues Hot Tamales in Five Points South for a local twist on Mexican cuisine (with great vegetarian options).

– by Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor of Passions and Places

Street art in Birmingham Alabama seen on a Southern USA road trip (photo credit: Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor)

Detour: Birmingham to Tuscaloosa

Birmingham to Tuscaloosa is an easy 1 hour drive over a 58 mile route on interstate driving. Dominated by the University of Alabama campus and its football sporting prowess, Tuscaloosa is a pilgrimage stop for college football fans.

Best known for its college football team, the University of Alabama’s (UA) Crimson Tide, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, offers a lot to do on an open weekend or off-season. From exploring downtown to checking out the museums and more, it’s easy to experience all T-town offers. Go on a self-guided walking tour of the UA campus to learn more about its history. While there, check out the Alabama Museum of Natural History and view the Hodges Meteorite , the only one to hit a person, among other exhibits. Don’t overlook The Sarah Moody Gallery of Art that’s focused on contemporary art. Relax and recharge at Hotel Capstone , located nearby. The Riverwalk is a serene journey along the southern bank of the Black Warrior River. The 4.5-mile paved path is well lit and both pet- and family-friendly, providing plenty of places for rest, play and picnicking. Also along The Riverwalk is the Tuscaloosa River Market that hosts a farmers’ market every Saturday. Hotel Indigo is also on the Riverwalk. Not only is downtown filled with eateries and shops and Embassy Suites but also sites along Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Trail that highlights 1964 “Bloody Tuesday.” On the edge of downtown is Capitol Park , a reminder when Tuscaloosa served as the state capitol from 1826 to 1846. Some remains of the structure still stand after a fire in the 1920s. Tuscaloosa’s next-door neighbor, Northport, is home to Kentuck Art Center and the annual Kentuck Arts Festival . The center is open year-round and has exhibits, working artists’ studios, classes and more. It’s worth the drive to Moundville Archaeological Park , about 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa. On the 326-acre site, it preserves 29 earthen mounds created over 800 years ago by Mississippian people. – by Apryl Chapman Thomas of Southern Hospitality Magazine

The ruins of the old Alabama capitol can be found in Capitol Park Tuscaloosa (Image credit: April Chapman Thomas)

Birmingham to Montgomery

How far is Birmingham from Montgomery? A relatively short 92 miles.

Getting from Birmingham to Montgomery is likewise very easy on the interstate. The drive from Birmingham AL to Montgomery will take close to two hours.

Pitstop: Peach Park, Clanton Alabama

On the drive from Birmingham AL to Montgomery AL, you simply have to stop in Clanton Alabama on Interstate 65-S (exit 212). You know Clanton from a distance because of the water tower shaped like a peach. 

The peach water tower at Clanton in central Alabama.

Stop by Peach Park which has a barbecue restaurant, bakery and ice cream store. This is definitely the place to try peach cobbler and peach ice cream.

Once again you are about an hour on the road from Birmingham to Alabama, so Clanton makes a great pit stop.

Visit Montgomery Alabama

When you visit Montgomery Alabama, you realise that the city has been witness to so much that is uniquely American – Westward expansion, slavery, the Civil War, the Jim Crow Era, Civil Rights Movement, country music and literary greatness.

Check out Old Alabama Town , a living history  museum, if you want to see how hard and scrappy life in the Mississippi Territory was. 

Among the civil rights venues to visit are the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr was a pastor and the Rosa Parks Museum dedicated to the woman whose refusal to give up her bus seat made history.

Alabama was one of the first states to secede from the Union. Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederacy in front of the Alabama State House . The First White House of the Confederacy was also located in Montgomery Alabama.

When you visit Montgomery Alabama, the Alabama state house is an imposing structure in downtown.

The aftermath of the Civil War and the Jim Crow Era are graphically illustrated at The Legacy Museum which looks at the mistreatment of African Americans in the USA from lynching to chain gangs to mass incarceration.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is dedicated to the 4000+ African Americans who were lynched between 1877 and 1950.

A moving sculpture at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

In terms of the arts, you have the Hank Williams Museum , a pioneer of country music. In addition, the former home of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald is now the Fitzgerald Museum.

Although the couple were only in residence for one year, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote one of his greatest works, Tender is the Night, at this location.

Montgomery isn’t all government and historical attractions though. There’s a great food scene and nascent craft beer scene. 

In Montgomery I stayed at a couple of different places. I could not pass up staying at the Fitzgerald Museum which has rooms through AirBnB but I also chose to stay in a Marriott for the simple convenience of being downtown.

If you are looking to visit Montgomery Alabama directly, the Montgomery Regional Airport is 10 miles from the city.

More insight on what to do in Montgomery Alabama from a fellow travel blogger:

Montgomery, Alabama is an important stop in the South for anyone looking to connect to the history of the Civil Rights Movement. This is the city where Rosa Parks, the African American woman, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, sparking the subsequent Montogomery Bus Boycott . Important sites in Montgomery to see include the Dexter Parsonage Museum , the house where the Reverend Martine Luther King Jr. lived during his time in Montgomery. You will also want to stop by the Civil Rights Memorial, the Freedom Rides Museum , and the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church . Lovers of American literature should make sure to plan a visit to the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum , while American country and folk music lovers should head to the Hank Williams Museum and the Hank Williams Memorial and Gravesite. While in Montgomery, make sure to go to Cahawba House , where you can load up on an authentic Southern breakfast, including some of the best biscuits and gravy in all of the South! For dinner, head to Central , where you can enjoy a modern twist on Southern food. Don’t skip the roasted Brussel sprouts with bacon while you’re here! Both restaurants are locally owned, and you’ll never forget your time at either. If you plan on staying overnight, check into the comfy-yet-elegant Rennaisance Montgomery Hotel & Spa. When you’re done with Montgomery, there are tons of things to do nearby. You can head to Selma, Tuskeegee, or Birmingham to see more of what Alabama has to offer! – by Stephanie Craig at History Fan Girl

Alabama Road Trips From Montgomery Alabama

If you would like to learn more about Civil Rights issues in the USA, you need to check out these two shorter Alabama road trip ides from Montgomery.

Alabama Road Trip Ideas:  Selma Alabama

Selma is only 50 miles (about an hour drive) from Montgomery but is an important part of American civil rights history.

The Selma to Montgomery march by Martin Luther King Jr and other civili rights leader helped with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They chose Selma because the town had 57% African Americans of which only 3% had voting rights. 

At Selma, you can see the Edmund Pettus Bridge where Alabama state troopers stopped the marchers on their first attempt. The vicious beating of African Americans by the state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge (named after a Confederate Army General and KKK Grand Dragon) brought the Civil Rights issues to the forefront of the national consciousness. Near the bridge is the National Voting Rights Museum . 

An exhibit of Klu Klux Klan items that terrorised African American communities after the Civil War.

Alabama Road Trip Ideas: Tuskegee Alabama

I did not have time to visit Tuskegee Alabama which is only a 45 minute drive from Montgomery Alabama (in the opposite direction to Selma).

I met a nice couple at Dexter Avenue Church who were doing the Civil Rights trail in Montgomery and then going to Tuskegee and finally Selma in one day. I was super impressed with their hustle because all of the museums close at 5pm so they would be packing a lot into that day.

Tuskegee is home to several interesting museums.

• There is the  George Washington Carver Museum  dedicated to George Washington Carver who was an African American scientist who encouraged the planting of alternative crops like peanuts and legumes to avoid the soil depletion caused by the growing cotton.
• There is also the home of Booker T. Washington, the Oaks which is operated by the National Park Service. Washington was an African-American educator who advocated education as a response to the Jim Crow Laws of his time.  Sort of like the Michele Obama ‘When they go low, we go high” response of his time.
• Another great museum is the Tuskegee History Center,  a history museum which tells the story of all the local peoples including Native Americans, African Americans and European Americans.

Montgomery to Mobile

Driving the 170 miles from Montgomery to Mobile takes about 3 hours. Once again most of the time and miles from Montgomery AL to Mobile AL  are spent on Interstate 65-S.

Detour: Monroeville, Alabama

If you feel like doing a short detour on the way from Montgomery to Mobile, get of I-65S at Exit 93 for the half-hour drive to Monroeville . Famous as the hometown of Harper Lee who wrote To Kill A Mockingbird, Monroeville has a small museum dedicated to the book/movie at its Courthouse. 

What to do in Coastal Alabama

I had a tour guide describe Mobile Alabama as the ‘red-headed stepchild of Alabama’ – a description that made me laugh. I can see why the rest of Alabama thinks Mobile is a little different but to be fair, so is Huntsville.

Huntsville and Mobile were also my two favorite places in Alabama but I have always been a fan of quirky. I found Central Alabama way too religious and finding decent coffee was a challenge. 

Settled by the French and the first capitol of French Louisiana, Mobile reminds me of New Orleans with its architecture and laid-back style.

Mobile Alabama would also like you to know that they were the first city to celebrate Mardi Gras in the USA . There’s a Mardi Gras Museum  to tour and  Mardi Gras is still celebrated in family -friendly style in the city. 

Mobile has lots of historic neighborhoods and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene. Take a food tour of Mobile if you are a foodie – you won’t be disappointed.

Kids will love visiting the USS Alabama , a former Navy battleship at Battleship park. 

When you visit Mobile Alabama, you discover there are lots of parks like this one, Battlefield Park.

Near Mobile, there is Bayou Le Batre made famous as the place Forrest Gump had his shrimp boat. There is also Dauphin Island , a barrier island with glorious beaches and an Audubon Bird Sanctuary . How can you not love a place that bills itself as the sunset capitol of Alabama?

Bayou Le Batre is famous for building ships and its fishing trade.

Take the Mobile Bay Ferry from Dauphin Island back onto the mainland at Fort Morgan, Alabama for one of the best Alabama scenic drives you will come across. I looped back up to Mobile on scenic route 98 but you can go further along for more coastal Alabama.

Detour:  Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

Keep going along Coastal Alabama and you get Gulf Shores and Orange Beach which will fill anyone’s idea of fun in the sun and sand.

You simply have to get out onto the water in the Gulf of Mexico For example, you can take a Bay cruise , a dolphin and eco-tour , or a sunset sailing cruise .

Here’s insight specifically into Orange Beach from a colleague:

With white powder sands and clear, calm waters, Orange Beach holds obvious appeal. But the Gulf of Mexico is just the beginning: this community is one of the south’s most well-rounded beach destinations. In-between swimming and sunbathing, you’ll also find expansive parks, hands-on art workshops and restaurants fit for foodies. When you can tear yourself away from the beach, Gulf State Park should be one of your first stops. The park holds miles of boardwalks and other trails for walking and biking, plus a lake perfect for fishing or paddling. Head just outside the park, and you’ll find several spots perfect for dolphin-watching. Join a guided cruise or day trip to Fort Morgan and look for dolphins just off-shore. When you’ve had enough nature and worked up an appetite, head to one of the area’s many restaurants. As you’d expect, fresh seafood is prominent on menus (and absolutely delicious) but you’ll also find classic southern favorites like biscuits, gumbo and bread pudding. The best part about this area is that it’s perfect no matter who you’re traveling with. It’s popular with families but can also make a romantic getaway or plan a fabulous girls trip to Orange Beach . This is one spot you won’t want to miss if you’re planning a southern roadtrip! – by Becky Pokora of SightDOING Gulf State Park at Orange Beach, coastal Alabama (Image credit: Becky Pokora)

In Mobile I stayed at the historic Battle House Renaissance Hotel and Spa. It’s got a great location walkable to most of Mobile’s sites. In addition to the spa, there is also a rooftop pool and tennis courts.

If you are looking to visit coastal Alabama directly, the Mobile Regional Airport is located on the Gulf Coast and 13 miles from Mobile, itself.

Updated: March 2021

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SPREAD THE WORD! PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE! 

Ready to road trip Alabama? Alabama is a fantastically diverse state with mountain, beaches, cities and a fascinating history. Did I mention the great food and friendly people? You should consider these 15 amazing stops for your road trip in Alabama. #alabama #roadtrip #southernusa

Are you thinking about an Alabama road trip as part of a larger Southern USA road trip? Great idea. Alabama offers mountain, beaches, cities and a fascinating history. Pus you’ll find great food and hospitable people! Check out this Alabama itinerary for your road trip. #alabama #roadtrip #southernusa #itinerary

We were helped by Huntsville CVB on our visit to Northern Alabama in the form of 3 nights stay at the Drury Inn & Suites Huntsville as well as free admission to several of the area’s sites. We did not otherwise receive compensation of any form, monetary or otherwise, from any of the products, services, hotels   etc mentioned in this article.

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The Best Alabama Road Trip Itinerary for Your Next Adventure

January 19, 2022

Are you ready to learn the truth about the most misunderstood state in the US? This Alabama road trip itinerary will open your eyes, melt your heart and, quite possibly, change your life. 

Too much to promise for a simple driving itinerary? Allow me to explain…

See also 101 interesting facts about Alabama

Table of Contents

Your Perfect Alabama Road Trip Itinerary

Disclosure  – This project took place through a partnership with Alabama Tourism Department and America As You Like It. As ever, as always, we kept the right to write what we like. There’s really no point otherwise! Also, we use some affiliate links. That means that if you book or buy through some of these links then we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We still only recommend products and services we use ourselves. Again, no point otherwise!

Alabama Road Trip Map

White sands at sunset, dolphins in waves.

Space rocket launches and cavernous caves.

Mountains with lookouts, long trails of tears. 

Carnival, Mardi Gras, parties with cheers.

Writerly stories that reach through the age.

From Gatsby to Mockingbird, turning the page. 

Then footsteps and missteps, bombing and rage.

Forgiveness. 

Non-violence. A bus stop. A change?

Drive Alabama, a culture exchange.

Alabama’s beautiful beaches…

Why You Should Visit Alabama

Alabama isn’t one of those states that people know well. Even among friends and fellow travel writers, I heard question after incredulous question. Why are you going to Alabama? What is there to do in Alabama? And even, more than once, is it worth going to Alabama?!

Well, where should I start? With the white sand beaches, award-wining eco credentials and dolphins dipping at sunset? The rust and russet rolling peaks of the Appalachian mountains? The heartbreaking and heart-fixing stories of the civil rights movement through household names like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King?

Perhaps we’ll curl up with a good book? Choose from Truman Capote, Fiztgerald and Gatsby and Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird. Or party all year in Mobile, home to the oldest Mardi Gras in America.

Would the world’s biggest space museum blast your interest? Or how about some shrimp & grits, ribs in smoky barbecue sauce and a slice of pecan pie?

Yes, this Alabama road trip will sweep you through the Yellowhammer State in either seven, ten or fourteen days. But leave your prejudices at home.

Above all else, Alabama invites you to explore with an open mind.

Feeling overwhelmed with your travel plans? Check out our Travel Toolbox ©  and Road Trip Planner & Toolkit ©.  They contain all the resources you need to get everything done, easily and with a side of sass.

Waking up excited every day!

How to Use This Alabama Road Trip Itinerary

There are many ways, obviously, to plan a road trip through Alabama but the highlights remain the same. This loop runs from New Orleans to New Orleans but other good ideas for Alabama road trips involve either driving in a loop from Atlanta, Georgia, or driving south to north from New Orleans to Tennessee. For international visitors, it’s easier to fly into one of the other states and then cross the state line.

7, 10 or 14 Nights in Alabama?

If you stay one night in each of the main places here, that makes a 7 day Alabama road trip itinerary. However, to do it this way, you have to move and pack fast. I would strongly recommend expanding it to make a 10 day road trip itinerary, and I’ve indicated in each section where and why you should spend extra time in a place. To craft a full 14 day or two week Alabama road trip itinerary, I would take your time with this one, then stop off in Monroeville for the night and make excursions to Selma and the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Muscle Shoals too.

Facing the Past

A road trip through Alabama brings up some big topics amid the great hospitality and sense of joy and fun, which is why it’s such a powerful thing to do. Alabama is not alone with this, at all, but the iconic moments relating to genocide, slavery, racism and colonialism that took place here leave Alabama with a unique historical footprint. It’s hard to serve the topics well within the framework of a travel itinerary, so please rest assured that I will be back with more in-depth articles and context through individual articles later.

Sorting out Logistics

Each section has an introduction as to why you should visit that part of Alabama followed by a fact box that details things like drive times, where to stay, where to sleep and so on. If ever you get lost, head to the table of contents or Alabama road trip map here.  

And don’t forget the Road Trip Planner & Toolkit© to help you plan an amazing trip!

Alabama Itinerary Overview

Here are the key stops on a 7 day Alabama road trip itinerary. The pace is pretty full on, so if you can, I’d suggest you extend this to either 10 days or two weeks to really make the most of things. I’ve added in where and how I would make those changes in the sections below.

• New Orleans
• Appalachian Mountains
• Monroeville

Gulf Shores

Carnival in Mobile: the longest running one in the US

The first thing to know about Mobile is how to pronounce it. Mo-beeeeel. Not Mo-baisle as in crocodile.

With that out of the way, you’re ready to enjoy one of the most colourful cities in the world: Mobile.

Often described as New Orleans’ little sister, on account of its wrought iron railings and love for carnival, Mobile, while smaller, actually came first. Named the capital of French Louisiana in 1702, a full fifteen years before New Orleans came into being, today’s Mobile oozes charm and speakeasy atmosphere on Dauphin Street, a mix of theatre, restaurants and bars beneath wrought iron railings and pastel painted facades.

Honestly, I’d recommend a visit for that street alone but Mobile has other tricks up its golden beaded sleeve.

Exploring a submarine in Alabama…

History in Mobile

The History Museum of Mobile gives a good introduction to the state’s history, including the often overlooked Native American struggles, along with some harrowing depictions of the realities of the slave trade. The sections are short but powerful and manageable for young children.

Just a short drive from speakeasy Downtown, you’ll find a mighty contrast at the Battleship Memorial Park. Enthusiasts could spend an entire day here, exploring the depths of a retired submarine, staring at the wings of a B-52 and then scaling the ladders of the Battleship USS Alabama. Retired service personnel offer anecdotes about living on top of a nuclear warhead deep below the sea for 90 days at a time and the entire setup gives an insight into the reality behind the most powerful military in the world.

Carnival in Mobile

Finally, we can’t talk about Mobile without talking about Carnival and the mystic societies. To say that Mardi Gras here is a big deal is to massively underplay the concept of big deals. It’s huge. Ginormous. Gigantic. Heck, someone throw a thesaurus over here fast, we need to talk about Carnival in Mobile!

It’s the longest running Mardi Gras in America, and if you can’t make the real deal in Spring, don’t despair. The Carnival museum will welcome you with fire breathing dragon floats, jewel-studded dresses that need ball bearings to help them travel along the floor, dinner pieces that would rival royalty and a glimpse into a secret world of striped pyjamas, kings, queens and the Excelsior band.

On Dauphin Street in Mobile…

Practical Tips for Mobile

Dauphin Street is a fun street to walk along and, with the right shoes, it’s possible to walk from there to the history museum and carnival museum. In fact, the walk is half the fun.

For the Battleship Memorial Park, however, you will need to drive. Parking on site is easy once you get there. Enjoy!

Why is Alabama called the Yellowhammer State?

First of all, let me spare you some embarrassment. Yellowhammer is nothing to do with industry or communism. It’s the name of a bird. Legend has it that a group of soldiers from Huntsville wore yellow trimmed clothes during the Civil War. They were nicknamed the yellowhammers and soon the term referred to anyone from Alabama. The yellowhammer now is the official state bird.

It’s just over two hours from New Orleans to Mobile on straight, main roads.

Where to Stay

• Mobile’s Riverview Plaza lives a short and colourful walk from both the atmospheric part of Downtown and the museum district. It pierces the sky like a magnified needle, offering great sunrise views across the industrial side of Mobile and its waterway. Both self-parking and valet parking are available but don’t worry too much about breakfast. It’s only a short walk to the inimitable Mo’Bay Beignets.

How Many Nights

We squeezed by with one night but to really enjoy and appreciate the museums, it would be a gift to have more time. Probably one and a half days here is ample, which my involve two nights depending on what time you need to arrive and leave.

Where to Eat

• Wintzell’s Oyster House – a no frills, welcoming oyster bar with fried green tomatoes, crab claw baskets and award-winning seafood gumbo.
• Mo’Bay Beignets – Mobile’s favourite coffee bar, bright and white Mo’Bay serves sugar dusted beignets with signature hot sauces that include butterscotch, cinnamon and gingerbread.
• Roosters – casual spot for South American inspired food. Worth a visit to see the size of the hot sauce counter!
• Noble South – highly recommended gourmet spot for Southern food like Shrimp & Grits
• The Mobile Carnival Museum – glittering gowns, dinner invitations, floats and mystic history.
• USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park – clamber among a real submarine, battleship and fighter planes and start to understand the might of America’s military.
• Dauphin Street – atmospheric architecture and ambiance.
• The History Museum of Mobile and Fort Conde – a walk through how we got to where we are.
• Beignets at Mo’Bay Beignets – sugar dusted tradition.

Inside Tips

• I’d really recommend taking a tour around the Carnival Museum if possible. It’s such a huge part of life here that it’s good to be able to ask questions and dig a little deeper into the culture and tradition surrounding these magnificent parties. 

Montgomery. Cruel history and inspiring history all in one city.

Montgomery. It’s probably not a name that many people know, yet a few square miles in this state capital contain name upon name that all the world knows. Martin Luther King. Rosa Parks. Gatsby and his greatness.

What’s even more remarkable is how close together these places are. And that they represent but a drop in the wider Montgomery ocean.

Historic Hot Dogs

Start with a slice of history by walking in the footsteps of Elvis, Martin Luther King and all the governors of Alabama at the historic, humble… Chris’ Hot Dogs store.  Founded in 1917, this low-lit, low nonsense eatery serves up a vintage idea of America, through hot dogs and hot sauce, snug booths and retro fonts and the mountains and mountains of napkins. (Trust me, you’ll need them all…)

From there, it’s a sprint up the hill to the Dexter Avenue Memorial Church, a red brick building overshadowed at first, by the view up the hill of the white dome and columns of Alabama’s State Capitol Building.

And here’s where we need a quick trip to the history books.

What You Need to Know About Alabama’s State Capitol Building

In 1861, Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the first president of the Confederacy on the very steps of the capitol building. For us non-Americans, the Confederates were the side that fought against Abraham Lincoln’s northern Union states. Some say it was a fight against overtaxation and northern tyranny. More say it was a fight to keep slavery as the bedrock of the economy.

Fast forward to 1955 and a time when Alabama was among one of the most segregated states in America. A 42 year old woman, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat for a white man, resulting in arrest, protests, the Montgomery bus boycott and the rise to prominence of a truly great spokesman, one Martin Luther King.

He was also a preacher at the Dexter Avenue Memorial Church.

Martin Luther King’s Church

Today, the place has a modified name. The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church. Painted footprints mark the spot outside, symbolising the thousands who marched from Selma to Montgomery to campaign for fair voting rights. At the time, Governor George Wallace refused to accept the petition, vowing to extend segregation forever. At the 50 year anniversary, led by then President Barack Obama, Martin Luther King’s daughter walked up the steps to the Capitol and was received by the governor with tears and open arms. The original governor, Wallace, attended the church to beg forgiveness.

Wanda, a force of nature and our guide to the church, greets us there and invites us to stand on the tarmac. To walk in the footsteps of giants. And it’s from this point on that my professional interest melts into a blend of personal hope and shame.

African-American history is so brutal, so recent and so far from over. Yet progress came through campaign after campaign of powerful non-violence. And information in Montgomery arrives with a tsunami of human connection, hope and warm southern hospitality. It’s jarring and blurring and, for me, I would say, life changing. Forgive me, dear readers, for not expanding fully here. I need another article to do the subject justice. Subscribe or simply come back and watch this space.

That the church sits so close to the main government building seems a strange quirk of fate. So, too, the proximity of the Rosa Parks Museum near the stop where she boarded and the Freedom Riders Museum, in the original bus station attacked by a mob.

Hanging out with the costumes from the Great Gatsby at the Fitz Museum in Montgomery

Another Side of Montgomery

Away from the concrete and columns of Downtown Montgomery, the Cloverdale neighbourhood houses gardens galore. In one picturesque spot lives the Fitz Museum, marking the home of Zelda and F. Scott. Fitzgerald who lived here for a stint between 1931 and 1932.

It’s also guest house, with period Zelda and Scott suites upstairs, while manuscripts, photographs, cigarette holders and perfume bottles fill the rooms on the ground floor.

Further out again, surrounded by greenery, you’ll find the Alabama Shakespeare Festival housed in the Carolyn Blount Theatre. We caught a child-friendly performance of Cinderella but the theatre hosts a wide range of performances throughout the rest of the year.

Practical Tips for Montgomery

Bring plenty of tissues! Honestly, the stories and emotions that surround the monuments and people you will meet need time and space to sink in and breathe.

Beyond that, the Capitol Building, Chris’ Hot Dogs, and Dexter Avenue Church are in easy walking distance of one another. So, too are the Rosa Parks Museum and Freedom Riders Museum.

You will need to drive out to both the Fitz Museum and Alabama Shakespeare Festival so leave yourself plenty of time for those.

Oh, yes. And accept the mountains of napkins you will be given at Chris’s Hot Dogs. Believe me.

From Mobile to Montgomery, it’s a straightforward 2.5 hours on the road.

• Springhill Suites in Downtown Montgomery may win the prize for being the hotel I have spent the least actual time in, with our late night and early start. As with the other Springhill Suites, you’ll find parking, a grab and go breakfast buffet, shared laundry facilities and a convenient location.

Definitely more than one! Montgomery is a powerful, powerful place with many stories to tell. I believe you’d benefit from more time to put things into context and reflect, spacing out the time in each place mentioned. You could also consider visiting the new Legacy Museum: From Slavery to Incarceration and National Memorial for Peace and Justice.  This came highly recommended for adults but with question marks about its suitability for very young children.

• Chris’s Hot Dogs  – founded in 1917, this is the oldest family run restaurant in Alabama and has dished up hot dogs to Martin Luther King, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and every Alabama governor since it opened.
• Dreamland BBQ  – this Alabama franchise began life in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1958, after Big Daddy Bishop received a visitation from God. Try out their signature BBQ sauce and hickory-fired ribs.
• The Alabama State Capitol Building – where so many poignant events took place.
• The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church – where Dr Martin Luther King Jr preached, just steps from the State Capitol Building.
• The Rosa Parks Museum and the section of road where she was arrested.
• The Freedom Riders Museum – in the bus station where people continued non violent protest against segregation.
• The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum – former home to the author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott. Fitzgerald.
• The Alabama Shakespeare Festival – impressive and active theatre amid great greenery and grounds
• Check out the events schedule at the Freedom Riders Museum. People who took part in the civil rights struggle at the time sometimes attend to speak about their experiences.

Why is Alabama Called the Heart of Dixie?

So, there are a few layers to this. Alabama sits at the heart of a number of southern States who go (or used to go) by the name of Dixie. This dates back to the time when Louisiana printed bank notes with the French word for ten: dix. Dix (pronounced deece) became dixie as a general term for the southern states and an active PR campaign in the 1940s and 50s sought to make it Alabama’s official nickname.

So, what’s the problem? Well, those southern States largely formed the Confederacy, the losing side of the American Civil War, and the side that fought to continue the slave trade. Plus, the term Dixie was made popular through blackface minstrel shows.

As a result, it’s a term that some feel evokes a romantic idea of an era in which racism and slavery were celebrated.

Not everyone feels this way but it’s good to be aware of the controversy before you go.

Walking in Little River Canyon in the Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains

Nothing takes you right back to the present like nature. And somehow, she also manages to spirt you to the past and future as well.

The Appalachian Mountains may start life as far north as Newfoundland in Canada, but they tumble into Alabama with a soothing rise and fall that undulates with deep green in the summer and orange needled tapestries in autumn.

The Trail of Tears

But for all the beauty, there’s heartache to find here too. Look out for a series of landmarks that commemorate the lives lost between 1830 – 1850 when the US government forcibly removed Native Americans from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee to land west of the Mississippi in Oklahoma. Thousands died through starvation and exposure along the route which the Cherokee refer to as “the trail of tears.”

Little River Canyon National Preserve sits on the aptly named Lookout Mountain near the quirky town of Fort Payne and DeSoto State Park. It’s so hard to imagine today, but in 1838, US soldiers and local militia rounded up approximately 1100 Cherokee men, women and children, placed them in stockades and then marched them for 798 miles without adequate food and supplies.

Look out for the small plaques which invite you to reflect on this history.

Hiking & Driving Little River Canyon

In today’s world, though, friendly Park Rangers and a well stocked visitor’s centre make it an easy outdoor space to explore. Walking trails pass by landmarks like Little River Falls and, if you have the nerve, the skill and the right weather conditions, you can take to the rapids yourself.

A beautiful drive wiggles and weaves along the rim of the canyon , or so I’m reliably told. We arrived amid the twilight mist so rather than elegant hiking and staring out to the flame edged horizon, I yelped in and out of the car at each lookout point in a race against the darkness clouding the sky. Crow point overlook. Wolf creek overlook. I stood on each point in the shadows, wondering what lay below. Go, voyage during daylight and let me know what I missed!

Cathedral Caverns: one of the biggest cave systems in the world

Cathedral Caverns

Under normal circumstances, I’m not much of a cave person. Too many bad experiences with too much darkness and too many banged heads (or is that one head banged several times – Ed?)

But Cathedral Caverns really did live up to its name. It’s cavernous, possibly the third largest cave of its kind in the world, and the melting, melding display of stalactites and stalagmites in one section of the cavern really does resemble a cathedral (and in another beautiful moment, our tour guide was called Kavan. Seriously. Say it out loud…)

And for the first time in forever, as they say in Disney, it recalibrated my discomfort with darkness. Forty minutes into the cavern on well lit pathways and our Kavan switched off the lights. Complete, total darkness. Darkness I’ve not found anywhere else. At first fear, panic, dizziness, and a primitive need to protect baby Lab. Then, a kind of peace, a requirement to relinquish control, to stand in the moment, to trust a virtual stranger that everything would be fine.

When studded fairy lights punctured the darkness, the display was honestly magical.

Practical Tips for Exploring the Appalachian Mountains in Alabama

First of all, check out hiking checklist here.

Second of all, make a stop into one of the visitor centres or arrange to meet up with a Park Ranger. These are American parks so, in general, paths are well maintained and well signposted but they can still be dangerous.

Never assume that it’s safe to swim or dive in the water and learn about what to do if you see a bear.

You’ll find the small towns, like Mentone and Fort Payne, reasonably well stocked and beautifully quirky places to visit but if you need any specialist equipment or medication, make sure you have it before you set off.

In Little River Canyon, the walk past Little River Falls and back in a loop is easily manageable with young children. Enjoy!

Montgomery to Fort Payne is three hours but this can easily be longer. In good weather, you’ll likely want to stop and take photos through the scenic drive in Talladega National Forest. In bad weather, visibility will be lower and you’ll need to go slow on the fairly winding roads.

• Winston Place B&B l ooks like a museum from Gone with the Wind, set in an antebellum neoclassical mansion in the small town of Mentone. It’s no surprise that it’s on the National Register of Historic Places, with its white columns, spacious verandah and grand lawn out front. Inside, rooms keep the historic ambiance, with fireplaces, floral furniture, lace edged tablecloths and more. Yet you get all the modern comforts you’d expect, plus access to a washing machine. Breakfast is a full southern experience, with everything from pancakes to grits with fresh coffee.

If the weather is good and you love to hike, then you could spend days on end here. If you would just like a taste of the place and are likely to hit bad weather, then one night will work nicely.

• Vintage 1889 in Fort Payne – lunch on raspberry chicken and flatbread tomato pie in this quirky 125 year old historic Big Mill. Kids will love the life size fire engine that sticks out of the wall. Adults will love the antique trinkets, posters and memorabilia.
• Elevation Bistro in Mentone – chic and candlelit, Elevation Bistro serves top quality fare with locally sourced ingredients taking on far off dishes like French onion soup and sundried tomato and mozzarella balls.
• Hiking through forests and waterfalls in Little River Canyon.
• Touring one of the largest underground cave systems in the world at Cathedral Caverns State Park.
• Pausing at the Trail of Tears in remembrance of the Native Americans forced from this land.
• Driving along the edge of a canyon and perching on rocky outcrops on part of the Lookout Mountain Parkway.

Look out for Park Rangers in the beautiful State Parks. They are on duty to help out and are incredibly knowledgable about the local area. Look out for Kaleb, in particular, say hi from this article and check that he took the chair back to Winston Place B&B. He’ll know what it means ;-)

Looking at rockets in the Huntsville Space Center

Huntsville: Rocket City

Rocket City wants you to have a blast. Yes, it’s the city of dad jokes and home to the largest space museum on earth. If driving along Clinton Avenue and seeing the tip of a 36 storey Saturn V moon rocket rising into the sky like a spire doesn’t shiver your space timbers, then it’s quite possible that you have timbers that cannot be shivered.

As the site of America’s first ever satellite launch, Huntsville has quite the reputation as the tech powerhouse of Alabama. The city itself is expanding faster than expected and you’ll find over 100 different languages and dialects within the city limits.

Yet Huntsville also has time to slow down and play. Its 112 acres of Botanical Gardens offer nature’s answer to tech: transformed over Christmas into a Galaxy of Lights.

And if you haven’t yet had your fill of neoclassical southern mansions yet, then a ride through Huntsville’s historical district will give another glimpse into the architecture of another age.

Most of all, though, make sure you leave enough time to fully explore the space museum. Even if a tip like that is not really rocket science (boom!) it is out of this world (double boom!)

Practical Tips for Huntsville

Around a third of the exhibits at the space museum are outside, and some of the rides will be awkward if you’re wearing a skirt. Plan for that with your packing and when you get dressed in the morning!

From Mentone in the Appalachian Mountains to Huntsville is around one hour and a half, one of the shortest drives on this trip.

• The Springhill Suites from Marriott in Downtown Huntsville form a convenient base for catching your breath in between the Space Center and the next stop in Birmingham. Parking is on site, breakfast is a quick grab and go and you’ll find a self-operated laundry to catch up with what you need to do on your road trip.

Space enthusiasts should leave a whole day to explore US Space and Rocket Center, meaning that you need two nights if you want to see anything else.

• Rhythm on Monroe – a fun place to pick up a Honky Tonk Whiskey Woman cocktail, some stylish shrimp & grits or biscuits and gravy and a grilled cheese sandwich for the little ones.
• Stovehouse – a former factory now converted into a cool urban leisure area, with outdoor dining from a range of eateries, a children’s play area and music drifting into the night. Follow the sign that says no firearms and only moderate, not excessive, horsejackery.
• The US Space and Rocket Center with its moondust, real relics, interactive exhibits and gravity defying rides.
• Historic Huntsville – stroll or drive through this beautiful neighbourhood of period properties or else attend an event run by the Historic Huntsville Foundation.
• Huntsville Botanical Gardens   – 112 acres of earth education and greenery. We were in town for the festive extravaganza, the Galaxy of Lights night show.
• Leave yourself plenty of time for the US Space and Rocket Center. It’s the largest place of its kind on earth, and you’ll need at least half a day if not more.

Pit Stop in Decatur: Natural History and Big Bob’s BBQ

For another taste of life in Albama, make a stop in Decatur, just south of Huntsville.

A Local Landmark: Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ

Where to Eat: Big Bob’s

Big Bob Gibson’s is the only name in town, with a big smokehouse out back ready to barbecue just about any kind of meat. We arrived at lunchtime, amid a working, check-shirted crowd, with barely a table free.

Big Bob’s is famous for a number of things, most notably their white barbecue sauce, a mayonnaise based tangy sauce with paprika, mustard and a dash of garlic.

What to See: Alabama’s Biodiversity

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is an absolute must see for the kids but if you’re new to Alabama, I’d recommend a visit for adults as well. Through fresh and imaginative interactive exhibits, you can not only get up to speed with tides, gemstones and the latest on the solar system, but you get an appreciation of Alabama’s biodiversity as well.

For, somewhat surprisingly, Alabama is America’s Amazon , an area with more species than anywhere else in the country.

Get up close with turtles and alligators, learn more about Alabama’s complex cave systems and stand eye to eye with the local black bears (yes, bears!)

Finally, leave inspired by both the story and the mission of the place. The Cook began life as a collection of bugs in a pest control company. The owner used his collection to train new recruits. Over time, staff brought their children to see the collections and from there, the spark of an idea for a museum was born.

The museum has an ethos as well: life is amazing. The first gallery prompts you to “look closer” and it’s another way for Alabama to invite you to think a little deeper, reach higher and get more out of each and every single day.

Don’t miss the pecan pie at Big Bob’s.

Birmingham by name, Birmingham by nature. Unlike so many cities in the world, Birmingham was built by design and built without basing itself around a river. Instead, in the mid 19th century, a group of industrialists decided to create an industrial city in the middle of Alabama, using the railroad instead of the waterways to connect it to the world. And so they did.

The Vulcan Centre, high on a vertiginous plain that overlooks the city, offers an appropriately severe introduction to the city. First, there is the giant himself, Vulcan. Bare bottomed and wielding tools that use fire to bend metal, his presence is a cross between a threat and a welcome to residents and visitors alike.

Then, there is the Vulcan Center, an introduction to the place as much as the man, charting the arrival of workers, from the recently emancipated plantation workers to Italian and Jewish immigrants desperate to start a new life. The museum covers the construction of this behemoth sculpture (the foot stands taller than a man) and the uniting force of Baseball.

But it is for civil rights that most people know the name Birmingham, Alabama, and not, it is fair to say, for all the best reasons.

Birmingham Civil Rights Monuments

Clustered together, just half a mile from the historic Tutwiler hotel, lie a trinity of core Civil Rights landmarks. The erudite Birmingham Civil Rights Institute , the evocative Kelly Ingram Park and the heartbreaking story of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

It was within these walls on 15th September 1963 when four girls were preparing for Sunday school, that Ku Klux Klan terrorists bombed the church and stole their lives. The scripture they were studying at the time was this:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44.

Practical Tips for Birmingham

In practical terms, Birmingham is an emotionally tough though important place to visit. The three core places are close together so it is just about possible to visit all three in one morning, as we did, but I would recommend you leave yourself more time.

The tour through the 16th Street Baptist church is incredibly powerful and it feels rude to rush it. The BCRI is self-guided and the amount of time you will need depends on how much of the history you already know.

While in theory, you can walk around the Kelly Ingram park in minutes, the reality is that I needed time with those sculptures to try to sift through my heavy thoughts and emotions. It’s not a place to rush through, any more than a war or holocaust memorial.

On that note, look out for graphic depictions of lynchings in the BCRI and a graphic description of the bombing in the 16th Street Baptist Church. It’s a personal parental choice but I feel that both could be absolutely terrifying for very young children. I distracted Rosa through the audiovisual parts so that she has an overview of that history but doesn’t suffer from nightmares from something she cannot unsee.

As with so many parts of this Alabama road trip itinerary, I will be writing more about these topics in separate articles. Stay tuned and watch this space.

It’s another short drive of only around 90 minutes from Huntsville to Birmingham, a little longer if you take the detour to Decatur.

• A designated National Historic Landmark, the grand Tutwiler Hotel is now owned and run as part of the Hampton Inn & Suites under the Hilton umbrella. It’s only a 4 minute drive from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and has valet parking on site. It also has a waffle maker on the breakfast buffet options…

One is possible, two is ideal, since you won’t want to rush through the 16th Street Baptist Church and BCRI.

• Blueprint on 3rd – absolutely gorgeous Brasserie with historical Sloss Furnaces as a backdrop, industrial Art Deco decor and a fabulous fresh cocktail list.
• Pizitz Food Hall – something of a local landmark within reach of the BCRI with black and white floor tiles and a range of modern global food stalls.
• The Vulcan Statue that towers over the city and the museum that tells its story.
• The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute – an interpretive museum and research centre.
• Kelly Ingram Park – an outdoor park on the Civil Rights Trail with emotive sculptures.
• 16th Street Baptist Church – the site of an attack by the KKK which killed four young girls at Sunday school.

Try to time your visit to the Vulcan Center to align with sunset. It’s mesmerising to watch all the lights flicker into life across this impressive industrial city.

Monroe County Museum in Alabama

Monroeville and the Mockingbird

Between Birmingham and the coast lies a beautiful small town that seems somehow familiar. The layout of the streets. The shape of the courthouse. The song of the mockingbird?

Could this, could this just be Maycomb, Alabama, the fictional town from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird?

Why yes, Miss Maudie, it is.

Welcome to Monroeville, a small village and home to childhood friends Harper Lee and Truman Capote. And you can visit Monroe County Museum to learn more about them both.

The museum itself contains Capote’s blue glass souvenirs and crazy quilt coat, as well as a 1930s lawyer’s office, a home for Atticus Finch. But it’s the courtroom that stands out, as the original inspiration for both the book and the 1962 movie with Gregory Peck.

Practical Tips for Monroeville

The museum is small and you can easily zip in and out in between Birmingham and Gulf Shores on this Alabama Road Trip itinerary. But I really wish we’d stayed at least overnight.

Monroeville Main Street oozes with small town southern charm and you can follow a Mockingbird trail to piece together the likely Boo Radley house and school.

It’s a great place to visit with young children to introduce the concept of the justice system and with older ones to help them gain a deeper appreciation of the Mockingbird text.

• Read more about the town that inspired Maycomb here.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach bring a sense of lightness and hope to this Alabama Road Trip itinerary. Not just becuase days seem better at the beach and sunshine makes everyone feel better.

But because the place has managed to turn an environmental disaster into a success.

From Oil Disaster to Eco Success

In 2010, the largest marine oil spill in history took place as Deepwater Horizon slicked five million barrels of oil along the Gulf Coast after 11 people lost their lives on the rig. Traced back to reckless conduct on behalf of BP, the courts ordered the company to pay compensation to the tune of around 20 billion dollars.

When a slice of those funds arrived in Gulf Shores, a decision had to be made. Rebuild as normal? Or use the funds to truly rebuild better?

Landmark Eco Development

Gulf Shores decided to be bold and the result is one of the most genuinely eco-friendly resorts in the world. The Lodge by Hilton may not look as eco-pretty as you might expect but the credentials are sound. LEED Gold, SITES Platinum and FORTIFIED Commercial TM certification put the paperwork in order, making it the first building in the world to achieve that status.

Beyond that, the resort generates 110% of its electricity, meaning that it sells some back to the grid. It reuses water from air conditioning units, installed solar panels for power, made its windows bird strike friendly and developed amber lights that don’t disturb turtles. And more. The ins and outs of how this has been achieved deserves an article in its own right and believe me, I’ll be writing more about this.

Looking at Lake Shelby

Eco Pretty Eagle Cottages

And if you do want eco pretty, then Gulf Shores has that for you as well. We stayed in the stunning Eagle Cottages in Gulf State Park, overlooking the lapping shores of Lake Shelby. You’ll still see high rises if you lean forward and crane your neck. But sit back or cycle along the path and you could be miles from anywhere.

Eagle Cottages also have sustainability at the forefront of their mission, partnering with National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World initiative when it was in operation. From the cottages, you can attend lectures in the Learning Center and join a sustainability tour, as well as the more conventional hiking trips to learn about local plants and berries and track down bald eagles nesting.

Family friendly nature activities in Gulf State Park

Practical Tips for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

When we visited in December, it was easy to get around and warm enough to eat outside or stroll around on the dunes without jackets. However, no one was in the sea and you wouldn’t want to lie around sunbathing.

On the flip side, apparently when the sunshine comes, so do the crowds and then you need to plan a little more strategically.

The Wharf in Orange Beach is a good place for restaurants and shops, while Gulf State Park is a great place to connect with nature.

From Birmingham to Gulf Shores is five hours on the road, longer if you take the detour to Monroeville for To Kill a Mockingbird. The drive is beautiful by day but tougher going by night, with risks of deer collisions as well. Consider yourself advised!

• The gorgeous Eagle Cottages in Gulf State Park. These stand-alone villas have views across the water, bicycles to ride around the park and a delicious welcoming basket of cheese, cured meats and honey. They’re part of a bigger eco project in Gulf Shores and provide a sense of getting away from it all. More about them later!

With white sand beaches and the lapping shores of Lake Shelby from Eagle Cottages, you could easily spend a week here to relax and recharge. Sit on the verandah for bird watching. Cycle through Gulf Shores State Park. Scrunch your toes on the sand and swim if it’s warm enough… But if you only have time for one night, then don’t skip this place. Head there and embrace the time you have!

• Villaggio Grille on The Wharf in Orange Beach brings a quality touch to modern dining, with a range of Italian dishes.
• Foodcraft at The Lodge in Gulf State Park features traditional American dishes like shrimp & grits with locally sourced ingredients and a calming sea and sand view.
• The white sand, sea views and dolphins at sunset.
• Lake Shelby views from Eagle Cottages.
• Bald eagles nesting in Gulf State Park.
• Forward thinking eco credentials.
• Leisure activities at The Wharf, Orange Beach.
• Take a nature trail from Eagle Cottages and look out for nesting bald eagles.

Self-drive and DIY or use a tour operator?

To be honest, either would work when planning a road trip through Alabama. The roads are easy, the language is easy, the booking systems are easy. You can definitely plan the components by yourself based on this itinerary and take care of the whole thing.

That said, tour operators do offer certain advantages. First of all, they can access cheaper deals, particularly with flights and car hire. And second of all, they keep up to date with the travel news while you are away.

For this trip, America As You Like It managed to find cheaper flights and car hire than I did (and I am a pro at finding deals after a decade of professional travel.) They also followed the changes in Covid restrictions while we were away, which was a huge relief and freed me up from spending hours squinting at my phone and making sure that I was up to date.

So, particularly in Covid times, I would recommend using a tour operator. Check out the Alabama itineraries from America As You Like It here.

Top: Shrimp & Grits. Bottom: Biscuits & Gravy

What to Eat in Alabama

An entire article awaits, but for now, here are the highlights:

• Shrimp & grits
• Beignets in Mobile
• White BBQ Sauce at Big Bob Gibson’s Barbecue
• Biscuits and gravy
• Fried green tomatoes
• Make your own waffles at a breakfast station
• Chicory coffee

Meeting Dorothy from the Freedom Riders Museum. People risked their lives to make travel through Alabama safe… Her message now is to come!

When to Visit Alabama

There’s never a bad time to visit Alabama but as the state has different regions (the tech north, cotton middle and swampy south) the best time of year depends on what you want to do. To help get your bearings, Alabama borders Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi. The highest point is Cheaha Mountain in Cheaha State Park.

The beaches in the south are hottest (and busiest) during June to September but pleasant to visit in December, though outdoor pools and a swim in the sea is pretty much out. The Appalachian mountains can be enjoyed year round with few extremes, but check the details if you wish to go rafting or spot certain wildlife. Lookout mountain looks stunning with autumn foliage.

For the civil rights sightseeing, both spring and autumn work well and winter is possible with a warm coat, hat and gloves.

Flights to Alabama

Alabama has a number of airports but the big international hubs lie just outside the state. We travelled in and out of New Orleans (MSY), driving a loop through the state of Alabama. You can follow the same approach from Atlanta, Georgia (ATL) or Nashville, Tennessee (BNA.)

A fun route for an Alabama Road Trip looks to be from New Orleans to Nashville or vice versa. However, bear in mind that you will have to pay a supplementary fee if you do not return your hire car to the same place you picked it up.

I’d always recommend looking for flights and routes on Skyscanner and also checking with a tour operator as they can sometimes access deals that consumers can’t. In our case, we used America As You Like It as a partner of this project.

Safety While Driving in Alabama

It’s pretty safe to drive in Alabama. Roads are in excellent condition, well signposted and with frequent fuel stations and rest breaks. Parking is easy since most places have their own car parks and even the winding roads in the mountains are missing some of the tight and fright-filled hairpin turns you’ll find in older European villages.

You do have to be careful driving at night away from the main roads, though, as deer can cause considerable damage on impact. We were generally advised to drive by day for this reason.  Plus, it’s more fun to see the landscapes change as you drive on by.

Is Alabama Safe for People of Colour?

Given Alabama’s prominent and painful very recent past, I was asked this question several times both before I set off and while we were on the road. Since the three of us all have pale skin, we can’t answer that question from a personal perspective.

But I did ask people we met along the way, which obviously is a limited sample. Everyone I spoke to, whether Black or White, seemed horrified by the question and confident that people of colour would receive just as warm a welcome as those with white skin.

No one said it was perfect, though. “No different to anywhere else in America,” was the general gist. “We can do better,” was the other.

To get some modern context, Alabama’s population currently stands at around 74% White & 24% Black, with the remaining 1-2% consisting of American Indian and Asian according to the 2010 Alabama census.

If you are worried about this, it may be worth you reading this article from the Yellowhammer news.

You can wear almost anything you like in Alabama…

What to Wear in Alabama

In general, Alabama has a fairly relaxed dress code for its residents and visitors, unless you’re talking about Mardi Gras when costumes matter a lot. The weather varies enormously, though, both throughout the year and throughout the state.

The south is sticky and tropical for most of the year, cooling off a little in December – February. Whereas, Birmingham and further north can get bitingly cold in winter, as can the peaks of the Appalachian Mountains. But you won’t find yourself hemmed in with snow as in Alaska.

Overall, I’d recommend packing a pair of long jeans and trousers, a combination of long and short sleeved tops, a sweater, blazer or jacket, hiking shoes and going out shoes and one or two dresses if that’s your thing.

What to Pack for Alabama

Whenever you travel anywhere, check out our Travel Toolbox © and ultimate travel packing list. And for an Alabama Road Trip, of course it makes sense to consult our list of road trip essentials here.  Beyond that, I’ll highlight the following:

• Reusable water bottle and travel cutlery to cut down on plastic.
• A travel adapter like this if your appliances are not from the US. 
• Sat Nav or an in car phone holder if you plan on using your phone for navigation. 
• Some plastic bags for rubbish. 
• Some road trip snacks (although food is very easy to come by on the road.)
• Comfy shoes for making the most of the important museums, trails and Downtown areas. 
• An open mind. Cheesy but true ;-)
• And, erm, stretchy waistbands. Food is tasty, plentiful and not all that light!

More on Travel in the United States

We love a good road trip through America. It’s such a fascinating country to drive through with so many different landscapes, stories, peoples and cultures.

Check out our American road trip itineraries:

• Your two week road trip from New Orleans
• A fly-drive itinerary for the west coast in Florida
• Driving Massachusetts: road trips from Boston
• Your perfect road trip through Alabama

Read more about Alabama here:

• Meet the real Maycomb from Harper Lee’s Mockingbird
• 101 Interesting facts about Alabama
• The beach in Alabama that is changing the world. Seriously.

And our useful prep guides here:

• The Travel Toolbox ©
• The international travel checklist you can print and download
• Your printable road trip checklist  PDF
• Our Road Trip Planner & Toolkit ©

Bookmark this road trip Alabama itinerary on Pinterest for later… 

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Alabama Road Trips

Grab your favorite people and head on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure on an Alabama Road Trip! And the best part is that we’ve done the work for you… Traveling for a romantic couple escape or bringing the kids? Girls trip, reunion, or large group travel? Take a look through our suggested Road Trip itineraries based on where you want to be and what you want to do, there’s something for everyone! From Birmingham’s famous James Beard-recognized restaurants to Dothan’s Peanut Festival. From a Eufaula Pilgrimage to BBQ in Decatur, from the musical legends in Florence to the sugar white sand beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. There is mountain biking, shopping, eating, and arts to experience on your next Sweet Home Alabama Road Trip!

Tuscaloosa to Auburn: Football Championship Tour

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers are cross-state rivals in football, but together they have won the last three Bowl Championship Series titles.

Guntersville: Where Eagles Fly

It's the name of a famous song, but Guntersville is truly a place "where eagles fly.

Mobile: A Romantic Getaway

If you're considering a romantic getaway, put Mobile at the top of your list.

Selma to Montgomery: Crossing a Bridge into History

The Edmund Pettus Bridge, spanning the Alabama River in Selma, has become one of the most iconic symbols of the modern struggle for civil and voting rights in America. It is also a focal point for the 54-mile route now memorialized as the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach: Spring Break at the Beach

Soak up the sun on Alabama's beautiful sugar-white sand beaches.

Birmingham: Taking it to the Streets, Downtown

Get ready to travel to Birmingham, Alabama's largest city, for a stroll through historic downtown. On this walking tour, you will go to the place where hot peanuts have been sold for more than 100 years and stroll through shops filled with memories.

Huntsville: To the Moon and Back By Dinner

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville is the largest and most comprehensive space flight museum in the world.

Montgomery: A Place Where History Runs Deep

History is woven into the very soul of Montgomery. It spirals down grand staircases, like the one inside the 1847 State Capitol building.

Gulf Coast Birding: Fort Morgan, Dauphin Island, Theodore

Alabama's Gulf Coast is a stopover point for birds as they return from Central to North America in the spring, so it's the perfect place to see herons, seagulls, pelicans and more.

Monroeville: The "To Kill a Mockingbird" Experience

You've read the book or maybe you've seen the movie with Gregory Peck. Now experience <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em> and lots more firsthand on a visit to Monroeville.

Selma: Explore Small Town's Major Role in Civil War History

The 1820s town of Selma, situated on the banks of the Alabama River in west-central Alabama, is a place where the past reaches out to you like the branches of the town's moss-draped trees.

Childersburg and Sylacauga: Family Fun

Take your family to explore a cave that's 12 stories deep. Eleven miles away, amaze them as your car rolls uphill, seemly defying the law of gravity.

Eufaula: Picture Perfect and Pilgrimage Ready

Experience the state's oldest and largest tour of homes on the Eufaula Pilgrimage, which takes place each spring.

Tuscaloosa to Eutaw: Antiques and Antebellum Mansions

With gracious antebellum mansions, wonderful art galleries, scenic waterways, landmark universities, a haunted bridge and a treasure trove of antique shops, West Alabama offers the perfect road trip for lovers of antiquity, art and culture.

Abbeville: Yatta Abba Yella Fella Tour

Explore the small town made famous by Jimmy Rane, the Yella Fella.

Eastern Shore: Girlfriends Bay Getaway

Experience a girlfriends getaway on Alabama’s Eastern Shore where the charming small town of Fairhope offers boutiques, bistros, art and the highest rated Marriott spa in the world just down the road. As you cruise along Scenic Highway 98 to Fairhope, you’ll drive under canopies of oak trees draped with Spanish moss.

Foley and Elberta: Art, Antiques and Model Trains

Eight miles north of the white sand beaches of Alabama’s Gulf Coast sit two small towns rich in culture and heritage, Foley and Elberta.

Go for a Drive on the RTJ Golf Trail

In Alabama, you can go for a drive on the RTJ Golf Trail, but these driving skills don’t require a steering wheel.

Birmingham’s Five Points South: Walk to James Beard-recognized Restaurants

Birmingham is home to great neighborhoods that are filled with a spirit that comes alive when you walk down the streets and step inside the boutiques and quaint restaurants.

Decatur: Fun in the River City

Located on the banks of the Tennessee River in North Alabama, Decatur is called “The River City” and is known for its great outdoor recreation.

Discover Dothan: The Heart of Alabama’s Wiregrass

Dothan is an ideal place for a fun and affordable family vacation. Symbols of a bygone era await your visit at a 135-acre park on the outskirts of town.

Florence: Alabama’s Renaissance City

Florence, the county seat of Lauderdale County, was surveyed in 1818 by Ferdinand Sannoner, an Italian native who named the city after Florence, Italy.

A Tour of Gee’s Bend

Known for their bold, improvisational designs and use of recycled fabrics, for generations, the women of Gee’s Bend have been creating patchwork quilts that expand the expressive boundaries of the quilt genre and the realm of Black visual culture.

Rocking and Rolling on the Mountains: A Driving Tour Through Steele, Ashville and Springville

Take in Alabama's natural beauty driving through the mountains. Observe local artists' and listen to unique music at various bluegrass festivals.

Alabama’s Coastal Connection National Scenic Byway

Beautiful beaches, authentic downtowns, wildlife preserves, historic sites and the freshest of seafood are all yours to enjoy on Alabama’s Coastal Connection, a nationally designated scenic byway.

A Bicentennial Road Trip: Fort Mims to Horseshoe Bend

Follow the progression of the Creek Indian War through historic sites and battle reenactments.

Fort Payne: The View From Lookout Mountain

The largest city along the Alabama portion of the Lookout Mountain Parkway is Fort Payne.

Alabama’s Gulf Coast: Where Kids Drive the Fun Home

Some of the best family memories are made on a beach vacation. Ditching your regular routine and setting out for Alabama’s 32 miles of sandy seashore welcomes a bit of magic into your lives.

Famous Alabamians Hometown Heroes Road Trip

Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Hank Williams Sr. and George Washington Carver – these names rank among the most notable people in America.

Marion and Greensboro: Interesting People, Places and Food

Alabama’s Black Belt region, so named because of its rich black soil, cuts a swath across the state that encompasses 22 counties, including Hale and Perry.

Commemorating Birmingham ’63 in the Alabama Civil Rights District

Visiting Alabama’s Civil Rights District, where some of America’s most painful events took place, is a powerful and emotional experience you should not miss.

Rosa Parks, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Jesse Owens: A Centennial Road Trip

What do Rosa Parks, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Jesse Owens have in common? Besides the fact that each of them has a museum named in their honor, all three of these famous Alabamians were born in 1913, and each played a role in integration.

Tuscaloosa and Northport: A Feast of Art and Food

Tuscaloosa, the fifth largest city in Alabama, is home to the University of Alabama and the National Championship Crimson Tide football team. Northport’s charming downtown is a mecca for diners and shoppers, particularly during the annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts each October.

Irondale, Hanceville & Cullman: A Pilgrimage for the Soul

Pilgrims of all faiths journey from far corners of the globe to nourish spirits and deepen understanding at the three Alabama locations. Each stop is an easy drive from major interstates, but you’ll feel transported to spiritual realms in your heart.

Moundville/Aliceville: Shark Teeth, POWs & the Lost Realm of the Black Warrior

This road trip takes you on a journey through history. Visit Moundville Archaeological Park, then return to Tuscaloosa to eat, shop and see the sights. Journey to hunt prehistoric shark teeth left 70 million years ago before visiting a museum in nearby Aliceville dedicated to one of the largest World War II German prison camps in America.

Henagar: The Sound of (Sacred Harp) Music

On this road trip, you will hear the sound so associated with the South of the Civil War period and see the town where Sacred Harp songs were recorded for the movie Cold Mountain.

Cullman: Alabama’s German Village

From its Native American and Civil War past to proud heritage as the site of an authentic 1870s German village, Cullman offers travelers plenty to see and do.

Wonder Falls & More: Gadsden, Attalla and Beyond

Take two days to explore the stunning scenic splendor of northeastern Alabama with visits to waterfalls in Gadsden and Fort Payne and the federally protected magnificence of Little River Canyon.

Outdoor Beach Adventure: Gulf Shores/Orange Beach

This road trip takes you to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast region for fishing, parasailing, hot air balloon rides, scuba diving and exciting dolphin cruises. Down along the Alabama coast, where 32 miles of sugar white sand beaches offer fun 365 days of the year, you’ll discover adventure at every turn – on land, by sea and in the air.

Pork, Blues and Inner Tubes: A Tour of Alabama Barbecue

In Alabama, barbecue is a culture all in itself. The state serves some of the nation’s best, with iconic and award-winning restaurants just about everywhere you look.

Mentone: A Mountaintop Treasure

Nestled among the woodlands atop the western brow of Lookout Mountain, the historic and scenic village of Mentone hosts antiques stores, arts and crafts shops, galleries and restaurants. The Lookout Mountain Parkway is known for its beautiful waterfalls and great white-water kayaking.

Lineville & Ashland: From Alabama’s Highest Point to Its Hills of Gold

On this road trip, you will start on a mountaintop at Cheaha State Park and travel down to the valley. Along the way you can ride horses, pan for gold and drive beautiful back roads to reach the small towns of Lineville and Ashland.

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Road Trip

Visitors to Tuskegee, located in Macon County in east-central Alabama, will discover a myriad of reasons why Lionel Richie is proud to call the small town where he grew up “home.”

Alabama’s Gulf Coast: Fresh Catch and Fairways

Alabama’s Gulf Coast is a destination that combines rest and relaxation with some of the best golfing and fishing around.

Historic House Museums of Mobile

From the grand Bragg-Mitchell Mansion to the simple Portier House, the historic house museums of Mobile are sure to provide a memorable experience for those who love history, architecture and a good story.

Athens’ Southern Splendor

From history and food to Southern hospitality, Athens has it all. Athens is a small city in North Alabama with a charming downtown square full of history.

Blount County: The Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama

Three of Alabama’s 11 covered bridges can be found in Blount County, nestled into the curves of both roads and rivers, making this county the Covered Bridge Capital of Alabama.

Scottsboro: Claim the Treasures

Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains on 69,000-acre Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro is a treasure-trove of adventure. Here you can tour a quaint museum that chronicles the early history of the Civil Rights Movement in America, see the courthouse where the Scottsboro Boys Trials took place in the 1930s, and enjoy premier outdoor recreation, such as bird-watching, boating, camping, fishing and golfing.

Alabama's Historic State Capitals Tour

Alabama has had five state capitals, including St. Stephens, Huntsville, Cahawba, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery. Take a tour throughout the state discovering the history behind these important cities.

Your Island Getaway: Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island is the perfect destination for a relaxing getaway. A natural environment surrounded by the beautiful turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this small barrier island is set apart by white sand beaches, walking trails, bountiful wildlife and lots of history.

Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys

Take a 110-mile journey through scenic northeastern Alabama to visit train depots and courthouses in Stevenson, Scottsboro, Decatur and Athens, where the saga of the Scottsboro Boys case played out over seven years.

Pike County: Art, Pioneers, Peanut Butter and More

There’s a lot to love about Pike County, which is just east of Alabama’s capital city and includes the cities of Troy and Brundidge. Discover an emerging arts scene, the pioneering spirit of the past, a top-ranked university, antiques, an annual peanut butter party and more.

Racing, Riding and Building America’s Wheels

From the first crank of an engine, America fell in love with the automobile. Throughout Alabama, testimonials to our devotion abound in museums, on racetracks and in manufacturing facilities.

Muscle Shoals Is Rock ’n’ Roll Heaven

Thanks to the critically acclaimed Muscle Shoals documentary, music lovers are finding their way to the small town in northwestern Alabama where some of the world’s greatest hits were recorded.

Create Your Own Classroom on Alabama’s Gulf Coast

Discover a whole different state of learning along Alabama’s 32 miles of white sand and blue waterways. These waterfront classrooms offer core subjects to enrich any student’s curriculum.

Crave the Coast: A Gulf-Side Trip for Food Lovers

Next time you visit the pristine beaches of Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast, up the culinary ante with the delicious destinations and dishes the area has to offer.

Old Mill Towns of Alabama: Valley, Lanett and Beyond

Get ready to travel to the sites of several old mill towns, visit a Civil War fort that straddles the Alabama/Georgia line, explore birding sites and lakes and visit a town that honors sports hero Joe Louis, World Boxing Heavyweight Champion from 1937 to 1949.

Coasting Through History: Forts, Fishermen, Legends and Adventure Along Alabama’s Gulf Coast

Today, you can tour the forts that defended Mobile and walk beaches trod by swashbucklers and explorers. You can also learn the amazing stories of seafarers, farmers and fishermen who also make up the coast’s history.

Wetumpka: Land of Rumbling Waters

Nestled in the heart of Elmore County and wrapped in the flowing waters of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, Wetumpka holds many treasures often overlooked by visitors and passersby.

Elkmont: Goat Cheese Heaven

Elkmont is best known as the home of an internationally acclaimed goat cheese maker. It is also a place to explore Civil War history, pick, grin and dance the night away at an old railroad depot, or listen to country music by Nashville entertainers inside a little red caboose.

Opelika: Small City, BIG Impression

Folks who live in Opelika will tell you that their hometown is a special place, offering all the graces of Southern hospitality, history and culture with a mix of modern innovation, revitalization and progress.

Exploring Alabama’s Rural Studio

Smack in the middle of Alabama’s Black Belt stand multiple buildings, none of which look like they go together. But they do. All part of Auburn University’s Rural Studio, these homes, event centers, play structures and community buildings – some built using tires, wooden pallets or hay bales – comprise a philanthropic and educational effort by the university’s architecture department.

Alabama Beer Trail - Flight 1

Alabama’s burgeoning craft beer scene practically begs you to make a pilgrimage to some of the 29 breweries and brew pubs in the state.

It’s Showtime at Alabama’s Historic Theaters

The lights dim, the music swells, images and voices appear, and you are magically whisked away to another time, another place, another life. Alabama has nearly 20 theaters that were built before World War II, with 11 of them dating to 1930 or earlier.

Auburn-Opelika: A Center of Arts and Culture

On this road trip, you’re invited to step back in time to an old railroad town, visit art and history museums, and refuel with a glass of lemonade at an old-fashioned drugstore and soda fountain.

See & Sip at Alabama’s Wineries

Keeping step with Alabama's burgeoning craft beer industry and award-winning restaurants, vineyards around the state are producing homegrown vintages with distinctive flavors. The state currently boasts 14 vineyards and wineries, most of which rely on Alabama's only native grape, the muscadine.

Take Off on Alabama’s Aviation Road Trip

Point your compass to sites around Alabama where generations of creative minds dreamed of soaring high above the earth.

Over the Railroad and Through the Woods: A Historic Christmas in East Alabama

Christmastime in Alabama is truly an enjoyable experience, with many cities hosting parades, plays, garden tours and other special events throughout the holiday season. This is certainly true for the Auburn-Opelika area in East Alabama.

Metal & Might: Discover Alabama’s Iron & Steel Heritage

Pondering Alabama’s rich history often leads to thoughts of the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement or our literary legacy. But there’s another topic that deserves prime placement on that list: the founding and growth of the state’s iron and steel industries.

Meet Alabama’s Artisanal Cheesemakers

Get your camera ready for this Instagram-worthy tour through Alabama farmland to meet a few of the state’s top artisanal cheese producers. Throughout Alabama’s rich agricultural history, farmers have utilized the mild climate and fertile soil to create distinctive dairy products.

Take 20: Things to see and do in Alabama along Interstate 20

Interstate 20 dates back to the 1960s and is a major east–west transportation system that runs for more than 1,500 miles from Kent, Texas all the way to Columbia, South Carolina. In between, it travels through several states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama before crossing into Georgia. Such a lengthy and historic route beckons you to get off and explore all the attractions along the way. And what better place to do that than in Alabama?

Historic Churches Along Alabama’s Civil Rights Trail

On this road trip, you are invited to hit the Alabama Civil Rights Trail, visiting several historic cities and towns to get an inside look at one of the most significant symbols of the Civil Rights Movement — the black church.

Columbiana: More Than You Can Imagine

Unless you’re from around the Birmingham area, chances are you haven’t heard of Columbiana, but this charming town of fewer than 5,000 offers more than you can imagine and is well worth a day trip or a weekend stay.

Seeing Gadsden from the Inside

The Coosa River flows down from beautiful Lookout Mountain, offering fishing, camping and birdwatching along the shoreline of Neely Henry Lake. Stunning waterfalls capture your imagination at Noccalula Falls Park. A relaxing 36-hole Robert Trent Jones Golf Course beckons you to grab your clubs and enjoy a round or two of golf. With so many opportunities for recreation surrounding it, one would think that Gadsden is all about the outdoors.

Road Tripping with the Kids in Alabama’s Capital City

When it comes to spring break and summer vacation, kids are always up for an adventure. And what better place to give them some adventure than in Alabama’s capital city. From the Alabama Cattlemen’s MOOseum and the Museum of Alabama to the Rosa Parks Museum and the Planetarium, Montgomery offers an abundance of things to see and do with children.

Andalusia: Where Art, History and Culture Abound

Whether big or small, almost every town has its claim to fame, and Andalusia, Alabama is no exception. Located in south-central Alabama in Covington County, this town of 9,000-plus is home to the World Championship Domino Tournament, lots of rich local history, engaging museums, and more.

Road Trip: Mountain Bike East Alabama

Whether you’re a beginner or old pro, you’re invited to pack up your gear and hit the open road toward East Alabama – we’ll show you all the best trails!

A Centennial Road Trip along the Bankhead Highway

Mention the name Bankhead and many would undoubtedly think of Tallulah Bankhead of Hollywood and Broadway fame. But before the screen and stage star was born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1902, her grandfather John Hollis Bankhead of Jasper was making a name for himself.

Exploring Alabama’s Historic Ballparks

Although Alabama doesn’t often tout its connection to America’s favorite pastime, the state harbors a rich baseball history that rivals that of Boston, New York or Chicago. Its legacy includes several minor league teams, beloved players who are household names and ballparks where history was made. Follow this road trip to five of the state’s historic ballparks and discover the sport’s Alabama roots.

Experiencing Montgomery beyond Downtown

With dozens of museums, a beautiful riverboat and baseball stadium, historic homes and churches, and great lodging, entertainment and dining venues, it’s no surprise that downtown Montgomery is a mecca for tourists. But why not explore all Montgomery has to offer?

Adventure and Scenery on Two Wheels

For some, there’s nothing better than traveling the world on a motorcycle, and if you’re one of those people, this road trip is for you.

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Your 14-Day Alabama Road Trip: Across The Heart of Dixie!

After watching Sweet Home Alabama, you might think you know all about what Alabama stands for. Small towns, Southern accents, fierce football rivalries, and hound dogs laying on the porch…? While Alabama certainly has some of those – there are so many fun things to do in Alabama. From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico – this is your Ultimate 14 Day Alabama Road Trip Itinerary.

P.S. Don’t worry if you need to cut your trip short. We’ve also included a 7 Day Itinerary for all of the can’t miss Alabama road trip highlights!!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The Best Time To Travel In Alabama: Spring and Fall (The summers are incredibly humid!!) Alabama’s Nicknames: The Yellow Hammer State, Heart of Dixie, the Cotton State, Famous Foods: Barbecue, Alabama White BBQ Sauce and Huge Shrimp from the gulf Landscape: Mountains in the North, plains & forests in the middle, beaches to the south Fun Fact: Alabama is the only state to have an alcoholic beverage at its state drink – Conecuh Ridge Whiskey. The Best Way To Get Around Alabama : By car

Tip For Traveling Through Alabama: You may come across regions where you have no cell service. It’s important to know where you’re going and figure out how to read maps before you go on any trip – but especially when there isn’t much around. Get our guide here for 17 Skills To Learn Before Traveling Anywhere!

Day 1: North Alabama’s Foothills

Start your journey through the varied landscapes of Alabama in the mountains. This region of the lower Appalachian Mountains is known for its pastures and grazing livestock along the mountainsides. Surprisingly, there are a ton of fun things to do in Northeast Alabama! More than just livestock, start your Alabama road trip with adventures fit for thrill-seekers.

Your first road trip stop will be in the far Northeast corner almost on the Tennessee Alabama border. Unearthed in 1950 – the Russell Cave National Monument is a well-preserved catalog with 10,000 years of Native American and prehistoric man’s artifacts . Take a guided tour for a unique way to start your road trip.

• In human history of America before European settlers invaded, the sequence of cultures start with Paleo, then Archaic, onto Woodland and ending in the Mississippian era. The highest concentration of artifacts comes from the Paleo and into Archaic eras (meaning there are artifacts from almost 9,000 years ago!!) This complete of an archeological record hasn’t been found in many places across the US!!

For more Native American history and inspiration in your travels, get our guide to Arizona’s Native American Ruins & Modern Day Culture !

Day 1 Hiking Trails

The next place to visit on your trail requires a little pre-planning for the true dare-devil… and just some snacks for the rest of us! You may have seen photos of it or heard of it referenced in movies, but The Neversink Pit is truly one of the wonders of Alabama !!

This 162 foot/16-story pit is home to a tumbling waterfall past ledges of glowing green ferns all the way to the bottom. You can access the cave by rappelling to the bottom or just viewing the cave from the top!! Get your free hiking or caving permits for the Neversink Pit here .

If you’re interested in adding The Neversink Pit and vertical caving as an extra Alabama day trip, make sure to reserve your permits ahead of time!

After you get to see the incredible Neversink Pit, head to the stunning Walls of Jericho . This incredible hike is only for nature lovers willing to push themselves. This 6.4-mile round trip trail into the wilderness will take you past brightly colored berries and lush green scenery. Hikers are rewarded with a babbling waterfall flowing into a jade-green swimming hole !

• Total driving time for the day: 1.5 hours of driving between Russel Cave National Monument and Scottsboor for the night. (We highly recommend grabbing a full tank of gas before starting your adventures in this area. You’ll be driving through the beautiful but sparse countryside without many stops for gas.)

BEST HOTELS FOR DAY 1 OF YOUR ALABAMA ROAD TRIP : A great budget-friendly option after exploring outside all day is the Comfort Inn & Suites Near Lake Guntersville .

Alabama day trip #1: Unclaimed Baggage

In the delightfully pretty town of Scottsboro Alabama where the ‘mountains meet the lakes’, lays the giant Unclaimed Baggage store . This fun little shop is where all things that get left behind at airports in the region end up. People find all sorts of cool treasures here including designer handbags, shoes, electronics, and jewelry. (A friend of ours even found a Cartier love ring there? It’s totally worth a 15-minute pit stop to browse!)

• Many people add extra time for a day trip in Alabama to Scottsboro. Beyond Unclaimed Baggage, this little town is full of epically scenic views. To really get a taste of the beauty of the area, try walking the 1.4-mile Scottsboro Municipal Park Trail along the shores of Guntersville Lake!! This region is known for eagle watching amounst the towering foothils of the Appalachian mountains.

Continue on your Alabama road trip by stopping early or coffee at Pine Bros Coffee Co. in Scottsboro, crossing Lake Guntersville, and taking in the views at Weathington Park . While not the highest peak in Alabama, the 180-degree views of Lake Guntersville from the park’s edge are pretty spectacular!

If you didn’t know this tiny park was there – you would miss it and it would be such a shame. While we totally understand it may not be the most direct route to Mentone – but the views absolutely justify the detour!

You’re reading about all the places to check off your Alabama bucket list. Looking to explore more of the South? Get our guide to all of our favorite honeymoon & romantic getaway destinations this fall .

Day 2: Mentone & Desoto Falls

After crossing Lake Guntersville, visit the artsy village of Mentone nestled deep in the mountains. Mentone (and the neighboring hamlet of Fort Payne) are home to local artisans, an art gallery, antique shops and so much more. Everywhere you look in Mentone Alabama are pottery shops, artist workshops, and trading posts making up what we’ve affectionately dubbed Alabama’s hippie hideaway.

**If hiking isn’t your thing, skip the Neversink Pit and The Walls of Jericho from Day 1 of our Alabama Road Trip Itinerary in favor of spending more time in Mentone. There are enough shops and galleries to fill up two days worth of exploring in this area!!

Must-visit shops include the 10 tiny shops in the charming Mentone Log Cabin Village , Artisans Inca Connection, and the Blissfully Serene Spa. **The log cabin village is especially good for folks looking for fun things to do in Alabama that don’t require any strenuous hiking!

Before you leave town, include the stunning Wildflower Cafe & Country Store on your Alabama road trip itinerary. With their gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly menu – grabbing a bit of the tomato pie has to be one of our favorite reasons to stop in Mentone!!

• Desoto Falls : Include this gorgeous park on the peaks of Lookout Mountain in your road trip planning. Highly regarded as one of the best things to do in Alabama, there are actually two waterfalls and a secret hiking trail with a smimming hole at the end!

Little River canyon Preserve

About 30 minutes South of Mentone is the scenic Little River Canyon Nature Preserve. A place we could have easily spent a day could also be shortened to a 30-minute pit stop. To really see all of the best views, walk from the parking lot to the bridge overlooking the Little River. Then walk back through the parking lot to reach the trail for the base of the falls.

Once you get to the base of the falls – you’ll realize there are many trails running through the park but only one takes you to the main views. This Alabama getaway is kind of a tucked-away secret but a perfect place to enjoy a road trip snack stop.

If you hike the trail or follow the river bed far enough when the water is low – you’ll reach Martha’s Falls. This hidden cove is home to a swimming hole perfect for a refreshing dip!

Love including waterfalls on your fun things to do in Alabama bucket list? Do another waterfall hike in the neighboring state of Georgia! Toccoa Falls is a towering waterfall with only a 0.1-mile walk from the trailhead.

Day 3-4: Huntsville Alabama

Start your day heading away from Little River Canyon south to Nocculala Falls for a 45-minute detour from your journey to Huntsville. from Litle River Canyon to This gorgeous 90-foot waterfall is an easy walk from the parking lot requiring no more than a 30-minute pitstop. (Great way to stretch your legs on your Alabama road trip!)

Once you’re done gazing at the gorgeous waterfall head to Huntsville! You have about an hour and a half to decide what you want to spend your time doing, and there really is so much to do.

• Cathedral Caverns State Park – On your way into town from Mentone and Noccoulala Falls, no Alabama road trip ould be complete without visiting these incredible caves known for their record breaking giant stalagmites! More Information Here

First things first head to Rocket City’s claim to fame: the US Space & Rocket Center ! One of the only places in the country you can get up close and personal with a rocket that’s actually been to space!! See National Geographical IMAX movies, interactive exhibits and so much more!!

• If you’re there to drop off your kiddos at NASA’s space camp , make sure you take some time to explore the city!!

Outdoorsy Huntsville

In the afternoons, try out a little hiking and experience what the mountains of northern Alabama really have to offer in terms of views!! Start out by taking a hike at the Alum Hollow Trail on the south side of Huntsville to see a spectacular waterfall. Then head up to Monte Santo State Park for a little hiking, but also to take in a panoramic sunset over the entire city of Huntsville.

• Stephens Gap Waterfall & Cave – A more rigorous adventure but worth the drive and short hike!!
• Lost Sink Falls In Gurley Alabama – About 20 minutes south of Huntsville is this incredible hike to a waterfall tumbling down into a 100 foot gorge!! Not what we expected to find in Alabama for sure.

If hiking isn’t your thing, you can still get your fill of nature on your Alabama road trip. Visit the Huntsville Botanical Gardens for a walk through the stunning hundred-acre park! We also suggest grabbing a bite to eat and having a picnic at the parks downtown in Huntsville, while you walk amongst the murals!!

• GET OUR FULL GUIDE TO HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA HERE!

Last but not least – if you have time in the evening, head to Burritt On The Mountain . Take in the sunset with cocktails set to the backdrop of an incredible 19th-century mansion!!!

Day 5: Muscle Shoals & Rattlesnake Saloon

Once you’ve had your fill of Rocket City, head NorthWest into the small towns of the Muscle Shoals region. Your total time driving from Huntsville to this region is about an hour and fifteen minutes, but if you need to stretch your legs – try a pit stop at Joe Wheeler State Park.

• Joe Wheeler State Park is home to 2,550 acres of land surrounding Wheeler Lake. We love hiking the picturesque boardwalks through the changing leaves in the fall!!

Ready to get back on the road? Head to the adorable small towns of Florence, Muscle Shoals, and Tuscumbia. These tiny neighboring towns are packed with Southern charm and a history lovers’ dream!! From being the birthplace of Helen Keller and home to a Frank Lloyd Wright house, it’s also got a surprising musical background.

• Rosenbaum House – Built by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930’s, his architectural masterpiece is open throughout the week for tours! Address: 601 Riverview Dr, Florence, AL 35630

Are you a fan of Cher, Etta James, or the Rolling Stones? Take a mini-tour of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio! Started in 1969 by ‘The Swampers’, tickets are available every half hour to explore this historic music studio at home on the banks of the Tennessee River.

day 5 evening: The Rattlesnake Saloon

After you’ve had your fill with Muscle Shoals history, try taking in the natural side of these sweet Alabama towns. You couldn’t have an Alabama road trip without running by the Rattlesnake Saloon . This incredible music venue down in a cave is only 30 minutes south of the main downtown area and well worth the drive!! (You’ll need to go in the evening to really get a feel for the place!!)

Where To Stay In Muscle Shoals: You can either camp out at the Rattlesnake Saloon or take a short drive back towards Muscle shoals for the evening. Camping is a great way to make your trip budget-friendly – but if you haven’t packed all your gear try The Gunrunner Boutique Hotel. The Gunrunner is a gorgeous modern stay that you can check yourself into!! (Adding the Gunrunner Boutique Hotel is a must on your Alabama road trip because it also made our list of The Top 14 Gorgeous Southern Hotels !)

Day 6-7: Explore Waterfalls and Hike Dismals Canyon

Start your day heading South towards William B. Bankhead National Forest. Called the ‘land of 1000 waterfalls’ , Bankhead is perfect for nature lovers! Still, in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, hikers can expect challenging hikes mixed in with more moderate stretches through the wilderness.

• FUN FACT: Interestingly enough, Kentucky our home state has long been known as the land of arches in the South Eastern USA. Some of our favorite Kentucky hikes center around them! Alabama surprised us with a gorgeous mix of waterfalls and towering limestone arches throughout Bankhead National Forest.

If you’re looking to check a few more hikes off of your Alabama bucket list – try a few throughout this region! Caney Creek Falls and Sougahooagdee Falls are two particularly destination-worthy hikes we love. Neither is all that difficult, while still allowing you to see the best parts of the forest.

For the hiker unafraid of a challenge , try out Shangri-La Falls . Clearly listed as a moderate trail without defined trailhead markers – you’ll need to do a little bushwhacking to reach this fairy-tale pool at the end of a 1.4 roundtrip trail.

Dismals Canyon: aLABAMA rOAD tRIP dAY 6 (Evening)

One of the more peculiar stops in Alabama is the reason you’ll need more than a day in this region. As one of the most fun things to do in Alabama (especially if you’re a photographer) make sure you plan ahead for your evening adventure!!

• Want to knock all of these amazing hikes off your Alabama Bucket list? Make sure to review our hiking daypack guide so that you’re prepared to go all day.

Dismals Canyon is a relatively easy hike on a private nature preserve near Bankhead National Forest. Designated as a National Natural Landmark, few know about this incredible place. Few places in the world produce these bioluminescent creatures! The dismalites (glow worms) of Alabama’s Dismals Canyon are closely related to the glowworms found in Australia and New Zealand!!

Your visit will be in two parts. First, hike the canyon itself on the 1.5-mile trail through the mossy green boulders and ferns. Then head back to the visitors center to check-in for your 45-minute tour to see the glow worms!

***If you plan on seeing the glow worms, you must bring a flashlight!!!

Get more information on booking tours here .

The Sipsey Wilderness

Deep within Bankhead National Forest, this nationally recognized ‘Wild and Scenic’ region covers over 24,000 acres along the Sipsey Fork of the Black Forest River. Visitors will feel like they’ve stepped back in time when exploring giant mossy boulders under waterfalls dripping down through rock overhangs!! For a few spectacular trails to add to your Alabama road trip – consider:

• Kinlock Falls – (0.3 miles /Rated: Easy) : For an easy hike with a big waterfall payout – try hiking Kinlock Falls! Like exploring the sleepy artists village of Mentone, the short nature of this hike is perfect for those looking to explore without heavy exeriton.
• Borden Creek Falls – (4.9 miles / Rated: Moderate) : Feeling like tacklling a more challenging multi hour hike? Try Borden Creek Falls Trail with the aforementioned mossy green boulders and beautifully melancholy mineral blue waters along Borden Creek.

Where To Stay Around Bankhead National Forest : We highly recommend camping in this area. Since the best time to take an Alabama road trip is the spring or fall, campers will wake up to eerily pretty, misty mornings as the forest comes alive in this lush region. Hotels: $$ Hampton Inn, Cullman $ – Imperial Inn, Haleyville

The Ava Maria Grotto

Upon leaving Bankhead National Forest, you’ll head back towards I-65 before continuing South to Birmingham.

At least once in your lifetime on this stretch of I-65, you should stop at the Ava Maria Grotto. One of the most quirky and fun things to do in Alabama is visiting this 4-acre park full of miniature replicas of historical places around the globe.

Only about 15 minutes from the highway, the Ava Maria Grotto is open daily except on Christmas and New Years Day. Take a break from all the driving and stroll through the well-manicured grounds managed by the only Benedictine monastery of men in the state of Alabama.

German Benedictine monk Brother Joseph Zoetl made it his life’s work to pay homage to famous Catholic places of worship like Lourdes Basilica Church. Even if you’re not Catholic, the replicas are a site to see! There are other famous places included like the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy as well.

Address: 1600 St. Bernard Drive SE, Cullman, Alabama 25055

• 412 Public House – Stop here for lunch for an exceptional take on Southern fine dining. The menu’s aren’t extensive, but crafted with pride that comes through in their lovingly created cocktails and burgers, salads and more. Address: 412 2nd Avenue SE, Cullman, AL 35055

Day 8: Explore Birmingham Alabama

The next stop on your bucket list Alabama road trip will be Birmingham. After stopping to visit the Ava Maria Grotto, drive South on I-65 for about 45 minutes. Birmingham is the biggest city in Alabama and one of the most colorful!

Traveling further away from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, adventurers will have plenty to see in this hilly-hipster city. The gorgeous hiking, foodie scene, and comprehensive Civil Rights historical records around Birmingham, like Huntsville, truly make it a great weekend getaway in Alabama as well. (If you need to split up your Alabama bucket road trip into smaller chunks, you could do a few different day trips in and around Birmingham.)

If you’re coming into town, start your explorations in the Loft District with a delicious acai bowl or Nepalese homemade dumplings from Mo:Mo: at the Pizitz Food Hall . With a diverse range of restaurants and tons of open seating, this is a great stop for groups on an Alabama road trip!

After lunch, continue exploring the Loft District . This area has two great museums! The first is the United States premier Civil Rights museum: the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. the next museum that will appeal to music lovers: The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Love Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, or Ray Charles? All of these musicians were in some way influenced by the jazz scene of Birmingham!

If you’ve had enough of museums, head to the trendy and walkable neighborhood of Five Points South . Long-loved local shops like What’s On 2nd and the Vulcan Park Museum are interspersed throughout local eateries and artisan shops.

In the evening after dinner, head for a late-night snack at Big Spoon Creamery or head towards Birmingham’s nightlife. The Dread River Distilling Company was named one of the top new craft distilleries on USA Today’s ’10 Best’ Reader’s Choice Awards and Carrigan’s Beer Garden are both fun options for a night out on the town.

For Nature Lovers

For many of us these days, hiking has become somewhat of a refuge. So while we love exploring all the amazing parts of cities, we typically feel more at home with the green of the forests around us. If you’re wanting to skip exploring the city of Birmingham, just know there are still plenty of gorgeous hikes in the area!

• Turkey Creek Nature Preserve
• Oak Mountain State Park – Known for it’s epic hiking destination at Kings Chair. Hikers are rewarded with mile long views of the surrounding forest on the 4.2-mile loop.

Where to Stay In Birmingham : The Historic Tutwiler ( Birmingham’s Oldest Hotel !), The Redmont Hotel ( Where Hank Williams spent his last night in Birmingham )

NASCAR’s Talladega Superspeedway

After leaving Birmingham, your road trip will take you East towards the Talladega National Forest. before you get there though, you’ll pass one of Alabama’s claims to fame: The NASCAR Talladega Superspeedway . If you’ve never been to a race before, it’s something that everyone should experience at least once in the deep South.

**We’re normally not huge fans of events like this but we’ve included one on our Alabama bucket list because this track is the most famous NASCAR track in the country!!

Unlike any experience you’ve ever had before, the atmosphere around a race is electric in the most hoedown way possible. (We say hoedown with love – as Southerners ourselves, we have nothing but love for these Southern institutions!)

Now, watching cars race around a track may not sound like a good time, but the adrenaline pumping through your veins as the crowd cheers will tell you otherwise! The average car goes around 200mph, while narrowly avoiding becoming crumpled tin cans of metal and flames. Grab yourself an ice-cold brew while watching from the bleachers in that warm Alabama sun for an entertaining couple of hours.

Day 9: Talladega National Forest

Ready for some quiet after the crushing crowd at perhaps your first-ever NASCAR race? Head towards the next nature-loving introverts paradises in Alabama. Talladega National Forest is one of four national forests in Alabama, preserving over 390,000 acres in the mountainous Alabama countryside.

Our favorite section of this National forest that you should definitely add to your Alabama bucket list is the Cheaha State Park. Cheaha Mountain is the highest point in Alabama at 2,407 feet above the sea. From here take in Stunning 360 -degree views of the surrounding National Forest!

**Cheaha State Park also connects to parts of the famous Appalachian Trail through Pinhoti Trail / McDill Point. (McDill point is famous for it’s sunsets!)

Some noteworthy trails include the Bald Rock Boardwalk , which allows you incredible views of Coldwater Mountain, Choccolocco Mountains, and Dugget Mountain!

Where To Stay Near Talledega National Forest: Unless you’re camping in the area, head South towards Montgomery. There really isn’t any need to stay in the area because you’ll just be getting up and driving. The drive to Montgomery (with no pit stops) is just a little over two overs.

Not Interested In Hiking?

If you’re not looking to do any hiking, skip Talledega National Forest. For fun things to do in Alabama on Day 9 of your Alabama road trip, scroll for an alternate day exploring the college town surrounding Auburn!

On any road trip, you’d rather stop at the fun places to stretch your legs right?

After you leave Montgomery, you have a few hour’s drive to Mobile. We highly recommend stopping off of I-65 at the Peach Pit for a sweet little dose of Southern hospitality! With sweet Peach pies, barbecue, and a cute park to let your furry friends and small humans run around at – it’s great for people with families to stop!!

Add A Daytrip To Visit Auburn

Have time to add an extra day to your Alabama Road trip? Head South from the Talledega National Forest or from Birmingham to take a peek at the famous Auburn campus!

This historic campus opened in 1859 as a private all-male college. Since then it’s grown to become one of the most sought-after colleges in the South with 25,000 students a year and plenty of War Eagle alumni. The campus itself is gorgeous to walk through. If you’re an architecture or history buff you’ll love scampering through the Jule Collins Smith Art Museum or watching a football game at the Jordan Hare Stadium.

Our favorite part about stopping in any small college town though is the nightlife. With local live bands and plenty of fun bars, it’s fun to relive our college days! Spots like the Auburn Plaza Bar & Lounge, the Avondale Bar & Tap Room, or Fat Daddy’s all bring back that college vibe where you can really let loose for an evening.

• If you’re in the mood for something a little more upscale: try John Emerald Distilling Company’s gorgeous bar or the Wittle Rooftop Bar.

Where To Stay In Auburn : Just an FYI – Auburn football games are popular! If you visit this little college town during a home football game – you may have a hard time getting a hotel. Book well in advance! The Hotel at Auburn University , Towne Place Suites by Marriot , Hilton Garden Inn

Smith Mountain Fire Tower

If you’re the adventurous type, grab a bottle of bourbon and head to the Smith Mountain Fire Tower for sunset!! Tucked away on Smith mountain – you’ll find epic views overlooking Lake Martin. (The best part about this fire tower hike is that is open to the public and the tower itself has been completely reinforced within the last few years.)

At least one epic view over the mountains should be on your Alabama bucket list. Whether it’s a fire tower or a hike – those moments always give you something to remember!

To Get There: Simply type ‘Smith Mountain Fire Tower’ into your GPS and it should pop up! From AL Highway 49, take a right onto W. Lafayette Street, left on Young’s Ferry road, and then left on Smith Mtn. Drive. You’ll see signs for ‘Tower Road’ and plenty of signs for parking.

• You’re reading our guide to 14-Days of Fun Things To Do In Alabama. Looking for more epic Southern sights? Read our guide to Fairmount Falls in Louisville, Kentucky .

Day 10: Montgomery to Mobile

Driving through Montgomery is like taking a solemn and respectful step back in time. To truly get a sense of the importance Montgomery plays in US history, make sure to stop at a few places on your Alabama road trip. First, pay your respects at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice . Honoring the thousands of African Americans who were unjustly killed during the Civil Rights Era, this historic movement is further explained at The Legacy Museum .

After visiting these sobering memorials, avid readers and lovers of big band music have plenty to see. Reading buffs will love to cross off visiting the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum from their Alabama bucket list, and country music lovers will love visiting the Hank Williams Museum !

Before you leave Montgomery, make sure to stop and have a beer at the Railway Brewing Company and maybe visit the Museum of Alabama – home to a massive collection of Civil War-era artifacts.

• For a lighter take on how African Americans prospered in times after the Civil war , take an Extra Day Trip in Alabama , veering off of I-65 south of Montgomery for an unusual stop in Gee’s Bend . Famous for the historic community of quilters, creations from these artists have been showcased all throughout the country and some are considered crucial to the history of African-Americans in the South. Visit the Quilting Collective to really get a feel for the passion behind these artists’ crafts. From Gee’s Bend it’s about 2.5 hours to Mobile.

What To Do In Mobile, ALabama

Venture into this gorgeously historic city alongside the serene Mobile Bay. Mobile was originally a French settlement over 300 years ago, and these influences can be seen throughout the city. Mimicking New Orleans in many of its architectural themes, it differs slightly in that it has much the same allure as another famously traveled Southern city: Savannah, Georgia.

With giant oaks lining drives to historic plantations, and Spanish moss draping romantically – there are many locations around Mobile worth visiting. Visit the Bellingrath Gardens and home known for their spectacular flower arrays blooming all year long, including the camellias that bloom in the winter!

For restaurant recommendations, prepare to dine on some of the best Southern takes on Cajun-Creole dishes. Two can’t miss restaurants are The Trellis Room famous for its four-star dining, and Wintzels Oyster House which has been around since 1938!

• Murder Creek Moonshine Distillery Address: Mobile, Alabama
• Bayou la Batre – The seafood capitol of Alabama and the isnpiration for Forrest Gump and Bubba’s fishing business!!

Interested in seeing another Forrest Gump movie destination? Head to our guide to Monument Valley to see the spot where Forest Gump ran through the iconic red landmarks!

• You’re reading 14-Days In Alabama: Across the Heart of Dixie. After you’ve checked off your Alabama bucket list – maybe head North to Kentucky in the spring ? Check out all of the amazing sights in the Bluegrass State during springtime.

Day 11: Dauphin Island

• Exlporing this tiny island
• colorful houses
• Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary\
• The Lighthouse Restaurant
• Estuarium – 7,000 gallon stingray touch pool
• Living marsh boardwalk

Day 12-14: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Get up early and head towards the coast for a few days of rest and relaxation after all the driving! The best thing about Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is how uncrowded they are. Whatever you like to do on your beach vacations, the pearly white shoes along the Gulf are sure to provide it.

There are two very different types of beach vacations that our fellow Americans take here in the US. Some like a very touristy area, and some like a more relaxed secluded vibe. Gulf Shores is the latter of the two. The long stretches of beaches in Gulf Shores are some of our favorite in the USA because not the commercialized mumbo-jumbo of places like Destin and Panama City.

While you’re in town, grab dinner Palms Bar & Grille for a waterfront view of the gulf and swing by The Hangout for drinks and music. Understood as a favorite live music hot spot, there is nothing better than crisp wine, seafood and live music by the sea at The Hangout after long days on the beach. P.S. Luke Bryan did a concert at The Hangout when Shelbs was in college and it was amazing!!

• Reading is one of our favorite things to do on the beach. Needless to say, we always pack one so that when we’re plopping our butts in the sand we can escape to the sound of the ocean and our imagination. Depending on where you’re coming from, your road trip may get to include one of our bucket list bookstores throughout the USA !

Away From The Beach

In our household – we typically get along with just about everything. We hike when we want to, eat when we want to, and relax when we want to. The beach is the one glaring exception to those riles. Ev can’t stand to just lay on the beach all day. He MUST be doing something for some of the time. If you’re one of those lovely humans, here are some fun things to do in Gulf Shores besides relax on the beach:

• Deep Sea Fishing: Popular fish like Pompano, Redfish and Black Drums are all just waiting to be your next dinner! Points to you if you clean it & fry it yourself! Popular charters are Summer Hunter Charters , Island Marine Charters and Gulf Shores Fishing
• Gulf State Park is an ideal spot to do a little birdwatching while paddle boarding or kayacking on the tranquil waters of Lake Shelby. Visitors will see huge turtles, bald eagle nesting areas, and alligators in the marshlands along the boardwalks!! (Guided kayak tours are available through Alabama Paddlesports.)

Get our Ultimate Country and Oldies Beach Playlist here !! A little something for everyone to enjoy – our entire family with very varied musical tastes found something to laugh and sing along with all day. No road trip is complete without a little music and in Alabama along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico – enjoy all 12 hours of listening without having to do a thing.

P.S. If you’re near others – make sure to put in your headphones! Nothing worse than a bunch of loud music you don’t like while you’re trying to relax.

Looking for a little more beach vacation inspiration? Get our 1-week Itinerary for Aruba!!

14-Day Alabama Road Trip Itinerary

You might be wondering if there are enough fun things to do in Alabama for 14 days. Let us assure you that Alabama will surprise you with how many incredible sites there are to see!! An Alabama road trip is more than just a journey through cotton fields and small towns. You’ll experience generous Southern hospitality, delicious Southern food, and walk through important Civil Rights historical museums and monuments, as well as be surprised by all of the hiking!!

• Alabama’s Foothills Region Day 1: Hiking & Exploring Russel Cave National Monument
• The Artist’s Village of Mentone & Desoto Falls on Day 2
• Explore Rocket City – Huntsville on Day’s 3-4
• Day 5: Explore Muscle Shoals and Rattlesnake Saloon
• Day 6-7: Hike Waterfalls in the Sipsey Wilderness and Dismals Canyon
• Explore Birmingham on Day 8
• Hike The Tallest Point in Alabama on Day 9
• Day 10: Drive from Montgomery To Mobile
• Day 11: Explore Dauphin Island
• Relax by the coast for your last few days in Alabama.

7-Day Alabama Road Trip Itinerary

Don’t have two weeks? We totally get it! You can break this mega 14-day Alabama road trip up into a bunch of smaller weekends or hit the highlights in 7 days.

Alabama is close to a few major cities – and it would be easy to add a few days in Alabama!

• New Orleans to Gulf Shores (the very bottom of Alabama) is 3.5 hours.
• From the north side, both Chattanooga and Nashville Tennessee are a two hour drive from Huntsville.
• From Atlanta, you could be in central Alabama in 2-3 hours. (This would take you close to the Civil Rights loop of attractions throughout central Alabama.)

For a 7-Day Alabama road trip itinerary, we suggest starting in Northeast Alabama.

• Rattlesnake Saloon (Day 1): Take the road less traveled to Northwest Alabama for music in a cave!
• Explore Huntsville (Day 2): Dtart your day at the US Space and Rocket Center, explore the gorgeous Huntsville Botanical Gardens, and then take in a spectacular sunset at Burrit on the mountain!!
• Head South to Mentone and Noccalula Falls State Park (Day 3): If you’re into art, some fun things to do in Alabama include spending the day near Mentone. With art galleries and waterfalls aplenty,
• Delicious Eats in Birmingham (Day 4): Tour this foodie Alabama city! Start with
• Day 5: Drive though Montgomery and Mobile exploring Civil Rights museums and history.
• Gulf Shores (Day 6-7): Explore the coast!

What To Pack For Your Alabama Road Trip

• Bug Repellent
• Flashlight – For camping or to do the Dismal’s Canyon tour!
• Microfiber Towel : Want to enjoy those swimmin holes and waterfalls? The best way is by rememebring to bring your microfibe towel!! Not just on an Alabama road trip, but we take this on almost every trip we go on!!
• Beachwear – Get our full guide to packing for the beach here .

Those are the specific items that you’ll need for almost every road trip, but if you intend to go camping or hiking – make sure you explore our gear guides !

Further Reading

Think you’ve gotten your fill of fun things to do in Alabama? We’ve traveled extensively in the South and we want to share those experiences with you! For further reading on destinations throughout Southern USA, check out a few of our favorite posts below:

• Bell Mountain, Georgia – Looking for a quick Southern day trip where you can really feel the wind in your face? Bell Mountain is one of the most serene places we’ve ever been! Also visit the stunning Brasstown Bald for another epic hike with views for miles.
• A little further north in the land of hospitality and sweet tea? Try out a little hiking this summer in the gorgeous Kentucky back country . Additionally, get our guide to 100+ Fun Things To Do in Kentucky’s Biggest City: Louisville!
• Traveling all across the South? Check out our guide to the 14 Most Beautiful Southern Hotels and Resorts . We’ve compiled our favorites from all across our neighboring Southern states.
• Take an unplugged weekend away in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest .
• Needing a little quiet time? Try hiking in one of the 11 Best Underrated Hiking Destinations Throughout the USA .

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Alabama is undoubtedly a state for nature lovers, history lovers, and history lovers. If you’re looking for a little bit of it all – head to Alabama for a lovely week away.

P.S. For any college students trying to figure out if Alabama is right for you – just remember there are more things to do in Alabama than meets the eye!! If you get a good scholarship etc. just remember you can always study abroad in college to get out and explore the world a little bit!!

Make sure to subscribe to our blog , snag all of your road trip basics (below), get your travel insurance , and have fun jamming to a new playlist !

Until next time friends,

Thanks for sharing!

Evan and Shelby

Sharing beautiful places, sustainable & slow living tips, + good food from across the globe. You can probably find Shelbs creating a new playlist or editing photos, and Ev researching the latest and greatest in all manner of travel gear and tech. We're so happy you're here taking a moment to read and slow down a little.

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What a post! I really love the look of all those hikes, waterfalls and canyons! I honestly had no idea how gorgeous Alabama could be! There is so much more than the small towns and football rivalries!

I’ve never been to Alabama, but you have certainly piqued my interest. It looks beautiful. I love all the nature…the canyons, waterfalls, pits, gaps, and hiking trails. I would love to know what White BBQ sauce is. I have never heard of that.

The Stephen Gap looks incredible! Thanks for the great tips and fun facts. Really liked the article!

I drove through Alabama briefly once many years ago, but it wasn’t long enough to do the state much justice. I’d love to return and check out some of places on this list!

Thanks for the great post! I love all of the natural beauty and history the state has to explore. I would love to visit the Sipsey Wilderness!

Thanks so much for this super thorough post. It was hard to find an Alabama itinerary out there.

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What To Pack For Music Festivals: The Ultimate Festival Survival Guide

Smiles on faces: road trip playlist for november 2021.

Road Trip from Alabama to Washington DC

Famous for its rich history, vibrant cities and fabulous landscapes, the Deep South is the perfect place to take a road trip that lets you experience the region's culture. You will also visit some world-famous monuments on this amazing road trip from Alabama to Washington DC.

The scenic 930-mile road trip from Alabama to Washington takes 19 hours 45 minutes to drive through the Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park. Or travel via Atlanta, Charlotte and Richmond for a quicker trip.

There's something for almost every traveler to enjoy on this road trip, whether you'd rather spend time in the major cities you'll pass en route, or lace up your hiking boots to seek out panoramic views and stunning waterfalls. So read on to find out about what awaits you on this adventure.

How far is Washington DC from Alabama, and how long will the road trip take?

If you're looking for more urban attractions on your road trip then the shorter of our two recommended routes is a great choice. Coming in at just under 800 miles, you'll spend around 12 hours and 15 minutes on the road if you choose to follow our Urban Route.

For travelers with a little more time on their hands, the Scenic Route is a fabulous alternative. This route is spans 930 miles, but swapping the interstate for smaller roads where you can immerse yourself in the stunning views. This drive will take 19 hours and 45 minutes.

Allowing time for at least one stop along the way, plus the afternoon and evening in one of the buzzing southern cities, you'll need around 4 days to really enjoy this Alabama to Washington DC road trip.

Best road trip route from Alabama to Washington DC

The great thing about a road trip from Alabama to Washington DC is that you can pick a route that really suits your style.

The Urban Route visits major cities of Atlanta, Charlotte and Richmond but you'll still be able to spend time in the great outdoors when you stop to explore the beautiful landscapes of Kings Mountain State Park or Talladega National Forest.

This is a really varied route, which lets you soak up some culture at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and visit quirky attractions like the world's largest chest of drawers.

If you'd rather swap the hustle and bustle of the big city for stunning scenery and forest hikes, then the Scenic Route is a great choice of road trip route from Birmingham to Washington DC.

This route passes through charming towns nestled in beautiful natural surroundings, including Chattanooga, Asheville and Blowing Rock. You'll also be able to drive parts of the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway and the scenic Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park and spend time in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Lovers of country music will also enjoy spending time in Knoxville or calling in at Dolly Parton's Dollywood, located right on your route near Pigeon Forge.

In case you still need help deciding which of these great routes to take, we've put together more details on your road trip from Alabama to Washington DC.

How to drive from Alabama to Washington DC

The map above shows our suggestions for the best road trip routes between Birmingham, Alabama and Washington DC. Keep reading for detailed descriptions of both routes, where to stay on either, and the best things to do on the way.

The Urban Route

From your starting point in Birmingham, head to I-20 and follow it east out of the city. You'll cross the wide Coosa River then pass north of Talladega National Forest before leaving Alabama behind and continuing your drive through Georgia.

I-20 takes you right into downtown Atlanta. When you're ready to move on from this buzzing city, pick up I-85 and follow it all the way through Georgia and South Carolina until you find yourself in Charlotte, just across the state border in North Carolina.

Continue on I-85 as far through Greensboro then on past the northern side of Durham. Not long after arriving in Virginia, you'll cross the Roanoke River Bridge then carry on across the state until the road merges with I-95 at Petersburg.

From here, it's a straightforward drive north through Richmond and Fredericksburg. Where the interstate divides south of the capital, continue straight ahead on I-395 which will take you across the Potomac River into the center of Washington DC.

The Scenic Route

This route also starts out on the interstate, heading northeast from Birmingham on I-59 until you reach Chattanooga. From here, head to Knoxville.

Exit the interstate at Kodak then follow the highway to Pigeon Forge. Just past Gatlinburg, US-441 takes a super-scenic route through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Even if you don't have time to stop and hike, you'll be blown away by the natural landscape that this highway lets you enjoy.

From Asheville, make your way onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is one of the highlights of this road trip. It winds its way through the mountains with countless opportunities to enjoy scenic overlooks and hikes, so make sure you allow enough time to enjoy this part of your trip.

As you approach Blowing Rock, you'll pass Grandfather Mountain and the engineering masterpiece of Linn Cove Viaduct. Then continue along the parkway until you meet NC-18 outside Laurel Springs. Exit here then follow the state road across into Virginia.

Turn right onto US-58 at Galax, then continue on US-221 as far as Roanoke. From here, you will soon reach the southern end of Skyline Drive, the scenic route which you'll follow for nearly 100 miles through Shenandoah National Park. The road here runs along the ridge of the mountains, so you'll enjoy mile after mile of amazing views.

After Hazel Mountain Overlook, leave Skyline Drive and head towards your destination in Washington DC.

Best places to stop between Alabama and Washington DC

Although you could technically get all the way from Alabama to Washington DC in a single day, you'll get much more out of your trip if you stretch the drive out over at least 3 or 4 days.

That means you'll need to find some places to stay as you travel northeast from Alabama. We've picked out some great options to get you started with your planning.

Relax like royalty in Charlotte, the Queen City

Halfway along the Urban Route you'll arrive in Charlotte, North Carolina. Also known as "Queen City", Charlotte is a vibrant southeastern city with a growing art and food scene.

There's plenty to see during your stay in the city. Motor racing enthusiasts should check out the NASCAR Hall of Fame to learn more about this high-octane sport and some of its legendary drivers.

For a more traditional cultural experience, the Mint Museum houses a fabulous collection of artworks from American and international artists. Check out the calendar for nearby Blumenthal Performing Arts Center too, to see if there's a performance during your stay.

Located in downtown Charlotte, The Ivey's Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel that's the perfect place to stay if you want to splash out on an indulgent night of luxury midway through your road trip. As an added bonus, private parking is available, so you won't need to worry about finding somewhere to leave your car.

The hotel is located in walking distance of many city attractions, including the Mint Museum, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and Epicenter. There are also plenty of fabulous restaurants nearby - call in to the cocktail bar to try out custom cocktails and appetizers, then leave the car behind and head out for dinner.

Admire the views in Asheville

If you're taking the Scenic Route, you'll pass through Asheville on the mid-way of your trip.

Asheville is around 7 hours southwest of Washington DC, so you could spend the final night of your road trip here if you're short on time, or use it as the starting point for a drive along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, which is known as America's Favorite Drive.

As well as stunning scenery, Asheville boasts an eclectic arts scene and some fabulous historic buildings. It's close to the extensive Biltmore estate, an impressive historic house with beautiful grounds, and the Basilica of St Lawrence is one of the most recognized landmarks in Asheville.

With its central location, The Restoration Asheville is a great hotel choice in the city. It's close to the Basilica of Saint Lawrence and Lexington Glassworks as well as Memorial Stadium, so take advantage of the hotel's private parking and head out on foot to explore the city.

Some of its spacious and stylish rooms feature a balcony, so you can sit and look out across the city after a busy day of road tripping. Or if you're still feeling active, head to the hotel's fitness center before enjoying a meal at the on-site restaurant.

Where to stay when you reach Washington DC

Located in central Washington DC, Hotel Madera has spacious, bright and recently-renovated bedrooms so you can put your feet up and relax at the end of your road trip. Many rooms feature large, open-air balconies too.

The hotel has its own restaurant and bar, but it's also conveniently located if you want to head out and explore the city, as the White House and the Washington National Monument are both nearby. Dupont Circle is also just a short walk away.

Things to see on a road trip from Alabama to Washington DC

There's so much to see when you take a road trip from Alabama to Washington that you might have to extend your trip to fit it all in!

Here are some of our top picks to get you started with your planning.

• Pine Mountain Gold Museum - Learn more about gold mining in this small Georgia museum featuring gold mining artefacts, exhibits, trails, and themed train rides.
• Sweetwater Creek State Park - This is a beautiful, peaceful state park very close to Downtown Atlanta – ideal for stretching your legs after a long journey.
• Martin Luther King Jr National History Park, Atlanta - With a visitor center and museum, you can learn all about the life of Martin Luther King Jr here, as well as seeing his childhood home.
• World of Coca-Cola - This Atlanta museum offers a journey through the history of Coca-Cola, a world-famous brand that has its roots in the city.
• Hurricane Shoals Park - You can swim in the river, visit the heritage village or enjoy a picnic at this large park near Maysville, which has the granite shoals of the North Oconee River as its centerpiece.
• Lake Hartwell State Park - This park focuses on fishing, and you can see a display of vintage fishing equipment in the information center.
• BMW Zentrum Museum - Based in Greer, the only BMW museum in North America, offers an excellent tour of the BMW assembly line and displays vintage cars, motorcycles and more.
• Kings Mountain State Park - This beautiful state park in Blacksburg, SC, is ideal for hiking, and also boasts two fishing lakes.
• Mint Museum Uptown - Charlotte's Mint Museum is a must-see for art lovers and houses outstanding collections of American and contemporary art.
• World's Largest Chest of Drawers - Looming 36 feet above High Point, NC, this is unusual tourist attraction makes for a great photo.
• Shirley Plantation - This historic site in Virginia dates back more than 400 years, and now teaches visitors about colonialism and slavery.
• Edgar Allen Poe Museum - Richmond, VA, was the hometown of American writer and poet Edgar Allen Poe, so it's the perfect place to learn more about his life and works.
• Hollywood Cemetery - This large cemetery near Richmond is the final resting place of two American presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler.
• Kenmore Plantation - Built in the 1770s, this plantation house in Fredericksburg, VA is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
• National Museum of the Marine Corps - This is the historical museum of the U.S. Marine corps located in Triangle, next to the Marine Corps Base Quantico. It has unique artifacts and exhibits showing Marines in action.

• Little River Canyon National Preserve - This beautiful park features the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi and is surrounded by the scenic beauty of Lookout Mountain.
• DeSoto Falls - Nestled within beautiful DeSoto State Park you'll find this gorgeous 104-foot waterfall. Take lunch and enjoy a meal with a view from the picnic area at the top of the Falls.
• The Lost Sea Adventure - This experience includes a guided tour of Craighead caverns and The Lost Sea, America's largest underground lake.
• Sunsphere - Built for the 1982 World's Fair, you can enjoy far-reaching views to the Great Smoky Mountains from the observation deck of this popular Knoxville attraction.
• Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster - Thrill-seekers should stop off in Pigeon Forge, where you can ride the second-largest downhill track in the United States.
• Biltmore Estate - The Biltmore Estate is a historic country estate just outside Asheville and holds the record for being America's largest private home.
• The Basilica of St Lawrence - This is one of Asheville's main spiritual and architectural landmarks. It was designed by the renowned Spanish architect Rafael Gustavino.
• Lexington Glassworks - The Lexington Glassworks offer visitors an immersive introduction to glass blowing while enjoying local craft beer.
• Doc's Rocks Gem Mine - This is a gemstone mining operation and museum where you can look for your own stones and fossils.
• Cascade Falls - It's an easy hike to reach these beautiful cascading waterfalls just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, great for stretching your legs after a long drive.
• Virginia Museum of Transportation - This interesting museum devoted to transportation is in Roanoke's century-old freight station. It has a great collection of steam, diesel, and electric locomotives.
• Natural Bridge State Park - The 215-foot-tall limestone arch by the James River is a peaceful place to stop and admire the beautiful Virginia landscape.
• Frontier Culture Museum - This is the biggest open-air living history museum in Shenandoah. It tells the story of how early immigrants have settled in the area.
• Shenandoah National Park - Running for 105 miles through spectacular scenery that includes waterfalls, mountain views, and protected wilderness, this is the perfect place to hike.
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - This historic monument in Arlington, VA is dedicated to deceased soldiers whose remains have not yet been identified.

Best time to go on a road trip from Alabama to Washington DC

You can take a road trip from Alabama to Washington DC at any time of year, but since Washington DC can be very cold in winter and humid through the summer months, you might prefer to drive this route in either fall or spring.

Summer temperatures in Washington DC fluctuate between in the 80s and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It's a great time to enjoy outdoor activities such as paddle boating in the Tidal Basin, cycling along the National Mall, or attending an outdoor concert.

DC Jazz Festival, which runs from August to September, is a particular summer highlight, and you can catch talks from a diverse range of authors and illustrators if you're in the city for the National Book Festival in August.

In contrast, winter in Washington DC typically brings colder weather, with temperatures ranging from the low 20s to mid-40s Fahrenheit. Snowfall is common but not usually extreme, and when it does snow, the city's iconic monuments and parks can look exceptionally beautiful.

Remember that while winter might be cold, Washington DC has many indoor attractions such as world-class museums where you can explore while also keeping warm.

January is also when you can visit the Washington Auto Show - a great way to end your road trip if you're as enthusiastic about your vehicle as the places it takes you to along the way.

If you're traveling on the Scenic Route in winter, check ahead for any road closures in winter. Although Shenandoah National Park stays open all year round, Skyline Drive can be closed temporarily due to snowfall.

In spring, temperatures in Washington DC generally range from the mid-40s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit. This is also the time when the famous cherry blossoms bloom, usually in late March or early April.

Fall in DC, with temperatures from the high 40s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit, is equally beautiful. You will find the city adorned with vibrant autumnal colors. If you're taking the Scenic Route, you'll be in for a treat as you travel through Shenandoah National Park, but be prepared for crowds as it's a popular day trip from the capital.

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Home » Roadside Attractions Blog » Alabama Tourist Attractions & Road Trip Stops » The 15 Best Alabama Roadside Attractions

The 15 Best Alabama Roadside Attractions

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Are you planning an Alabama road trip and want to find all the best Alabama roadside attractions along your route? Whether you’re driving Interstate 65 from Mobile to Birmingham, traversing the Coastal Connection Scenic Byway, or heading to Talladega National Forest, you won’t want to miss these fifteen must-see places to go in Alabama. They’re fun road trip stops and great additions to your travel itinerary or route.

Below are the 15 best roadside attractions in Alabama: from a giant woman floating in water to a giant peach floating in air, from a tribute to a bug to a tribute to Africa, from some big peanuts tosome buried hearses! You won’t want to miss any of these bucket list worthy tourist traps and road trips stops on your Alabama vacation.

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything you need to have and record an epic road trip.

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

Ready to hit the road? Let’s go! I call shotgun!

1. Lady in the Lake & Bamahenge at Barber Marina

• 2. World's Largest Office Chair

3. Elephant Service Station

4. boll weevil monument, 5. big peach water tower.

• 6. World's Smallest City Block

7. Unclaimed Baggage Center

• 8. World's Largest Brick Made of Bricks

9. The Haunted Chicken House

10. museum of wonder drive thru, 11. big peanut big gold peanut and art peanuts around town, 12. ave maria grotto.

• 13. Joe Minter's African Village in America

14. Church With a Rock In It

15. goldie 1971 – the fallen robot, the 15 best alabama roadside attractions (in no particular order):.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Danny and Emily Anderson (@the.vandersons) on Nov 21, 2019 at 10:00am PST

26986 Fish trap Rd., Elberta, AL

George W. Barber’s marina is located on 800 acres on a peninsula between Wolf Bay and Ingram Bayou. You might just expect to just find a fleet of boats on a marina, but Barber’s Marina is different: it’s covered in kooky, weird, and giant works of art. Two of the best finds here are Lady in the Lake (a fiberglass 50-foot woman whose head and knees can be seen floating in the bay) and Bamahenge (a 21-foot tall by 104-foot wide fiberglass Stonehenge replica). Both of these were created by fiberglass artist Mark Cline of Enchanted Castle Studios (who might best be known for creating Foamhenge in Virginia ).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Smitherman (@seniorwandering)

2. World’s Largest Office Chair

Miller’s Office Furniture, 625 Noble St., Anniston, AL

In 1981 Leonard “Sonny” Miller decided to have the world’s largest chair built in front of his business, Miller’s Office Supply. The result was this giant 33-foot tall office chair with a 15-quare-foot seat made from ten tons of steel and 15 tons of cement. In 1982 Guinness World’s Records bestowed the honor of World’s Largest Chair on this behemoth. The title has since been usurped many times over, but this Alabama roadside attraction still remains as the “World’s Largest Office Chair.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tina Brown (@browntinab) on May 20, 2018 at 5:01am PDT

548 Main St, Roanoke, AL

The Elephant gas station in Roanoke wasn’t always shaped like an elephant. It was originally built to resemble a rocky seaside cliff complete with a jutting lighthouse on top. The lighthouse eventually fell into disrepair and was removed. What was left looked enough like an elephant for someone to paint on an eye.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emily Happell Williams (@mlefoto) on Jun 15, 2013 at 12:52pm PDT

101 Main St, Enterprise, AL

The boll weevil is a beetle that feeds on cotton buds and flowers. In the early 1900s it infested U.S. cotton-growing areas, devastating the industry. But, in Enterprise, the bug’s arrival was a blessing in disguise when local farmers were motivated to diversify their crops and found new bounty in things like peanuts, bringing in more money and prosperity. In 1919 Enterprise erected a monument devoted to the pest that changed their practices. The Boll Weevil Monument was a 13-foot tall neoclassical statue that featured a Greek woman holding an oil lamp over her head. The only thing the Boll Weevil Monument didn’t have was a boll weevil, that was added in 1949.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by 賢美 – You can call me Al. (@gnv53) on Mar 25, 2018 at 6:04pm PDT

86 Peach Tower Rd, Clanton, AL

In Chilton County, the peach capital on Alabama, you’ll find a giant peach-shaped water tower. In might not be the biggest peach water tower in the world (that is the Peachoid in Gaffney, South Carolina ), but, at 120 feet tall with a capacity to hold 500,000 gallons of water, it’s a still a pretty impressive piece of fruit. Be sure to also look for the the Big Peach Statue at nearby Peach Park.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sally B (@sallyannbw) on May 16, 2018 at 7:13pm PDT

6. World’s Smallest City Block

201-209 N College St, Dothan, AL

You can find the World’s Smallest City Block in Dothan. The site is little more than a small triangle of gravel accompanied by a stop sign, a street marker, and a plaque.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by All Together Travels (@alltogethertravel) on Feb 17, 2020 at 5:03am PST

509 W Willow St, Scottsboro, AL

When airlines lose luggage or it is never claimed, one place it might end up is the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro. The business that sells unclaimed luggage started in 1970 and today takes up an entire block and sells thousands of items. Come to shop and stay for the museum of some of the more unique luggage finds, like a violin from the 1700s, Egyptian artifacts, and a Hoggle (a puppet from Jim Henson’s Labyrinth ).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by touristy.as.fuck (@touristy.as.fuck) on Sep 18, 2019 at 6:41am PDT

8. World’s Largest Brick Made of Bricks

Acme Brick Tile and Stone, 0200 US-80, Montgomery, AL

Outside of Acme Brick Tile and Stone in Montgomery you’ll find the world’s largest brick made of bricks. This Alabama roadside attraction was once the world’s largest brick period, but in 2007 a company in Texas made a slightly bigger one. Still, this is a fun stop on an Alabama road trip!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pamela Talley (@honeyhunnyhunney) on Jan 29, 2019 at 9:09am PST

7522 AL-1, Heflin, AL

The Haunted Chicken House is a seasonal haunted house built on an old Alabama chicken farm. While the haunted house is only open in October, the attractions outside are visible year round. Here you will find some metal chickens and a collection of branded hearses buried in the ground and piled on top of each other.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spalding Nix Fine Art (@spaldingnixfineart) on Oct 7, 2016 at 11:45am PDT

970 AL-169, Seale, AL

Seale, Alabama is home to the world’s first drive-through art and antiques gallery. Created in 2014 by artist Butch Anthony, who has been a collector of curiosities all his life, the Drive-Thru Museum is created from stacked shipping containers and contains curated oddities and original works of art. You can see all the wonders without ever leaving your car: from two-headed ducklings to the world’s largest gallstone to a turnip with a human face.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Walkiria Rodriguez (@walkiriardrgzbh) on Dec 23, 2019 at 2:09pm PST

Dothan Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, 3311 Ross Clark Cir, Dothan, AL

Dothan has self-declared themselves to be the “Peanut Capital of the World” and so it’s no wonder you will find peanuts of all sizes around town. In front of the Visitor Information Center you’ll find a big gold peanut and then several decorated fiberglass peanuts around town, dressed as everything from a doctor to Elvis Presley. You can also check out the giant peanut marked USA in front of the entrance to the National Peanut Festival!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ave Maria Grotto (@avemariagrotto) on Jan 27, 2020 at 12:05pm PST

1600 St Bernard Dr, Cullman, AL

At Ave Maria Grotto at St. Bernard’s Abbey you can see miniature replicas of world-famous structures and holy locations made from concrete and found objects. The works were created by Brother Joseph Zoettl, a hunchback Benedictine monk who came from Bavaria. While tirelessly working at the abbey’s pump house, Zoettl started creating the tiny models of religious statues to keep himself occupied. Zoettl created countless miniatures that were sold in the gift shop and built 125 mini Holy Land replicas thatare still on display at this “Jerusalem in Miniature,”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alex Milani (@axmilani) on Mar 23, 2019 at 1:31pm PDT

13. Joe Minter’s African Village in America

931 Nassau Ave. SW., Birmingham, AL

Since 1989 Joe Minter has been filling his yard with scrap-made art and shrines devoted to African-American history. His African Village in America features creations made from sports equipment, lawn ornaments, toys, and whatever God gives him. Some of the The lawn is easily visible from the road and Minter is often home to give tours during daylight hours.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Faye Wallin (@fayedub)

Sallie Howard Memorial Baptist Church, CR 89, Mentone, AL

Milford Howard built the “Church With a Rock In It” as a tribute to his first wife Sallie. The church was constructed around a huge sandstone boulder he found on his property, which juts out the side of the building and serves as the pulpit’s backdrop.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brandon (@bswrightbhm) on Nov 24, 2018 at 7:26am PST

Woods Quad, 7th Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL

University of Alabama alumnus Joe McCreary’s sculpture “Goldie 1971” depicts a 23-foot long rusted robot collapsed against the ground. The giant robot represents the collapse of Alabama’s steel industry, notably Sloss Furnaces, which closed in 1971 after being an anchor of industrial life in Birmingham for decades. You can find this sculpture in Woods Quad, just outside the University’s Department of Art and Art History.

Want to see more of the strangest roadside attractions in America? From Alabama to Wyoming, check out our list of the best roadside attractions in each state .

Pin this list of the 15 best Alabama roadside attractions:

Image by Falkenpost from Pixabay

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Valerie Bromann

Founder & road trip expert.

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book , she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: April 23, 2022 Category: Alabama Tourist Attractions & Road Trip Stops , Roadside Attractions

The 15 Best Washington Roadside Attractions

The 15 best wyoming roadside attractions, share this post ⤵.

BY Valerie Bromann

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.

Silly America

Silly America is a roadside attractions blog designed to help travelers find unique stops for their next road trip. The website is a tribute to the great American road trip, devoted to all that is odd in America: roadside attractions, tourist traps, peculiar destinations, bizarre events, road food, fun festivals, and more! It’s a travel website and trip planner for those seeking an offbeat road trip.

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Driving Time between Alabama and Virginia

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How long does it take to drive from Alabama to Virginia?

Have you ever thought about going on a road trip from Alabama to Virginia? Alabama is a beautiful state with a rich history and Virginia is known for its beaches, mountains, and President’s homes. But before hitting the road, it’s important to know how long it will take. So, let’s find out the best routes and traffic patterns to get there faster and easier.

The Fastest and Slowest Routes

There are a few different ways to drive from Alabama to Virginia, but the two fastest and most popular options include:

• Interstate 85 and Interstate 95: This is the most direct route that will take you through Atlanta, Georgia, North Carolina and areas of Virginia. It’s approximately 827 miles long and takes about 13.5 hours to drive non-stop.
• Highway 72 and Interstate 81: This route takes you through Tennessee and East Tennessee, and some western areas of Virginia. It’s about 848 miles long and takes approximately 13.5 hours to drive without stopping.

On the other hand, if you want to take the scenic route, you can take longer and more winding routes. Some of the slowest routes include:

• Highway 43 and 72: This route will take you through northwest Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia. It’s approximately 890 miles long and can take about 15 hours to drive without stopping.
• Highway 31 and Highway 460: This route will take you through central Kentucky and some of the western areas of Virginia. It’s approximately 725 miles long and takes around 14 hours to drive without stopping.

Distance and Time Based on Traffic Patterns

The time it takes to drive from Alabama to Virginia varies based on traffic patterns and the season. During peak traffic times, expect delays and congested roads. Here’s an estimate of the driving time based on traffic patterns:

Peak Traffic Times

• Interstate 85 and Interstate 95: 15 to 16 hours
• Highway 72 and Interstate 81: 14.5 to 15.5 hours
• Highway 43 and 72: 16 to 17 hours
• Highway 31 and 460: 15 to 16 hours

Low Traffic Times

• Interstate 85 and Interstate 95: 12 to 13 hours
• Highway 72 and Interstate 81: 12.5 to 13.5 hours
• Highway 43 and 72: 13 to 14 hours
• Highway 31 and 460: 13.5 to 14.5 hours

Be sure to consider the time of year you’re traveling. Summer is a popular time for vacations and the roads could be busier than during other seasons.

Which Route Should You Take?

The best route for you depends on your preferences and time budget. If you want to get there faster, take the routes on the interstate system. If you want to enjoy a scenic drive and aren’t in a rush, take one of the slower routes.

Overall, the journey from Alabama to Virginia is a long one. Patience and careful planning are key to have a stress-free drive. Remember to take breaks frequently and enjoy the different sights along the way. Happy travels!

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Discover the best that Southern USA has to offer! Hidden gems, vibrant cities and more!

15 Fun Virginia Road Trips For Your Bucket List

June 3, 2021 //  by  Southern Trippers

There are so many Virginia road trips to enjoy whether you love to explore nature, visit cities, or have niche interests and hobbies. Virginia really has something for everyone!

They say “Virginia is for lovers,” but it is also for history buffs, hikers, foodies, and bird-watchers. There are plenty of Virginia road trips perfect for couples, families, or friends to make memories.

If you have a few days or even a week or more to spend in this beautiful Southern state, you should plan a road trip to make the most of your time and ensure you see everything you want. What are you waiting for? Here are some Virginia road trip suggestions to help you start planning an epic trip!

Small Towns In Virginia Road Trip

Highlights:.

There are so many cute, small towns in Virginia . It would be easy to make a fun road trip itinerary incorporating these places if you love small-town vibes. Start your trip in the mountain town of Roanoke. Hike to the famous Mill Mountain Star for amazing views of this town nestled in the mountains. Then, check out downtown and enjoy shopping and eating out.

Next, check out Lynchburg. Found on the James River and surrounded by mountains, this Virginia small town is full of civil war history. There are over forty miles of trails that loop through the town perfect for walking or bike riding.

Lexington is a college town in the Shenandoah Valley. This small town has many historic sites and museums as well as plenty of boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, and local restaurants and cafes. There are also great trails for biking.

End your small town Virginia road trip in Alexandria, just south of Washington D.C. and next to the Potomac River. With beautiful brick sidewalks and buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, you will find yourself in one of the cutest small towns in Virginia. This is where George Washington lived for part of his life and there is plenty of colonial history.

Haunted Virginia Road Trip

• Wythe House, Williamsburg
• The Boxwood Inn, Newport News
• Cold Harbor Battlefield, Mechanicsville
• Bacon’s Castle, Surry

Virginia is a very old state and there are many historic buildings found here. With a history involving slavery and wars, there are sure to be lingering ghosts. There are many infamously haunted places in the South , and Virginia has its fair share for you to explore. Anyone interested in being spooked or in paranormal investigations will want to take some haunted Virginia road trips.

Williamsburg is a colonial city with a few haunted sites including the Wythe House which dates back to 1753. In 1779, Lady Ann Skipwith died here unexpectedly, but she did not leave. Maybe she stuck around to haunt her husband who married her sister.

The Boxwood Inn in Newport News is another spooky location filled with up to seven ghost residents. After being built in 1896, the building has gone through many stages. Today, visitors can expect a spooky encounter if they chose to walk the halls.

The Battle of Cold Harbor took place in 1864. Since thousands of soldiers died here in such a violent way, it makes sense that some still walk here. Visitors to the battleground have reported seeing lights, smelling gunpowder, or hearing horses.

Lastly, make sure to visit Bacon’s Castle in Surry County. During the home’s long and sordid history, many enslaved people died here which might have lead to it being haunted. If you visit this 1650s era building, do not be surprised to hear strange sounds or see objects moving on their own.

Virginia Waterfalls Road Trip

• Great Falls Park
• Upper White Oak Falls
• Dark Hollow Falls
• Devil’s Bathtub
• Cascade Falls
• Stiles Falls

There are dozens of amazing waterfalls dotted throughout Virginia. You could easily do a weekend getaway to find some or make it a longer trip to see even more. No matter which waterfalls you travel to, you will find gorgeous scenery. This is one of the prettiest road trips in Virginia.

Start your Virginia waterfalls road trip at Great Falls Park on the Potomac River and on the border with Maryland. The waterfalls here are not very big, but they are dramatic. If you want, you can get a kayak out on the water and paddle through the white water. There are also hiking trails with great overlooks.

After Great Falls, head to Shenandoah National Park. This beautiful location is a suggestion on many of these road trip lists. There are a few notable waterfalls here to discover, including Upper White Oak Falls and Dark Hollow Falls.

Devil’s Bathtub is a unique waterfall that runs into a pool in a gorge. If you don’t mind cold water, you can go for a dip after the hike there. You can find Cascade Falls by hiking a relatively easy four-mile round-trip trail. Stiles Falls is a 40-foot waterfall found at the end of a picturesque four-mile, round-trip hike.

Coastal Virginia Road Trip

• Virginia Beach
• Cape Charles
• Assateague Island National Seashore

Virginia is on the Atlantic coast and while there are not a ton of beaches, there are plenty of cute coastal towns to visit. A coastal Virginia road trip is bound to a be fun and memorable. Begin in Virginia Beach, the biggest beach town in the state. Here you will find great family-friendly beaches and unique attractions.

Next, head over to nearby Norfolk. Best known for its military base and large port, there are a ton of fun things to do here for everyone. If you like seeing shows or operas, check out Chrysler Hall and the Virginia Opera. You might also enjoy the Chrysler Museum of Art or the National Maritime Center where you can find the world’s largest battleship.

Drive the iconic Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to reach the small town of Cape Charles. This cute, coastal town is a great place to find a quaint B&B or camp. Spend time here fishing, boating, or exploring the nature that surrounds the town.

Keep heading north to the Assateague Island National Seashore. You will find the idyllic seaside town of Chincoteague, wild ponies, and miles of beaches perfect for fishing and water sports.

Virginia National Parks Road Trip

• Shenandoah National Park
• Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
• Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
• Booker T. Washington National Memorial

There are a bunch of national parks and memorials within Virginia to visit whether you are into nature, history, or a mix of both. Shenandoah National Park is one of the most visited natural areas in Virginia. With amazing hiking trails, pretty waterfalls, and gorgeous overlooks, you will have fun exploring and camping in this park.

The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is the place to go to see birds and wild horses. The famous Chincoteague ponies are the descendants of horses that belonged to early Spanish settlers. Now you can find these majestic animals wandering on the beach.

The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is a mountain pass that was used by Native Americans, pioneers, and settlers. In the Civil War, both sides fought to control the pass. Now you can hike in the footsteps of famous people like Daniel Boone and visit the historic Hensley Settlement.

There are many famous homes to find in Virginia, including the farm where Booker T. Washington was born. While he was born a slave, he went on to become one of the most influential Black men of his time. At the Booker T. Washington National Memorial, you can walk the quarter-mile Plantation Trail and see where Washington lived as a child.

Epic Nature Road Trip

• Luray Caverns
• Natural Tunnel
• Great Dismal Swamp

Virginia is full of epic nature, and it is not all in Shenandoah National Park! Go in search of some unique and hidden gem areas where you can become one with nature. You will fall in love with the amazing Luray Caverns. Their cathedral-sized rooms hold grand stalactites and stalagmites and even a lake.

The Natural Tunnel near Duffield runs 300-yards through the Appalachian Mountains. The tunnel is so large, that it has been used as a train route since the late 1800s. You can take a tour into the depths. If you visit around Christmastime, then check out the light display they create inside.

You might not pair Virginia and swamps in your mind, but the Great Dismal Swamp is found in this state and is worth a visit. This is a great place to see wildlife, including birds, deer, black bears, bobcats, and river otters. The preserved forests and marshland are a great place to get lost.

Abandoned Places Road Trip

• Swannanoa Palace
• Fleetwood Church
• DeJarnette Center

If you like exploring abandoned places, there is a Virginia road trip in the making for you! Urban exploration is a popular hobby for many people. Some like to photograph eerie, abandoned places while others like the thrill of walking through these creepy areas. When you visit abandoned places in Virginia, make sure to be safe and follow the law!

One of the best abandoned places to visit in Virginia is Swannanoa Palace in the mountains of Afton. You can take tours of this 1912 palace and witness its grandeur. It is not as decrepit as some of the other places included in this abandoned places road trip but it is definitely worth the visit. It is said to be haunted as well!

Next, Fleetwood Church in Brandy Station is a colorful, wooden structure partially hidden by trees. This church was built in 1850 and stood watch over a Civil War battle. Now it stands with peeling paint and ghosts hiding inside.

In Staunton, you will find the DeJarnette Center, an old sanatorium that practiced eugenics. The building has a long history that began in the 1930s. It has stood empty and formidable since the ’90s.

Presidents of the USA Road Trip

• Mount Vernon

Virginia is known as the “Birthplace of Presidents” and if you are interested in history or U.S. politics, then you should plan some Virginia road trips. The one we highlight here focuses on presidential homes only, but there are other sites and monuments related to presidents that you can visit.

Start at the beginning with George Washington’s Mount Vernon, not far from Washington D.C. This estate had been in Washington’s family for years before he eventually inherited it in 1761. He lived there until his death in 1799. You can come tour the home and farm as well as see the tomb of America’s first president.

Next, visit Monticello near Charlottesville. This home was designed by Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president. Construction took place from 1769 to1809. Jefferson was a slave-owner and those he enslaved built the home and farmed the land. It is important to learn about this dark and sad part of American history. Visiting Monticello gives you an opportunity to see what it would have been like to live on a plantation.

Montpelier is less than an hour from Charlottesville and is where James Madison, the fourth U.S president, called home. This grand estate has great views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can also find Madison’s grave here.

Another historic home to visit belonged to fifth president James Monroe. Also found near Charlottesville, the Highland estate is rich in colonial history. Today, much research is being done to learn about the enslaved people who lived here.

Fall Foliage Road Trip

• Grayson Highlands State Park
• Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
• Hungry Mother State Park

Virginia is one of the best states for a fall foliage road trip. When autumn rolls around, the trees pop off in bright reds, oranges, and gold. You will need to take multiple Virginia road trips to hit every fall location. People from all over the country flock to Shenandoah National Park for fall foliage viewing, but there are smaller, less crowded areas to discover as well.

Grayson Highlands State Park is near the North Carolina and Tennessee borders. Along with colorful meadow and forest vistas, you might see some of the wild ponies that live here. Make sure to hike the mile-long Rhododendron Trail.

Within the Jefferson National Forest, you will find the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. This gorgeous slice of nature holds mountain peaks, meadows, and plenty of flaming trees. This is a great place for a bike ride or hike.

Next, travel to Hungry Mother State Park. The lake here helps to add magic to your Virginia fall foliage photos by creating a reflection of the pretty trees. There are a few different trails to check out with water and forest scenery.

Wineries Road Trip

• Rappahannock County Wine Trail
• Blue Ridge Whisky Wine Loop
• Chesapeake Bay Wine Country
• Loudoun County Wine Trail

Virginia is famous for its scenic wine trails and a road trip to some wineries makes for a great girl’s trip. There are many wine trails throughout the state. You can pick one for an easy weekend trip or check out multiple trails on a longer vacation.

The Rappahannock County Wine Trail is within an hour of Washington D.C. and features many artisanal wineries. For a boutique wine tasting experience, check out Chester Gap Cellars, Gadino Cellars, Narmada Vineyards, and more!

The Blue Ridge Whisky Wine Loop provides great drinks with fantastic mountain views in the Shenandoah Valley. You will be able to taste test not just at wineries. but at whisky distilleries and breweries as well.

Chesapeake Bay Wine Country has wineries surrounded by historic sites and cute, small towns. Plan one of your Virginia road trips to coincide with one of the Oyster Crawls for even more fun. You can also stay the night at some of the wineries.

Loudoun County is D.C.’s wine trail and is known as the “Napa Valley of the Mid-Atlantic.” There are over forty wineries in this area to discover. Some of the wineries offer fun activities such as vineyard hikes, dinners, yoga among the vines, and cellar tours.

Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip

• Crabtree Falls
• Apple Orchard Mountain
• Natural Bridge State Park

The Blue Ridge Parkway is an iconic U.S. road trip connecting North Carolina and Virginia. Drive through the mountains and lush forests to discover cute small towns, jaw-dropping overlooks , and folk history. This is one of the best scenic drives in Virginia.

Make sure to pull off near milepost 339 so you can hike to Crabtree Falls. The two and a half mile loop trail is ranked as moderate to strenuous and involves steep and rocky areas. The payoff is catching sight of the waterfall flowing down a sixty-foot rock face.

At milepost 171, you will find the historic Marby Mill, which dates back to 1903. It is one of the most photographed stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Next, stop at milepost 76.5 and Apple Orchard Mountain. This is the highest point on the parkway on the Virginia side. Make sure to hike to Apple Orchard Falls while you are here.

There are so many stops you can make on your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip that it is impossible to name them all! One last stop to mention, though, is the Natural Bridge near Lexington and milepost 63. This 215-foot tall rock bridge has been awing people for centuries, including Monacan Native Americans and Thomas Jefferson, who actually owned it at one point.

Historic Triangle Road Trip

• Williamsburg

The famous Virginia historic triangle road trip will take you to the three colonial towns of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown. This road trip can be done in just a weekend since the towns are all within thirty minutes of each other. You will drive the Colonial Parkway to each location as you experience one of the most popular Virginia road trips.

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas with the founding year of 1607. Today, you can walk through the living history museum, including a reconstructed Native American village, colonial fort, and other replicas. The archaeological museum has almost two million artifacts.

Colonial Williamsburg is another living history museum. There are 88 original buildings and even more recreations. Re-enactors walk around helping you feel as if you have stepped back in time. Ride down the streets in a horse-drawn carriage for an even more authentic feel.

The last stop on the Virginia historic triangle road trip is Yorktown. This was the site of the 1781 Battle of Yorktown, the last battle of the American Revolution, and where General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington. You can visit the battlefield and the Victory Center.

Civil War Road Trip

• Fredericksburg
• Appomattox Court House and National Historical Park

Virginia was the site of many bloody battles and important events during the U.S. Civil War. Because of this, Virginia is a destination for serious history buffs. This is one of the best Virginia road trips for anyone interested in America’s turbulent past.

Richmond was the Confederate capital during the war and has a couple of places to visit for a history lesson. Richmond National Battlefield Park was the site of two Union attempts to capture the city. You can also visit the American Civil War Museum in Richmond.

Two battles occurred near Manassas. The First Battle of Bull Run happened in 1861 and is considered the first major battle of the war. Today you can come to the Manassas National Battlefield Park to honor those who died.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park is a somber place to visit but is necessary to see the full scope of this tragic war. Over 100,000 soldiers were killed or wounded over the course of eighteen months. This is the world’s second-largest military park.

You have to visit the Appomattox Court House and National Historical Park in order to see where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in 1865. Come stand in the place where the Confederates laid down their weapons. There are reconstructed buildings, a museum, and ranger programs.

Virginia Lighthouses Road Trip

• Jones Point Lighthouse
• Old Point Comfort Lighthouse
• Old Cape Henry Lighthouse
• New Cape Henry Lighthouse
• Cape Charles Lighthouse

There is just something about lighthouses that draws people in as much as they repel ships. These structures are perfect for nautical photographs and offer great views. You could easily pair this road trip with coastal Virginia road trips.

The Jones Point Lighthouse in Alexandria is the last remaining river lighthouse in Virginia. It has been standing on the Potomac River since 1855. Though you can’t go inside, you can still see it from the ground.

The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse is the second oldest light on the Chesapeake Bay and is found at Fort Monroe. It was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson and built in 1802. It is not open to the public, but you can snap photos of it from the street.

The oldest lighthouse on the bay as well as the third oldest in the country is the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse. It was built in 1792. You can go up this ninety-foot structure for views of First Landing State Park and nearby Virginia Beach.

Just across the street from the old lighthouse, you can see the New Cape Henry Lighthouse which replaced the other in 1881. This one is a bit taller and is a stark black and white.

At 191 feet, the Cape Charles Lighthouse is the tallest in Virginia and second tallest in the country. Unfortunately, it is not open to climb, but you can see it from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

Bird-Watching Road Trip

• Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• Kiptopeke State Park
• Huntley Meadows Park
• Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

If you are a birder, then Virginia should be on your radar. Birding in Virginia will allow you to see hundreds of species of birds including raptors, shorebirds, and songbirds. From beaches to mountains to forests, there are plenty of diverse habitats for a variety of bird species.

Virginia was one of the first states to create an official, statewide birding trail. The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail features 65 trails throughout the state. You can use this as a guide as you plan your own birding trip.

There are a ton of wildlife preserves and parks in Virginia where birds are plentiful, whether they live there year-round or migrate through. For instance, the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge hosts flocks of migratory waterfowl in the winter. The endangered Piping Plover nests here as well.

The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a good place to spot peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and more. If you are interested in seeing more raptors, head to Kiptopeke State Park where nineteen different species have been spotted. Huntley Meadows Park and Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve are also notable bird areas to visit, but there are so many more places as well.

There are Virginia road trips for everyone! Whether you are planning a family vacation, girl’s trip, or couple’s getaway, this beautiful, Southern state has something to offer. Pack your bags, gas up your car, and get ready for memorable road trips in Virginia!

Reader Interactions

[…] Fredericksburg is full of early American history, the town motto is, “Americans most historic city”. Some of the more well-known facts about Fredericksburg is that the first president George Washington was born there and many of his family members lived there while he was the president. There are so many fun things to do in Fredericksburg with kids, during a romantic getaway, or even if you are a solo traveler you will not regret your time in this cute little Virginia town. […]

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The Best Stops On A Weird And Wacky Alabama Road Trip

Andy Montgomery / Flickr ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )

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Whether it’s the world’s largest statue made from aluminum cans or dark and creepy museums with macabre displays, every state has its fair share of, shall we say, unique roadside attractions, and Alabama is no exception.

Known for its beautiful southern Appalachian mountains, its meandering blackwater rivers, and its pristine white Gulf beaches, Alabama has become a popular vacation destination. But when you visit the state, it’s worthwhile to get off the interstates and head down the state’s backroads to visit these weird and wacky roadside attractions. You’ll meet some fascinating people and get a glimpse of another side of the state. And it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit. These stops are fun in any season, and all are easily accessible for everyone.

Peter Titmuss / Shutterstock

Holmes Medical Museum, Foley

There is a reason many of us are afraid to visit anyone but our regular family doctor. We’re afraid we’ll be in the hands of a quack. Those feelings are validated when you visit the Holmes Medical Museum in Foley. While most of the museum covers the evolution of medical science through the years, there is one room — Room 5 — that is known as the Room of Quackery and illustrates a different side of medicine, with instruments and equipment used by professionals with dubious credentials. As the sign says, the equipment (like radiated water, bloodletting, and color waves that would “cure broken bones and the pain of childbirth”) rarely cured anyone, and many died. Admission to the museum is free.

After your visit, walk a block west of the museum to Stacey’s Olde Tyme Soda Fountain , one of the few old-fashioned soda fountains remaining on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. You can get milkshakes, ice cream sodas, or — my favorite — New York egg creams (trust me — there are no eggs in them).

Car Bumper Rooster, Brundidge

When you think of weird, wacky, and quirky roadside attractions, the first things that probably pop into your mind are those giant statues made from weird materials. How about a giant rooster made from old car bumpers? Larry Godwin has been making sculptures out of bumpers for many years, including the 12-foot eagle at Goshen High School. You will find his gleaming car bumper rooster at the Art Wurks studio in Brundidge.

As of this writing, the rooster is being repaired. Its legs used to move, and they are trying to get them mobile again.

Tcupanman / Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY-SA 4.0 )

Barber Marina Dinosaurs And Bamahenge, Elberta

There is something ominous and dangerous lurking in the woods of Elberta — dinosaurs! Well, replicas of dinosaurs, including the tyrannosaurus rex, stegosaurus, and triceratops. They are all lawn ornaments that were created by artist Mark Cline at his home in Virginia. When Alabama billionaire George Barber visited Cline and saw the sculptures, he bought several and put them along the entrance road to his marina.

The sculptures are impressive, but the dinosaurs are shy, and you’ll need to look hard to find them. Cline also created a reproduction of England’s famous Stonehenge, which is also located in the marina. Admission to view both is free.

The best time of year to visit is the last weekend of March, when the annual Elberta German Sausage Festival is held. This arts and crafts fest serves up more than 7,000 pounds of sausage, and the proceeds benefit the Elberta Volunteer Fire Department.

Whiskey Bottle Tombstone, Clayton

In the early 1860s, William T. Mullen’s wife told him that if he didn’t stop drinking it would kill him, and she would place a whiskey bottle tombstone on his grave. He died in 1863, and she followed through on her promise. The unique tombstone can be found in the cemetery between the Clayton Baptist and Methodist Churches on North Midway Street in Clayton just north of Eufaula.

Martin Lewison / Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )

Boll Weevil Monument, Enterprise

Why would anyone place a monument to a bug that completely destroyed the cotton industry in the South? The destruction of thousands of acres of cotton farms forced farmers to change to a better cash crop in order to survive — peanuts. In honor of this turnaround in their fortune, the town of Enterprise erected a monument to the boll weevil that stands at the intersection of U.S. 84 and East College Street.

Little Nadine Earles Dollhouse Grave, Lanett

The pain and grieving a parent feels after the loss of a child is unimaginable, but that is what happened in November of 1933 to Julian Comer and Alma Earles in the tiny Alabama town of Lanett. The couple’s daughter, Nadine, was diagnosed with diphtheria which progressed to pneumonia. Her father was in the process of building her the playhouse she always wanted for Christmas that year. When Nadine found out about the playhouse, she proclaimed, “Me want now!”

Sadly, she succumbed to her illness just before Christmas. Her father completed the house and erected it at her grave in Oakwood Cemetery . Her parents decorated the interior with toys. The playhouse is now maintained by the city.

Spectre, Millbrook

Near the town of Millbrook, there is an island in the middle of the Alabama River called Spectre that has a little secret — it’s home to a ghost town that never was. The island has rows of buildings that were never inhabited — well, except for film crews.

The buildings were constructed as sets for the 2003 Tim Burton movie Big Fish . When filming was completed, the sets were left abandoned in place. Today, those buildings resemble a ghost town, and you can walk the eerie streets, launch your kayak for a little paddle in the river, and even camp there (sites are limited). The day use fee is $3 per person.

World’s Largest Office Chair, Anniston

What would a trip to the weird and wacky be without a stop at the world’s largest… something? The town of Anniston is home to the world’s largest office chair. The chair is 33 feet tall, 15 feet wide, and proudly sits next to Miller’s Office Furniture on Noble Street. Since Leonard “Sonny” Miller built the chair in 1981, many other larger chairs have been built, but this was recognized by Guinness World Records as the ultimate office chair.

After paying a visit to the chair, spend the rest of your afternoon at the Anniston Museum of Natural History . Your entire family will be fascinated by the collections of Native American and African artifacts and some of the oldest wildlife dioramas in the country.

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Goldie 1971: The Fallen Robot, Tuscaloosa

It’s something you don’t see every day — a giant robot relaxing in the quad of a major American university. But there she is, Goldie the Fallen Robot, right in the middle of Woods Quad on the campus of the University of Alabama . The 23-foot-long rusty sculpture represents the collapse of Birmingham ’s steel industry and was crafted from scrap iron forged at the Magic City’s Sloss Furnaces. The name was discovered by sculptor Joe McCreary on one of the pieces of steel he was using to make the sculpture, apparently having been scribbled on it by an ironworker.

Rusty The Big Red Dog, Northport

About 2 miles north of Goldie in the town of Northport, you will find Rusty the Big Red Dog eagerly awaiting you at Stephens Studio & Gallery. The scrap metal dog was sculpted by Larry Godwin for his father’s feed store in 1983. Today, the giant, happy pup invites visitors in to see other large sculptures like a giant robot made of cinder blocks and a giant monument to fire ants. Really!

While in the Tuscaloosa area, head to the Free — the Innisfree Irish Pub , that is. Described as a “place to have fun and forget your troubles,” Innisfree is your quintessential Irish pub with a big lineup of imported and domestic beers and great American food as well as Irish fare including shepherd’s pie and fish and chips.

Rock Zoo, Fackler

This is one easy keeping zoo — there are no animals to feed, because they are all made of stone.

In the early 1970s, someone dropped off a rock at Leonard Dawson’s farm in Fackler. Dawson picked up a brush and painted it to look like a rooster. Poof! The rock zoo was born.

Today, visitors stop on the side of County Road 32 to see the rock cows, rooster, turkey, and more. Just remember to follow the rules and don’t feed the animals!

Just down the road from the Rock Zoo is the incredible Neversink Cave , a vertical 162-foot cave that has a stunning ribbon waterfall that flows into the abyss. You must have a special surface permit (available on the Save Your Caves website ) to hike the steep mile-long out-and-back trail to view the waterfall. The permit only allows you to hike to the falls — caving is not allowed. And when you arrive, use extreme caution near the rim of the falls. It is dangerous.

Jonathan D. Abolins / Flickr ( CC BY 2.0 )

Gravity Hill Road, Sylacauga

What goes up must come down, right? Not necessarily — at least not on Gravity Hill Road . Come to the stop sign where Gravity Hill Road meets U.S. 280 (have your car facing south toward U.S. 280), make sure there no one is behind you, put your car in neutral, and then take your foot off the brake. Your car will start rolling backward uphill ! Be sure to keep your foot close to the brake, because you will pick up speed.

Is it an optical illusion, or are you really defying gravity? Try it out, and you be the judge. It’s really fun.

Pro Tip: There is a similar attraction in Pennsylvania. Read more about it here .

Aluminum Elvis, Sheffield

To honor the musicians who created the famed Muscle Shoals Sound that formed the base for many great rock songs from the 1950s to today, an 18-foot tall aluminum statue of Elvis Presley , complete with neatly coiffed hair, microphone, guitar, and swiveling hips, was created by local artist Audwin McGee for the town of Sheffield in 2012. A similar statue was created in Muscle Shoals proper in 2014, but this is the original and is a must-see.

James E. Scarborough / Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY-SA 3.0 )

Miss Baker Grave (NASA Monkey), Huntsville

She was America’s second astronaut. Actually, she was our second monkey-naut. In the early years of the manned spaceflight program, NASA needed to determine how space travel would affect the human body. To do this, they launched two monkeys — Miss Able and Miss Baker — into space. Miss Baker was a squirrel monkey who did remarkably well on her trip and became a worldwide celebrity upon her return, greeting visitors at Cape Canaveral for many years before being moved to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville . Miss Baker lived to be 27 years old, making her the oldest known squirrel monkey in the world.

Miss Baker was buried near the entrance to the center with a tall granite marker. Many visitors bring along a banana and place it on top of the tombstone to honor this early hero of the space program.

Terri / Flickr ( CC BY 2.0 )

Coon Dog Cemetery, Cherokee

For more than 15 years, Key Underwood and his beloved coon hunting dog, Troop, spent their days hunting at their favorite camp in the town of Cherokee. On Labor Day, 1937, Underwood bid a sad farewell to his beloved hunting companion and buried him at their hunting camp. Soon after, other coon hunters began burying their dogs there as well, and today, there are 185 dogs in this small plot located on Coon Dog Cemetery Road . Years later, Underwood was asked by a reporter why only coon dogs were allowed in the cemetery. Underwood replied, “You must not know much about coon hunters and their dogs if you think we would contaminate this burial place with poodles and lapdogs.”

• Space Oddities: Forgotten Stories from Mankind's Exploration of Space
• Everyone's Gone to the Moon: Life on Earth and the Epic Voyage of Apollo 11
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Recently retired, Joe plans to continue his love of traveling while sharing his adventures and exploration of the U.S. and the world with TravelAwaits readers.

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Distance between Virginia and Alabama

Driving non-stop from virginia to alabama.

How far is Alabama from Virginia? Here's the quick answer if you don't sleep at all, or you have a friend with you so each person can drive some of the way, letting you make the entire trip by car without stopping.

Nonstop drive: 708 miles or 1139 km

Driving time: 10 hours, 34 minutes

This is a pretty long drive, so it's not very realistic to drive nonstop. To get a better idea of how long this road trip would really be, scroll down to calculate how many hours it would take if you drive with stops .

Flying non-stop from Virginia to Alabama

Now let's assume you have a private jet and you can fly in the fastest possible straight line between Virginia (VA) and Alabama (AL). Because of the curvature of the Earth, the shortest distance is actually the "great circle" distance, or "as the crow flies" which is calculated using an iterative Vincenty formula. For a long distance, this appears as a curve on the map, and this is often the route that commercial airlines will take so it's a good estimate of the frequent flyer miles you'll accumulate as well.

Flight distance: 594 miles or 956 km

Flight time: 1 hour, 41 minutes

The straight line flight distance is 114 miles less than driving on roads, which means the driving distance is roughly 1.2x of the flight distance.

Your plane flies much faster than a car, so the flight time is about 1/6th of the time it would take to drive.

This is a medium length flight, so unless you have a nice private jet, you might be booking a commercial flight. In that case, your travel time would really need to include how many minutes to get to your local airport, wait for security, board and taxi on the runway, land at the other airport, and get to your destination. Scroll down to see a more realistic calculation that takes into account all these factors to get a more accurate estimate of your actual flight time .

Virginia to Alabama road trip

Let's say you're actually planning a road trip to Alabama, and you want to stop along the way to rest. If it's a real road trip, you might want to check out interesting stops along the way, eat at great restaurants, and maybe even find a hotel to stay overnight. That's what Trippy is perfect for, helping you figure out travel plans in detail.

Based on the length of this trip, we think you could spread out this fun road trip over more than one day.

Road trip: 2 days of driving

With the full itinerary planned out, we can estimate your total travel time for this trip.

Travel time: 13.5 hours on the road with 1 overnight

Start at Virginia .

Drive for about 2 hours , then stop in Huddleston and stay for about 1 hour. Next, drive for another 2 hours then stop in Winston Salem and stay for 1 hour. Drive for 1.5 hours then stop in Charlotte and stay for 1.5 hours. Drive for 2 hours then stop in Greenville (South Carolina) . Stay overnight. The next day, drive for about 1 hour , then stop in Hartwell (Georgia) and stay for about 1 hour. Next, drive for another 1.5 hours then stop in Atlanta and stay for 4 hours. Drive for 1 hour then stop in LaGrange (Georgia) and stay for 1 hour. Drive for 1.5 hours then stop in Montgomery and stay for 1 hour. Finally, drive for about 51 minutes and arrive at Alabama .

Virginia to Alabama airports and flights

In the quick calculation above, we assumed you had a private plane and just wanted to know the time in the air from city to city. But for most of us, we're going to be flying on a commercial airline (whether it's first class or coach). So that means we really need to account for all the extra travel time getting to the airport, waiting for our flight, and making it to the destination.

To give you a better estimate of real-life travel, we've put together a flight itinerary with actual airports. Eventually you'll be able to customize this plan, choosing your own airports and flights. But for now, here's an example we've selected to give you an idea of how traveling might work between airports.

Departure airport: Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO)

Arrival airport: Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM)

With the airports selected, we can estimate the travel time to and from the airport, based on how far the airport is from downtown.

Getting to the airport: 87 minutes

Getting to your destination: 126 minutes

Now finally, let's look at an actual flight from CHO to MGM and figure out how long it would take to fly including take-off and landing, and time to taxi on the runway.

Commercial flight time: 1 hour, 41 minutes

So now we can finally get an idea of the total travel time from Virginia to Alabama including time spent getting to/from the airports, an estimated wait time of 2 hours at the airport for TSA security lines and waiting at the gate, and the actual flight itself.

Total travel time: 7 hours

Plan a trip to Alabama

Trippy has a ton of information that can help you plan your trip to Alabama (AL). Start by reading the Trippy page on where to stay in Alabama . Check out some of the questions people have asked about Alabama like A few hours in Alabama . Click the button below to explore Alabama in detail.

How far is it the other way?

The distance is the same either way if you're flying a straight line (or driving the same roads back and forth). But for a real trip, there can be plenty of differences so go ahead and check the reverse directions to get the distance from Alabama to Virginia , or go to the main page to calculate the distance between cities .

If you happen to know Virginia, don't forget to help other travelers and answer some questions about Virginia!

More info on this route: elevation from Virginia to Alabama drive from Virginia to Alabama road conditions alternate routes Google driving directions

NEWS ALERT: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty in deal with US and return to Australia

Alabama town’s first Black mayor, who had been locked out of office, will return under settlement

The Associated Press

June 24, 2024, 7:47 PM

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NEWBERN, Ala. (AP) — The first Black mayor of a small Alabama town, who said white officials locked him out of town hall, will return to the role under the terms of a proposed settlement agreement.

Patrick Braxton will be recognized as the lawful mayor of the town of Newbern, under the terms of a proposed agreement to settle a lawsuit between Braxton and the town of Newbern. The settlement was filed Friday and, if approved by U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose, will end the long-running dispute over control of the town government, pave the way for Braxton to take over as the town’s first Black mayor and allow the seating of a new city council.

“I’m pleased with the outcome and the community is pleased. I think they are more pleased that they can voice their opinion and vote,” Braxton, 57, said Monday.

Newbern, a tiny town of 133 people about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Selma, has a mayor-council government but has not held elections for six decades. Instead, town officials were “hand-me-down” positions with the mayor appointing a successor and the successor appointing council members, according to the lawsuit filed by Braxton and others. That practice resulted in an overwhelmingly white government in a town where Black residents outnumber white residents by a 2-1 margin.

Braxton, a Black volunteer firefighter, in 2020 qualified to run for the non-partisan position of mayor. Since he was the only person to run, he became the town’s mayor elect. He appointed a town council as other mayors have done. But Braxton said he faced a series of obstacles when trying to take office.

Braxton and others alleged in a lawsuit against Newbern that town officials “conspired to prevent the first Black mayor from exercising the duties and powers of his new job” and to thwart the town’s first majority-Black council from being seated. They said the locks were changed on town hall and officials refused to give Braxton access to town bank accounts. The lawsuit alleged the outgoing council held a secret meeting to set up a special election and “fraudulently re-appointed themselves as the town council.”

Town officials had denied wrongdoing. Before agreeing to settle the case, the defendants maintained in court filings that Braxton’s claim to be mayor was “invalid” and the special election was proper.

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Braxton will return as the town’s major and will be immediately granted access to town hall. All other “individuals holding themselves out as town officials will effectively resign and/or cease all responsibilities with respect to serving in any town position or maintaining any town property or accounts,” according to the proposal.

The Newbern city council positions will be filled either by appointment or special election. Braxton will submit names for Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, to appoint. If the appointments are not made, a special election will be held to fill the positions.

The town will hold municipal elections in 2025.

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, which represents Braxton and his council appointees, declined to comment. An email sent to a lawyer representing the defendant in the lawsuit was not immediately returned.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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The 18 Best Road Trips in the U.S. in 2024

Updated : June 14, 2024

AAA Travel Editor, Katie Broome

Table of contents.

• Southern New England
• Northern Arizona Canyons
• Natchez Trace Parkway
• Hershey, Pa., Dutch Country
• Southern Arizona
• Southern California
• Northern CA & Southern OR Coast
• Vegas to National Parks to Vegas
• Smoky Mountains
• Grand Pacific Northwest
• Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina
• Route 66 - Eastern New Mexico
• Black Hills
• Utah's National Parks
• Big Sky Country
• South Florida
• San Francisco to Lake Tahoe to Reno

Plan Your Next Road Trip with AAA Travel

Road trips let travelers see the world from a new perspective and explore distant locations. Recent studies indicate that more than 100 million Americans plan for road trips in the summer. Each state offers a unique experience for travelers, so it can be hard to limit your options. Whether you are dreaming up road trip ideas or simply curious about the most popular ones, here we’ll explore 18 of the best road trips in the U.S. and share some of the ways AAA Travel can make planning a breeze.

1. Southern New England

Starting and ending in Boston, this Southern New England road trip quite a bit of history and scenery in one route. One of the best road trips in the U.S., you’ll see sites from the American Revolution along Boston’s Freedom Trail , quaint shops housed in Colonial-era buildings on the streets of Mystic, Connecticut and lavish mansions from the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island. This trip also offers prime leaf-peeping opportunities in late October and early November. (To explore nearby Martha’s Vineyard, check out the Cape Cod Road Trip .)

• Length: 229.4 miles
• Time: 5+ hours
• Great for: Couples, history buffs and families

2. Northern Arizona Canyons

Southwest desert scenery is on full display on this northern Arizona canyons road trip . From the red rock formations of Sedona to the majesty of the Grand Canyon , this loop journey from Flagstaff hits all the highlights. It includes stops at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, the ancient pueblos of Wupatki National Monument and the lava fields of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

• Length: 274.3 miles
• Time: 6+ hours
• Great for: Solo and adventure travelers

3. Natchez Trace Parkway

To see the American South in all its glory, the Natchez Trace Parkway is one of the best places to go on a road trip. Stretching from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi (by way of Tupelo, Mississippi, the birthplace of Elvis Presley), this rural route makes it easy to visit archeological sites, prehistoric ceremonial mounds, Civil War battlefields and the original Native American trail.

• Length: 494.6 miles
• Time: 10+ hours
• Great for: Music lovers and history buffs

4. Hershey, Pa., Dutch Country

Expect to see horse-drawn carriages and historic covered bridges on a drive through Hershey, Pennsylvania, Dutch Country . Named after the German (Deutsch) immigrants who settled there in the 18th century, Pennsylvania Dutch Country offers the unique chance to see people of the Amish, Mennonite and Brethren faiths practicing their simple, modest lifestyle. The road trip also includes a stop in Gettysburg . (For more nearby things to do, see Best Historical Places to Visit on a Pennsylvania Road Trip ).

• Length: 197.0 miles
• Great for: Families and history buffs

5. Southern Arizona

From the towering cacti of the Sonoran Desert to the Wild West saloons of Tombstone, photo-worthy sights are aplenty on a drive through southern Arizona . You’ll pass through the vibrant cities of Tucson and Scottsdale on this trip, with art galleries, authentic Mexican restaurants and splurge-worthy resorts along the way. (For more things to do near Scottsdale, see Best Places to Hike and Eat in Scottsdale, Arizona, on a Weekend Getaway .)

• Length: 547.1 miles
• Great for: Couples and adventure travelers

6. Southern California

It’s sunny skies ahead on this Southern California cruise , which includes a seven-hour journey from Los Angeles to Temecula wine country that features palm tree-dotted beaches, coastal cliffs, rugged desert canyons and a stop in San Diego . Travel editors recommend you plan this trip for spring or fall , as temperatures at some points along the drive can top 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. (For more escapes from L.A., check out the Los Angeles to Death Valley Road Trip or the California Desert Road Trip .)

• Length: 307.4 miles
• Great for: Couples and solo travelers

7. Northern CA & Southern OR Coast

Definitely not short on scenery, this Northern California and Southern Oregon Coast drive can easily be split up over a few days so you have plenty of time for exploration. You’ll start in California’s Central Valley, then wind your way up the Pacific Coast to see towering redwoods, quaint beach towns, shifting sand dunes and breathtaking ocean views on Oregon’s U.S. 101. (If you drive an electric vehicle, also check out Where to Stop and Recharge on an EV Road Trip Down Oregon’s Coast .)

• Length: 380.1 miles
• Time: 8+ hours
• Great for: Families, couples and campers

8. Vegas to National Parks to Vegas

A multiday road trip from Las Vegas is a great way to explore the Southwest and check off a few bucket list items. AAA’s Vegas road trip covers 860 miles in Nevada, Arizona and Utah, and includes stops at man-made landmarks like the Hoover Dam and Route 66 and at natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and the hoodoos (rock formations) of Bryce Canyon. (For more inspiration, see Ditch the Glitz for Adventure in Vegas .)

• Length: 857.4 miles
• Time: 16 hours
• Great for: Solo and adventure travelers and campers

9. Smoky Mountains

See the signature haze of the Great Smoky Mountains on this 500-mile loop that provides plenty of ooh- and aah-worthy views of America’s most-visited national park. One of the best road trips in the USA, AAA’s route begins and ends in Knoxville , Tennessee, and includes stops in fun mountain towns like Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina.

• Length: 497.8 miles

10. Grand Pacific Northwest

Soak up views of iconic Northwest landmarks on this Pacific Northwest drive , which covers 550 miles in Oregon and Washington. From the waterfalls along the Historic Columbia River Highway to the summer wildflowers of Mount Rainier National Park, this road trip is sure to please nature lovers. (For even more adventures in the “upper left” of the U.S., see Best Pacific Northwest Road Trips (and When to Take Them) .)

• Length: 551.1 miles
• Great for: Families and campers

11. Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina

America’s longest linear park is also one of its most scenic, which makes the Blue Ridge Parkway a clear winner in AAA’s list of the most popular road trips in the U.S. The portion of the parkway that runs through North Carolina follows curvy mountain roads from Cherokee to the North Carolina-Virginia state line, with plenty of spectacular views and hiking opportunities along the way. You could easily stretch this drive into a multiday trip.

• Length: 303.8 miles

12. Route 66 - Eastern New Mexico

The Route 66 road trip is a staple of “Americana” culture and the subject of a particularly catchy tune from the 1940s. This massive highway stretches across two-thirds of the United States, so it’s not uncommon for folks to explore Route 66 bit by bit. The Eastern New Mexico stretch of Route 66 will take you from Albuquerque , New Mexico, the primary setting of AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” to Adrian, Texas — the “Midpoint of Route 66.” 

• Length: 118.7 miles
• Time: 2+ hours
• Great for: Americana fans, families and couples

13. Black Hills

Mount Rushmore , a scenic memorial that features four of the United States’ most famous presidents, is the center point of this Black Hills road trip . However, there are plenty more historic landmarks along the way, including the legendary gold rush town of Deadwood, South Dakota, and the Jewel Cave National Monument.

• Length: 209 miles
• Time: 5 hours
• Great for: History buffs, families and campers

14. Utah's National Parks

Utah is adored for its delicious food scene and gorgeous natural landscapes. This scenic road trip of Utah's National Parks will let you get up close and personal with some of the most beautiful sights in Utah. Throughout the 1,050-mile voyage, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Utah’s world-famous natural scenery. You’ll also be able to sample local delicacies from venues like the Sunset Grill in Moab, Utah .

• Length: 1,049.3 miles
• Time: 19+ hours
• Great for: Outdoor adventurers and naturalists

15. Cape Cod

This 174-mile road trip through Cape Cod highlights Boston’s natural beauty and historic significance. During this drive, you’ll encounter a touching monument to John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States. You may also get a chance to admire humpback whales if you visit during whale-watching season, which normally runs from mid-April to October.

• Length: 173.7 miles
• Great for: Fishing fans, beachgoers, and whale watchers

16. Big Sky Country

The term “Big Sky Country” refers to the parts of the U.S. that still largely consist of untouched natural land. This This 425-mile scenic road trip will take you through portions of Montana and Wyoming. Highlights include visits to the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

• Length: 425.4 miles
• Great for: Campers, astronomy fans, and naturalists

17. South Florida

Folks have called Florida the Sunshine State since before the 1970s — and for good reason. This popular vacation destination is brimming with sandy beaches and tropical weather. AAA’s 421-mile route through South Florida hits major destinations like Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach . Along the way, you might even see herds of deer or congregations of alligators.

• Length: 421.1 miles
• Great for: Wildlife watchers, beachgoers, couples and families

18. San Francisco to Lake Tahoe to Reno

California and Nevada feature a bevy of breathtaking sights and sounds. AAA’s 486-mile route from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe to Reno provides plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in natural experiences near Lake Tahoe — and enjoy some of Reno ’s most impressive resorts, like the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino.

• Length: 486.3 miles
• Time: 9+ hours
• Great for: Museum fans, kayakers and hikers

AAA Travel can help you streamline your next cross-country cruise with our wide selection of pre-planned road trips. Travelers with AAA memberships can also capitalize on big savings and exclusive offers while sightseeing. 

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Trump to hold Virginia rally after presidential debate; Youngkin to attend

RICHMOND, Va. -- Former President Donald Trump plans to hold a rally at a Virginia farm that is home to a nursery and garden center a day after the first presidential debate on Thursday.

The rally will take place Friday, June 28 at Historic Greenbrier Farms in Chesapeake, according to Trump's campaign. The event will open to the public at 11 a.m. and the former president is slated to speak at 3 p.m.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin plans to attend the rally, sources told WTVR CBS 6.

The Republican governor met Trump last week for the first time at Trump National Golf Club in northern Virginia, CBS News reported .

The Trump campaign is planning to build off momentum from the debate and gain support in Virginia, according to CBS News. While President Joe Biden won the state by 10 points in 2020, Youngkin showed Trump polling numbers during their meeting that showed he is competitive with Biden in the Commonwealth.

However, the Democratic National Committee expressed doubt about GOP optimism for Virginia.

"Trump lost Virginia by double digits in 2020, and Glenn Youngkin lost the Virginia legislative elections last year, despite his high-profile attempt to hold the Virginia House and flip the Virginia Senate," DNC spokesperson Abhi Rahman said to CBS News. "Virginians have rejected MAGA Trump Republicans time and time again, from 2016 onwards, and will do so again in November."

WATCH: Trump to crowd in Richmond: 'We are going to make a big play for Virginia'

Trump also held a rally in the Commonwealth in March ahead of Super Tuesday .

That event drew a crowd of thousands of supporters to the Greater Richmond Convention Center where the former president urged voters to show up at the polls. Trump was hoping for a red wave in Virginia, which was previously a swing state for years, but has trended blue. Trump lost twice in the state.

“We are going to make a big play for Virginia," Trump said. "It’s time for the Commonwealth to finally have a say in getting it done the way you want it.”

Trump, in keeping with his preference for avoiding traditional debate prep, is spending Saturday on the campaign trail.

The former president will address a gathering of Christian conservatives Saturday afternoon in Washington, DC, before traveling to Philadelphia for a more traditional campaign rally in a key battleground.

WATCH: How Biden and Trump are taking very different approaches to preparing for next week's debate

President Joe Biden begins an intense period of private preparations Friday at Camp David for what may be the most consequential presidential debate in decades.

The 81-year-old Democrat's team is aware he cannot afford an underwhelming performance when he faces Republican rival Donald Trump for 90 minutes on live television June 27. Biden's team expects aggressive attacks on his physical and mental strength, his record on the economy and immigration and even his family.

Trump, 78 and ever confident, will stay on the campaign trail before going to his Florida estate next week for two days of private meetings as part of an informal prep process.

The ex-president's allies are pushing him to stay focused on his governing plans but expect him to be tested by pointed questions about his unrelenting focus on election fraud, his role in the erosion of abortion rights and his unprecedented legal baggage.

The CNN debate will be full of firsts, with the potential to reshape the presidential race. Never before in the modern era have two presumptive nominees met on the debate stage so early in the general election season. Never before have two White House contenders faced off at such advanced ages, with widespread questions about their readiness.

And never before has a general election debate participant been saddled with a felony conviction . The debate stage meeting comes just two weeks before Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial.

“You can argue this will be the most important debate, at least in my lifetime,” said Democratic strategist Jim Messina, a 54-year-old who managed President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign.

PRESSURE ON BIDEN

The ground rules for the June 27 debate, the first of two scheduled meetings, are unusual.

The candidates agreed to meet at a CNN studio in Atlanta with no audience. Each candidate’s microphone will be muted, except when it’s his turn to speak. No props or prewritten notes will be allowed onstage. The candidates will be given only a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water.

There will be no opening statements. A coin flip determined Biden would stand at the podium to the viewer’s right, while Trump would deliver the final closing statement.

The next debate won't be until September. Any stumbles June 27 will be hard to erase or replace quickly.

Biden arrived at Camp David on Thursday night and is expected to hunker down with senior campaign aides until the debate. While traveling to the mountainside retreat, he gave a thumbs up to reporters when asked how debate prep was going.

The president’s aides have been reluctant to share details about his preparations, run by former chief of staff Ron Klain. But they've signaled he's preparing to be aggressive and wouldn't shy away from using the term “convicted felon” to describe his opponent.

One adviser not authorized to speak publicly about debate strategy noted Biden has been increasingly punchier in recent remarks about Trump and plans to carry that theme through to the debate. That’s still while trying to project himself as “the wise and steady leader” in contrast with Trump, the adviser said.

Among some political operatives, there's the sense Biden may have more to lose given his struggle to generate momentum amid signs of weakness within his political coalition. Trump and his allies have set an extraordinarily low bar, however, by suggesting for months Biden is contending with serious physical limitations that make it difficult for him to stand for 90 minutes or string together two sentences.

“It's like the mirror test. Put a mirror under Biden’s nose, and if it fogs it up, he wins, right? That’s about what the threshold is for Biden,” Republican strategist and Trump ally David Urban said with a laugh. “Can Biden demonstrate that he’s mentally nimble? That’s the big question.”

Yet Trump sought to shift expectations in a Thursday interview with the “The All-In Podcast” in which he veered sharply away from his typical Biden taunts. He said Biden “destroyed” vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan in their 2012 debate.

“I assume he’s going to be somebody that will be a worthy debater," Trump said of Biden. "I don’t want to underestimate him.”

Biden's aides have dismissed concerns about his age and mental readiness. They're fighting against what they allege is deceptive editing of video clips to suggest he's confused.

But while some Democrats project confidence, Biden's allies also say he has spent much of the last two weeks traveling — in Europe and on the West Coast — limiting his ability to prepare. Others note incumbent presidents typically struggle in the season's opening general election debate.

Messina made both points even as he sought to play up the political stakes for Trump. He suggested Trump was taking an unnecessary political risk by debating Biden.

“I wouldn’t have done the debate if I was him,” Messina said of Trump. The strategist added, “Why would you want to give him this air? He decided he wanted to do this to knock him out, and if he doesn’t, then I think he’s in real trouble.”

TRUMP PROJECTING CONFIDENCE

Trump’s team sees the faceoff as an opportunity to demonstrate a clear contrast with Biden's leadership ability and governing record.

And while downplaying his preparations, Trump aides have a pattern of insisting he doesn't prepare for debates when, in fact, he does — in his own way. Instead of mock debates with lecterns and stand-ins or hours spent poring over policy books, the ex-president is expected to rely on a series of conversations about policy and strategy with aides and political allies.

Trump will also make public appearances over the coming days.

On Saturday, he's set to host a rally in Philadelphia and deliver a keynote address to a conference of Christian conservatives in Washington. He also has a fundraiser in New Orleans on Monday before going to his Florida estate for meetings.

“Biden needs rehearsals with handlers to find some way to explain this mess he’s made of our nation,” Trump spokesman Brian Hughes said. "President Trump is always prepared to present to Americans his record of success and Biden’s weakness and failures.”

Biden's camp is aware Trump will likely focus on his son Hunter, as the then-president did on the debate stage four years ago. Hunter Biden was recently convicted on three felony charges related to the purchase of a gun while allegedly being addicted to drugs. Republicans have also criticized Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings when Joe Biden was vice president.

Biden's allies are also concerned, however, their famously combative rival might be on good behavior.

“For both campaigns, the goal here is reaching an audience of moderate, independent, swing voters in swing states who will, in many ways, be the deciding factor in this election,” said former Biden administration official Bill Russo.

“Trump has kind of a golden opportunity here. If he can pretend that he’s a reasonable human being for 90 minutes while he’s in the spotlight, he’s got a lot to gain,” Russo added. “The real key here is which Trump shows up.”

Depend on CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for in-depth coverage of this story. Anyone with more information can  email [email protected] to send a tip .

The Associated Press and CNN Wire contributed to this story.

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Rickwood Field road trip -- Part III

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Birmingham’s Rickwood Field – the oldest professional baseball stadium in America, standing since 1910, and the former home of the Negro American League’s Birmingham Black Barons – hosted Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball games this week, and on the way to the hallowed ground, MLB Pipeline took a

Birmingham’s Rickwood Field – the oldest professional baseball stadium in America, standing since 1910, and the former home of the Negro American League’s Birmingham Black Barons – hosted Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball games this week, and on the way to the hallowed ground, MLB Pipeline took a road trip through Florida and Alabama in search of more stories that tell the history of Black baseball in the South. Part I of that trip, covering stops in Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, is available to read here . Part II, covering Mobile and Montgomery, is here .

BIRMINGHAM, NEGRO SOUTHERN LEAGUE MUSEUM

Opened in August 2015, the Negro Southern League Museum sits one block north of Double-A Birmingham’s home ballpark Regions Field, making baseball squarely a focus of the city’s Southside neighborhood.

The museum works as a joint effort by the Center for Negro League Baseball Research (headed by Dr. Layton Revel), which provides most of the artifacts on display, and the City of Birmingham. While the city isn’t in the official name itself, it might as well be with the way the entire experience tells the story of Birmingham baseball from the Industrial League of the 19th century through the Negro Southern League’s Birmingham Black Barons to modern times with local Black athletes like Bo Jackson and Ron “Papa Jack” Jackson.

“If I had to choose one location in the United States, it would be Birmingham, Alabama for the following reasons,” Revel said. “Number one, the Birmingham Black Barons played more Negro League baseball games than any other team that played in the Negro Leagues. Secondly, we have Rickwood Field here, of course. From 1910 to 1963, it was the home field to the Birmingham Black Barons, and it's still here. Third reason is we had the Birmingham Industrial League here. The Birmingham Industrial League was started in the early 1890s, and it sent more players to the Negro Leagues than any other organizations in the country.”

Visitors can stand inches away from the signatures of legends like Hank Aaron, Buck O’Neil and Jackie Robinson. They can gawk at a game-used uniform from Satchel Paige, and feet away from that, they can use a light-based pitching simulator that shows just how fast the right-hander threw his hurry-up ball, hesitation pitch, wobbly ball and midnight rider. An exhibit on women in the Negro Leagues houses a game-used hat, game-used glove and Indianapolis Clowns jersey from Toni Stone. Another highlights the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons – arguably the best in team history that made that year’s Negro League World Series.

There is one corner that will catch a lot of attention this week – the one devoted to Rickwood Field itself. There’s even a broadside advertising the stadium’s first matchup from Aug. 18, 1910 between the Birmingham Barons and Montgomery Climbers.

“It's just a great time to start looking back and try to reclaim some of this history and forge a new path,” said director Anthony C. Williams. “Because we can't really explain why there was a Negro League and a regular league. How do we tell that story to our kids? But it's the truth. So I think now is the time to look back and try to make sense of and to recognize these players who may have gotten left out and to really tell their stories.”

In truth, interest in the Negro Leagues is hitting a 21st-century high.

The “MLB: The Show” video game series has brought new, interactive attention to that period in the game’s history, allowing fans young and old to play as the legends they may have read about or seen in old pictures. Stone, for instance, took on a new level of fame when she was included alongside Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and Aaron (whom she replaced on the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953) in “Storylines 2.” Kansas City’s Negro Leagues Baseball Museum has expanded to have a national presence, and its president Bob Kendrick served as players’ guide through history in this year’s edition of the game.

Between the Rickwood games and the growing popularity elsewhere, the National Southern League Museum is ready to take its place in the conversation at every level.

“As long as I’m here, my pursuit will be to get this information to as many as possible,” Williams said. “To invite youth organizations, schools, tours, whatever it may be – youth baseball organizations especially – to be able to know these stories. I think once people learn just how important baseball was to this region and how rich the history is, I think the youth will have a different idea of their area. … I think they’ll walk with their heads a little bit higher.”

Those raised heads might pick up one more detail, a quote from Ted Williams about one other local legend and former Black Baron.

“They invented the All-Star Game for Willie Mays."

BIRMINGHAM, RICKWOOD FIELD

Rickwood Field is a cathedral, a museum and a big, beautiful baseball diamond rolled into one.

Tuesday’s MiLB at Rickwood game between Birmingham and Montgomery – the first Minor League contest held at the historic park since 2019 – served as a table-setter for the big week to come. But make no bones about it, it was not simply a dress rehearsal for the MLB game between the Cardinals and Giants two days later.

Rather, it was Rickwood’s first opportunity to show off the improvements that made this whole week possible. A new playing surface that brought it up to MLB standards. A shorter backstop. Improved dugouts over the previous editions that, as Friends of Rickwood chairman and executive director Gerald Watkins, could “fit 12 people on a good day.” New outfield dimensions, most notably bringing in center field from 478 feet to 400. New foul poles. Different lighting.

For this week’s events alone, Major League Baseball installed a Fan Plaza, adorned with signs and graphics celebrating Negro League stars like Cool Papa Bell and Rube Foster.

But one thing that never needed replacing was the aura.

A popular picture spot for fans was in front of the green facade at the original main entrance into the park, throngs wanting to prove they stood on the same grounds as so many of the game’s greats. By one count, 181 Hall of Famers have appeared in games at Rickwood Field, whether it be as Minor Leaguers, Negro Leaguers, barnstormers, Major Leaguers making their way north from Spring Training, etc.

This was where, legend has it, Babe Ruth homered onto a train headed for Atlanta. It’s where Reggie Jackson may have gone even deeper (if we don’t account for locomotive travel). It’s where Fairfield, Alabama’s own Willie Mays suited up for the Birmingham Black Barons. In a statement earlier this week, the 24-time All-Star said, “The first big thing I ever put my mind to was to play at Rickwood Field.”

On Thursday – just before the MLB game – Jackson, speaking on FOX’s pregame show , reminded the audience that baseball in Birmingham doesn’t have as rosy a history as its Rickwood all-time roster would indicate. The first integrated team in Alabama history didn’t play in Rickwood until 1964. Three years later while playing for Birmingham A’s, Jackson was still being told he couldn’t eat in certain restaurants or stay at certain hotels because of the color of his skin.

By 1988, the Southern League club moved to the suburb in Hoover, and while Rickwood was falling into disrepair, production on the 1994 movie “Cobb”, which wanted to use the site for filming, injected new life into the ballpark. High-school and college games became regular affairs, and Minor League Baseball returned for one-off contests called the Rickwood Classic from 1996-2019.

But with the latest effort, locals have been hopeful that Rickwood’s latest revitalization can uplift the entire region.

“For the city of Birmingham, this is like a TV commercial or documentary about the city,” Watkins said. “Citizens past and present, we couldn’t afford to by the attention we’re getting. Not only are people going to be coming to Birmingham, they’re going to coming to grips with Rickwood Field and other sites as well. It’s going to say a lot and do a lot to show how this city changed from the image it had in the ‘60s.”

As for the game itself, it served as the opener in MLB’s Tribute to the Negro Leagues with Montgomery and Birmingham wearing Gray Sox and Black Barons uniforms, respectively. Birmingham natives and Negro League alumni Clinton Forge, Alphonse Holt, Joseph Marbury and Ferdinand Rutledge met with players from both sides and threw out ceremonial first pitches.

The Rays and White Sox prospects weren’t just reading about the history of the game’s oldest professional ballpark; they were direct participants.

“I had to take a couple laps around the field just to see the atmosphere,” said Montgomery center fielder Chandler Simpson, “feel the energy, just to be in the presence of all those greats that came before me.”

The moment was especially not lost on Tampa Bay’s No. 10 prospect, the son of two Atlanta-area educators who had told him about the Negro Leagues beginning when he was around eight years old. His father, Dr. Ralph Simpson, traveled the two hours from Atlanta to Birmingham to witness his son leading off for Montgomery, thus becoming the first official batter in Rickwood’s new-look state.

“We’re all just here to support it,” said the elder Simpson. “He’s embracing what all of this means but knows and understands that he has to go out and produce. A lot of kids, not just African-Americans, are going to follow him because some of those same kids have aspirations and may have a similar-type game. They want to look at him and know that their game will translate.”

Simpson’s game, referenced by his father, is one of a slap-and-dash -- get on base with dinks and dunks into the outfield and keep the pressure on the defense with blazing speed. True to form, the outfielder, who spent two years in Birmingham at UAB before transferring to Georgia Tech, singled to right on the game’s second pitch and stole second and third within the next at-bat. He’d finish the night 3-for-4 with three stolen bases before being lifted for a minor calf injury, pushing his average to .375 and his SB total to 51 – both tops in the full-season Minors.

With Mays being talked about all week as the game’s quintessential five-tool player, Simpson showing off his elite hitting and running skills was no mistake.

“I was sleeping on that last night, and I was dreaming about that and visualizing that today,” he said. “When I got that first hit, I knew I was going to take off no matter what, and I was going to take third.”

Many remained locked into the old-school feel of the Rickwood opener for much of the evening, but murmurs began to spread around the later innings. Mays – the all-time great who roamed this very outfield as a teenager nearly seven decades earlier – had died at 93. An announcement on the newly built electronic scoreboard in right-center confirmed it to those who hadn’t heard.

But instead of giving a Giant of the pastime a moment of silence, the crowd organically turned to what he had more typically heard during his Rickwood days instead – back when folks arrived at the ballpark straight from church in their Sunday best to catch an afternoon game, when Mays and his fellow ’48 Black Barons earned bigger crowds than their white counterparts. They clapped. They cheered. They tipped their hats toward the field.

Willie’s field.

“He was definitely here in spirit throughout the whole game,” Simpson said.

“It definitely hits you a little bit,” Birmingham manager Sergio Santos said. “I think it gives you feedback on what an honor it is not only to wear the jersey but to participate in a game like today. Obviously, baseball is big, but life and death is something bigger. Willie Mays, what a legacy we’re all trying to fulfill and play the game the way he played.”

And so the teams played on, Montgomery holding off a late Birmingham charge to win 6-5. A “Barnstorm Birmingham” celebrity softball game on Wednesday and the Cardinals’ own 6-5 victory over the Giants on Thursday kept the Rickwood festivities going, but our trip ended with the Tuesday opener.

A three-day journey through Florida and Alabama – with stops relating to Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, the Major Leagues, the Minor Leagues, the Negro Leagues, the history of the game, the present of the game, the future of the game – came to an end. It was always culminating in the longtime home of baseball in Birmingham, but Magic City made sure that diamond sparkled for all to see.

“This whole week,” Watkins said, “has made Rickwood Field the center of the baseball universe.”

Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB .

• Birmingham Barons
• Rickwood Field
• Black History

Discover 6 Of West Virginia’s Most Iconic Views On This Epic 4-Hour Road Trip

W ho’s up for a road trip? I am, especially if said road trip hits up some of the most iconic views in one of my favorite states: Wild, Wonderful, Almost Heaven West Virginia. Grab a map ( this one’s my favorite and has stood me in good stead whenever my cell service gets spotty) and let’s go!

1. Grandview National Park

2. sandstone falls, 3. glade creek gristmill, 4. new river gorge bridge, 5. summersville lake, 6. the greenbrier, have you seen all of these iconic west virginia views which one is your favorite.

West Virginia is SUCH a beautiful state, with so many iconic views. If these famous scenes have you feeling all the feels for this wild, wonderful Mountain State, consider proudly wearing your roots with a West Virginia themed t-shirt!

The post Discover 6 Of West Virginia’s Most Iconic Views On This Epic 4-Hour Road Trip appeared first on Only In Your State ® .