Nestled between the states of Georgia and Mississippi, Alabama is a great state to explore whilst on a road trip. This is especially true if you’re visiting the top places in the south of the United States, as you have quite a few in Alabama itself. In fact, there are heaps of the best places in Alabama to visit dotted all across the state.
This makes Alabama a great destination in its own right, and you can easily spend weeks exploring the state parks, cities and its stunning coastline at Gulf Shores. It’s such a great state to visit, and sometimes overlooked in Lieu of city breaks to places relatively nearby like New Orleans or even the wider Florida area.
So, to help you get the most out of your visit, I’m sharing some of the top places in Alabama that I know you’ll love.
1.) Montgomery
The state capital, Montgomery, is one of the best places in Alabama to visit if you’re looking for a city break whilst road-tripping. You see, it’s big enough to fill a few days but small enough to get around if you’re only visiting for a few nights.
Once here, make sure to stop off at the Civil Rights Memorial, which is a short walk from the State Capitol Building.
One feature of the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery is the magnificent granite sculpture honouring those who lost their lives in the Civil Rights Movement. It is located at 400 Washington Avenue and offers visitors a sobering chance to learn and see the prize in the lives of the many Civic Rights present today.
As mentioned above, Alabama has been so important in the history of the Civil Rights Movement, and Montgomery embodies that fact. It features many significant landmarks of the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement. So, whilst here, make sure to visit.
One thing I’m happy I got to see here is the famous Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. This was where Martin Luther King Jr. served as a Baptist minister, and it’s so worth visiting.
Oh, and don’t forget about visiting Blount Cultural Park. It’s another great spot to visit if you’re exploring the outskirts of Montgomery.
Finally, make sure to grab a bite to eat at Chris’ Famous Hotdogs. It’s been going for over 100 years and their cheese dogs are so tasty.
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2.) Birmingham
Right in the heartland of Alabama, Birmingham is another one of the state’s great cities to visit. Again, just like Montgomery, Birmingham is a great stopping point on a road trip for an overnight stay.
Once here, make sure to visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Civil Rights Historic District. The former is a great place to learn everything there is to know about the Civil Rights Movement that took place in the United States and Birmingham in the 1960s. You can easily spend a few hours learning more in the exhibits and its so eye-opening to learn about the struggles and strife that was experienced in the past.
Afterwards, make sure to visit the McWane Science Center. It’s a great place to go with all the family and has seasonal exhibits on everything from science, history and progress in the world.
Finally, make sure to grab a bite at Fife’s Restaurant. They serve up some of the best southern dishes in the city in a totally unfussy and casual setting.
3.) Meaher State Park
Right at the southern fringes of the state, Meaher State Park is one of the best places in Alabama to visit if you’re driving through the state on a wider US road trip. You see, it’s just off Highway 10 and really easy to visit for a few hours trip.
After parking, head over to join part of the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail. It’s a great way to see so much of the natural and wildlife history that makes Alabama amazing. Though be warned, it’s a 200-mile loop, so don’t expect to finish this!
You can also rent kayaks and canoes to explore some of the waterways at Meaher State Park. You can grab these between 7 am and 2 pm every day. So, make sure to arrive in the morning if you want to explore by waterway. Just ask at the entry point at where to collect your kayaks.
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4.) Gulf State Park
Probably one of my favourite places we visited in Alabama, Gulf Shores is a city and wider region that takes in the coastal beauty of the state. It’s stunning.
Best of all, Gulf Shores features so many miles of beautiful sand beaches, all the way up to Fort Morgan State Historic Site. By the way, this is worth visiting while you’re in the Gulf Shores area of Alabama.
Once here, make sure to visit Orange Beach and the wider Gulf Highlands area. It’s a huge ‘spit’ of land, and the coastline is beautiful.
Plus, you can grab a bite to eat at Sassy Bass Island Grill, which lives up to its sassy name. Make sure to ask about ‘today’s catch’, which is fresh each day, or try the yummy mahi mahi tacos. So good.
5.) Selma
West of the spatial city of Montgomery, Selma is another great city to visit for a day in Alabama. Once here, make sure to explore the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute.
This museum is dedicated to the fight for the voting rights of all. It is located where the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” attack on demonstrators took place. You stand to learn and gain a lot from visiting the museum for a few hours.
Afterwards, make sure to visit the Sturdivant Hall Museum. It’s a great place to learn more about Selma’s history, and the mansion is gorgeous.
For a casual and totally tasty bite to eat, head to Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot. Their catfish and BBQ are honestly out-of-this-world.
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6.) Mobile
Mobile is one of the state’s largest cities to visit in the south of Alabama and a totally easy spot to visit if you’re driving between Florida and Mississippi.
You see, Highway 10 cuts straight through the city limits, and you can easily stop for a day trip or even longer when you partner it with a trip to Gulf Shores.
Once here, make sure to visit the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Once here, you’ll get to visit the 1942 USS Alabama Battleship, which remains docked along the waterfront.
You not only get an up-close look at the ship, but you also get to walk and be in one and learn more about its long history.
Oh, and don’t forget about visiting the Mobile Carnival Museum. It’s a totally lovely little museum.
Afterwards, head over to Moe’s Original BBQ for some of the best, you guessed it, BBQ in town. Make sure to try their southern fried shrimp platter. It’s so good.
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7.) Mobile Bay
This scenic area of Alabama’s coastline, Mobile Bay has heaps of places to visit for a little time on the coast.
Once here, make sure to visit Dauphin Island and all along the shoreline to visit West End Beach. It’s a totally beautiful shandy shoreline that’s perfect on a hot summer’s day.
8.) Florence
Nestled on the north-western fringes of Alabama, Florence is a historic city to visit when heading north to Tennessee towards Nashville.
Once here, visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum. It’s Wright’s only building in Alabama and unique to see. The property’s design was one of the best the construction world could offer at the time of its construction.
Also, don’t forget to visit the home of W.C. Handy, located on West College Street. It’s the birthplace of the iconic musician, AKA the father of blues. This was his home when he wrote many of his most popular works, and it’s incredible to see.
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9.) Huntsville
Not too far from Florence, Huntsville is another great city to visit whilst in the northern fringes of Alabama. It’s great for a day trip and one of the best places in Alabama to visit if you love all things to do with space. You see, it’s home to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Situated at One Tranquility Base, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a great place to visit for all ages. It features one of the largest collections of spacecraft in the world. You also get to learn about the growth of NASA as well as the history of the space race. Honestly, it is amazing and rivals some of the other space-specific sites in Florida and Texas.
Read more: Cheapest cities in the US to visit
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