We all love a good road trip. However, the issue with most road trips is the cost of gas. Because gas prices are always up and down all over the state, we have to limit the length of our road trips. And just because we have to limit the length, we don’t have to limit the amount of places we visit. As a matter of fact, there are several places throughout the state where we can go on just one tank of gas, making them some of the best road trips in Alabama.
Most vehicles can travel an average of 300 miles on just one tank of gas. We’ve mapped out a road trip that starts in Gadsden, Alabama and loops back around. This road trip’s length is 264 miles and lasts around 5 hours and 35 minutes, minus the time spent at each stop. It can be taken in one day if you start bright and early, but I’d recommend splitting it up into two days so you can spend enough time at each stop.
Listed below is our mapped out road trip. To get the addresses of the attractions, you can view the actual Google map here. Now, let’s get started on our road trip!
- Flip Side Cafe - Gadsden
yelp/Kyle B. Please note, Flip Side Café has permanently closed. Our first stop is in Gadsden. A great place to grab a quick breakfast is Flip Side Cafe. Their breakfast sandwiches are great!
- DeSoto State Park - Fort Payne
flickr/Judy Frederick Photography Our next stop is in Fort Payne at DeSoto State Park. This scenic state park is located atop Lookout Mountain and features many beautiful waterfalls, including DeSoto Falls.
- Fort Payne Depot Museum - Fort Payne
flickr/Brent Moore After exploring DeSoto State Park, head on over to the Fort Payne Depot Museum. This historic depot museum features several permanent and rotating exhibits, and it attracts more than 3,000 visitors yearly.
- Payne’s Sandwich Shop & Soda Fountain - Scottsboro
yelp/James M. Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, take a drive to Scottsboro for a delicious lunch at Payne’s Sandwich Shop & Soda Fountain. The moment you step through the door of this sandwich shop, you’ll be taken back in time.
- Cathedral Caverns - Woodville
flickr/Dystopos After lunch, take a drive to Marshall County to explore Cathedral Caverns. Cathedral Caverns was originally known as Bats Cave and it features Goliath - one of the world’s largest stalagmites.
- Harmony Park Safari - Huntsville
yelp/Kelly Ann D. Take a ride on the wild side at Harmony Park Safari. Harmony Park Safari is the ultimate drive thru petting zoo where you’ll have an up-close encounter with several exotic and endangered animals.
- Huntsville Botanical Garden - Huntsville
flickr/David Ellis After your safari ride, take a short drive to Huntsville Botanical Garden. This beautiful garden is perfect for all ages and is open year-round.
- U.S. Space & Rocket Center - Huntsville
flickr/Bryce Edwards You can’t leave Huntsville without visiting the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Featuring a large variety of artifacts from the U.S. space program, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is sometimes referred to as “Earth’s largest space museum.”
- 306 Barbecue - Athens
yelp/Amy T. As we end our road trip, let’s take a detour to Athens for some delicious dinner. A great place to stop in Athens for dinner is 306 Barbecue. This BBQ joint serves the best barbecue! And if you’re not a fan of barbecue, no worries. 306 Barbecue has something for everyone.
Have you ever visited any of these attractions that make up some of the best road trips in Alabama? Let us know in the comments below! And after completing this road trip, here are two other Alabama road trips you might be interested in taking:
yelp/Kyle B.
Please note, Flip Side Café has permanently closed. Our first stop is in Gadsden. A great place to grab a quick breakfast is Flip Side Cafe. Their breakfast sandwiches are great!
flickr/Judy Frederick Photography
Our next stop is in Fort Payne at DeSoto State Park. This scenic state park is located atop Lookout Mountain and features many beautiful waterfalls, including DeSoto Falls.
flickr/Brent Moore
After exploring DeSoto State Park, head on over to the Fort Payne Depot Museum. This historic depot museum features several permanent and rotating exhibits, and it attracts more than 3,000 visitors yearly.
yelp/James M.
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, take a drive to Scottsboro for a delicious lunch at Payne’s Sandwich Shop & Soda Fountain. The moment you step through the door of this sandwich shop, you’ll be taken back in time.
flickr/Dystopos
After lunch, take a drive to Marshall County to explore Cathedral Caverns. Cathedral Caverns was originally known as Bats Cave and it features Goliath - one of the world’s largest stalagmites.
yelp/Kelly Ann D.
Take a ride on the wild side at Harmony Park Safari. Harmony Park Safari is the ultimate drive thru petting zoo where you’ll have an up-close encounter with several exotic and endangered animals.
flickr/David Ellis
After your safari ride, take a short drive to Huntsville Botanical Garden. This beautiful garden is perfect for all ages and is open year-round.
flickr/Bryce Edwards
You can’t leave Huntsville without visiting the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Featuring a large variety of artifacts from the U.S. space program, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is sometimes referred to as “Earth’s largest space museum.”
yelp/Amy T.
As we end our road trip, let’s take a detour to Athens for some delicious dinner. A great place to stop in Athens for dinner is 306 Barbecue. This BBQ joint serves the best barbecue! And if you’re not a fan of barbecue, no worries. 306 Barbecue has something for everyone.
The Ultimate Alabama Waterfalls Road Trip
The Ultimate Alabama Natural Wonders Road Trip
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Address: 23101 US-72, Athens, AL 35613, USAAddress: Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL 35805, USAAddress: Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35805, USAAddress: Harmony Park Safari, 431 Clouds Cove Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803, USAAddress: Cathedral Caverns Rd, Woodville, AL, USAAddress: Fort Payne Depot Museum, 105 5th St NE, Fort Payne, AL 35967, USAAddress: Desoto State Park, Fort Payne, AL 35967, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
best road trips in Alabama March 16, 2020 Jackie Ann Are there any food-related road trips in Alabama? Alabama has several iconic foods that are a must-try when visiting the state. For tasty BBQ, you should check out Saw’s BBQ in Homewood, then make your way south to Bob Sykes Barbecue in Bessemer and BBQ 65 in Greenville before heading to the coast and stopping by L.A. Barbecue, Hog Wild BBQ, or Baby Jay’s BBQ. What are the best day trips in Alabama? There’s no shortage of amazing places to visit in Alabama. From historical attractions to picture-perfect natural settings, there’s something for everyone. Childersburg is believed to be the “oldest continually occupied city in America” and is peppered with historical significance plus amazing restaurants and shopping opportunities. For nature lovers, a visit to Cheaha State Park yields some of the most impressive mountain views in the state. You can climb to the top to Cheaha Mountain, the highest natural point in Alabama with an elevation of 2,407 feet. And for a charming town full of unique attractions, Florence, Alabama is the place to be. What are the most popular attractions in Alabama? One of the most popular attractions in Alabama is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The Birmingham Zoo attracts over half a million visitors every year, a perfect destination for families with kids of all ages. For beach lovers, a trip to Gulf State Park doesn’t disappoint. This scenic state park features miles of beautiful beaches and loads of outdoor activities for a fun-filled day in the sun. History lovers will be thrilled to visit Fort Morgan, an 1800s fort with several Civil War artifacts.
The OIYS Visitor Center
best road trips in Alabama
March 16, 2020
Jackie Ann
Are there any food-related road trips in Alabama? Alabama has several iconic foods that are a must-try when visiting the state. For tasty BBQ, you should check out Saw’s BBQ in Homewood, then make your way south to Bob Sykes Barbecue in Bessemer and BBQ 65 in Greenville before heading to the coast and stopping by L.A. Barbecue, Hog Wild BBQ, or Baby Jay’s BBQ. What are the best day trips in Alabama? There’s no shortage of amazing places to visit in Alabama. From historical attractions to picture-perfect natural settings, there’s something for everyone. Childersburg is believed to be the “oldest continually occupied city in America” and is peppered with historical significance plus amazing restaurants and shopping opportunities. For nature lovers, a visit to Cheaha State Park yields some of the most impressive mountain views in the state. You can climb to the top to Cheaha Mountain, the highest natural point in Alabama with an elevation of 2,407 feet. And for a charming town full of unique attractions, Florence, Alabama is the place to be. What are the most popular attractions in Alabama? One of the most popular attractions in Alabama is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The Birmingham Zoo attracts over half a million visitors every year, a perfect destination for families with kids of all ages. For beach lovers, a trip to Gulf State Park doesn’t disappoint. This scenic state park features miles of beautiful beaches and loads of outdoor activities for a fun-filled day in the sun. History lovers will be thrilled to visit Fort Morgan, an 1800s fort with several Civil War artifacts.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Alabama has several iconic foods that are a must-try when visiting the state. For tasty BBQ, you should check out Saw’s BBQ in Homewood, then make your way south to Bob Sykes Barbecue in Bessemer and BBQ 65 in Greenville before heading to the coast and stopping by L.A. Barbecue, Hog Wild BBQ, or Baby Jay’s BBQ.
What are the best day trips in Alabama?
There’s no shortage of amazing places to visit in Alabama. From historical attractions to picture-perfect natural settings, there’s something for everyone. Childersburg is believed to be the “oldest continually occupied city in America” and is peppered with historical significance plus amazing restaurants and shopping opportunities. For nature lovers, a visit to Cheaha State Park yields some of the most impressive mountain views in the state. You can climb to the top to Cheaha Mountain, the highest natural point in Alabama with an elevation of 2,407 feet. And for a charming town full of unique attractions, Florence, Alabama is the place to be.
What are the most popular attractions in Alabama?
One of the most popular attractions in Alabama is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The Birmingham Zoo attracts over half a million visitors every year, a perfect destination for families with kids of all ages. For beach lovers, a trip to Gulf State Park doesn’t disappoint. This scenic state park features miles of beautiful beaches and loads of outdoor activities for a fun-filled day in the sun. History lovers will be thrilled to visit Fort Morgan, an 1800s fort with several Civil War artifacts.
