There’s no denying that Alabama is a great place to visit and call home. Located throughout the Yellowhammer State are many types of places that define it, and one of the best ways to experience each of these places is to take a road trip.
Listed below is a mapped road trip that’ll take you to eight places that truly define Alabama. With a driving distance of 918 miles, and an estimated drive time of 16 hours and 49 minutes, this road trip can easily be taken in a single weekend. It depends on how long you wish to visit each attraction.
Let’s get started:
google maps Click here for complete driving directions.
- Russell Cave National Monument - Bridgeport
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM Your road trip begins at Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport. Alabama has one of the highest cave densities in the world, and Russell Cave is one of the many caves that people enjoy visiting. It has a mapped length of 7.2 miles, which makes it Alabama’s third longest mapped cave. There’s also evidence that this historic cave was occupied for more than 10,000 years, which means it’s one of the Southeast’s most prehistoric caves. Russell Cave became a National Monument in 1961.
- Little River Canyon National Preserve - Fort Payne
flickr/Evangelio Gonzalez Your next stop is Little River Canyon National Preserve in Fort Payne. Little River Canyon National Preserve, which covers more than 15,000 acres, is located atop Lookout Mountain and is one of Alabama’s most scenic areas. It’s home to Little River Falls, and Little River Canyon is best known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.”
- Cheaha Mountain
flickr/Brian Collins Following a short drive, you’ll arrive at Cheaha Mountain. With an elevation of 2,407 feet above sea level, Cheaha Mountain is Alabama’s highest natural point. This majestic mountain also produces some of the state’s most amazing views.
- Gulf Coast Beaches (Gulf Shores)
flickr/Faruk Ateş From Cheaha Mountain, you’ll take a long scenic drive to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast, which offers 32 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches. In fact, they’re considered to be among America’s most beautiful beaches. Many towns are located on Alabama’s Gulf Coast that people enjoy vacationing in, including Gulf Shores. Each summer, people from all over the state flock to this beautiful beach town.
- Edmund Pettus Bridge - Selma
flickr/Tony Webster You’ll then take a drive up north to Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge. The Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site of “Bloody Sunday,” which took place March 7, 1965 during the civil rights movement. In addition to this historic bridge being a huge part of the civil rights movement, it’s also one of the most recognizable bridges in America.
- Ted’s Restaurant - Birmingham
facebook/Ted’s Restaurant
facebook/Ted’s Restaurant Your next stop is Ted’s Restaurant in Birmingham for a delicious bite to eat. Alabama is well known for its delicious homestyle food. Since opening in 1973, Ted’s Restaurant has been serving some of the best homestyle food in town. There’s something for everyone.
- William B. Bankhead National Forest - Double Springs
flickr/Michael Hicks Following your meal, you’ll take a drive to North Alabama’s William B. Bankhead National Forest. The William B. Bankhead National Forest, which covers more than 181,000 acres, is one of Alabama’s top hiking destinations. People travel from all over the world to hike the trails in the Sipsey Wilderness area of this National Forest.
- U.S. Space & Rocket Center - Huntsville
wikipedia/Ke4roh Prior to heading back to the beginning of the road trip in Bridgeport, you’ll stop at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center opened in 1970 and is known to many people as the “Earth’s largest space museum.” More than 1,500 rocketry and space artifacts are on display, including an authentic Saturn V moon rocket. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, which is Alabama’s top paid tourist attraction, is also the home of Space Camp.
Have you been to any of these defining places in Alabama? If so, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments.
google maps
Click here for complete driving directions.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Your road trip begins at Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport. Alabama has one of the highest cave densities in the world, and Russell Cave is one of the many caves that people enjoy visiting. It has a mapped length of 7.2 miles, which makes it Alabama’s third longest mapped cave. There’s also evidence that this historic cave was occupied for more than 10,000 years, which means it’s one of the Southeast’s most prehistoric caves. Russell Cave became a National Monument in 1961.
flickr/Evangelio Gonzalez
Your next stop is Little River Canyon National Preserve in Fort Payne. Little River Canyon National Preserve, which covers more than 15,000 acres, is located atop Lookout Mountain and is one of Alabama’s most scenic areas. It’s home to Little River Falls, and Little River Canyon is best known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.”
flickr/Brian Collins
Following a short drive, you’ll arrive at Cheaha Mountain. With an elevation of 2,407 feet above sea level, Cheaha Mountain is Alabama’s highest natural point. This majestic mountain also produces some of the state’s most amazing views.
flickr/Faruk Ateş
From Cheaha Mountain, you’ll take a long scenic drive to Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast, which offers 32 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches. In fact, they’re considered to be among America’s most beautiful beaches. Many towns are located on Alabama’s Gulf Coast that people enjoy vacationing in, including Gulf Shores. Each summer, people from all over the state flock to this beautiful beach town.
flickr/Tony Webster
You’ll then take a drive up north to Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge. The Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site of “Bloody Sunday,” which took place March 7, 1965 during the civil rights movement. In addition to this historic bridge being a huge part of the civil rights movement, it’s also one of the most recognizable bridges in America.
facebook/Ted’s Restaurant
Your next stop is Ted’s Restaurant in Birmingham for a delicious bite to eat. Alabama is well known for its delicious homestyle food. Since opening in 1973, Ted’s Restaurant has been serving some of the best homestyle food in town. There’s something for everyone.
flickr/Michael Hicks
Following your meal, you’ll take a drive to North Alabama’s William B. Bankhead National Forest. The William B. Bankhead National Forest, which covers more than 181,000 acres, is one of Alabama’s top hiking destinations. People travel from all over the world to hike the trails in the Sipsey Wilderness area of this National Forest.
wikipedia/Ke4roh
Prior to heading back to the beginning of the road trip in Bridgeport, you’ll stop at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center opened in 1970 and is known to many people as the “Earth’s largest space museum.” More than 1,500 rocketry and space artifacts are on display, including an authentic Saturn V moon rocket. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, which is Alabama’s top paid tourist attraction, is also the home of Space Camp.
Another road trip that’s worth taking is the Ultimate Alabama Waterfalls Road Trip. For information, be sure to take a look at the following article: The Ultimate Alabama Waterfalls Road Trip Is Right Here – And You’ll Want To Do It.
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Address: Russell Cave National Monument, 3729 Co Rd 98, Bridgeport, AL 35740, USAAddress: Little River Canyon National Preserve, 4322 Little River Trail #100, Fort Payne, AL 35967, USAAddress: Cheaha Mountain, Alabama 36258, USAAddress: Gulf Shores, AL, USAAddress: Selma, AL 36703, USAAddress: Ted’s Restaurant, 328 12th St S, Birmingham, AL 35233, USAAddress: William B. Bankhead National Forest, Alabama 35572, USAAddress: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA
