11 Great Day Trips from Birmingham, Alabama

I LOVE a fun day trip. They are a great way to have some fun without breaking the bank. All you need is a little gas, a little time, and your sense of adventure. You don’t even have to pack a suitcase!

Here are 11 great day trips from Birmingham, Alabama:

Chattanooga, Tennessee

2 hours, 15 minutes

Chattanooga is one of our FAVORITE cities to visit for fun day trips from Birmingham, Alabama!

Things to do:

• Ride Trains – Chattanooga is the perfect city for train lovers – with train rides, train yards, and train museums, you can even ride a train up the side of a mountain! See more info & photos of our visits here: Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, The Chattanooga Choo-Choo Railroad Hotel & Museum.
• Here are 20 Favorite Family-Friendly Activities in Chattanooga – including The Tennessee Aquarium, Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, Rock City, and so much more!
• Eat at some Fantastic Restaurants – including Puckett’s Grocery & Sticky Fingers BBQ.

Montgomery, Alabama

1 hour 35 minutes

Things to do:

• National Memorial for Peace and Justice & Legacy Museum
• Rosa Parks Library and Museum – located at Troy University, this museum focuses on the life of Rosa Parks and also her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement
• Dexter Parsonage Museum – Dr. Martin Luther King home – see the home where Dr. King and his family lived between 1954 and 1960
• Civil Rights Memorial Center – includes a Civil Right Memorial, a 20-minute film, and also features educational information about the Civil Rights Movement
• Alabama State Capitol
• The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum – where Scott worked on “Tender is the Night” and Zelda also worked on “Save Me the Waltz”
• Montgomery Zoo – this zoo covers 40 acres and it also features over 700 animals from five continents (including a Bengal tiger)

Atlanta, Georgia

2 hours, 30 minutes

Things to do:

• Georgia Aquarium – This is the largest aquarium in the world. This is also the only aquarium in North America to have whale sharks
• World of Coca-Cola Museum – visit the Polar Bear, and the Coca-Cola Vault, and also taste all of the varieties of flavors of Coke products.
• Center for Civil & Human Rights – an educational and enlightening look into the American Civil Rights Movement and today’s Global Human Rights Movements. 
• Watch an Atlanta Braves baseball game at Sun Trust Park
• See a Broadway Show at the Fox Theater
• Fernbank Museum of Natural History – You can experience several award-winning permanent exhibitions. The museum also hosts some fantastic traveling exhibits.
• Zoo Atlanta – This zoo features a panda, elephants, tigers, giraffes, a zebra, and lions. In addition to those animals, there are also, apes, monkeys, and meerkats at this zoo (and a reptile house).
• The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History – a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate – is a great place to learn about the railroads of the Civil War and also see Civil War Artifacts.

Atlanta, Georgia (cont)

• Stone Mountain Park – enjoy The Summit Skyride (which is a Swiss cable car) that travels to the top of the largest piece of exposed granite in the U.S.A. and to the Stone Mountain Museum.
• Chik-Fil-A College Football Hall of Fame – lots of interactive exhibits – the perfect activity for college football fans
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center – a LEGO-themed museum with rides and also a 4-D Movie.
• Centennial Park– This is a 22-acre park that opened in 1996 when the city hosted the Olympics. The park has playgrounds and the Fountain of Rings Splash Pad.
• Watch an Atlanta Falcons Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Have some fun at Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags White Water Park
• Eat at some incredible restaurants: 17 Great Places to Eat & Drink in Atlanta, Georgia & 15 {MORE} Great Places to Eat & Drink in Atlanta, Georgia

Huntsville, Alabama

1 hour, 40 minutes

Things to do:

• US Space & Rocket Center – For more information about this fun, interactive museum, you can see our last visit HERE
• Eat some wonderful Mexican Food at Rosie’s Cantina – MY FAVORITE restaurant EVER
• U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum – features exhibits of memorabilia, artifacts, and also military equipment from the American Revolutionary War to the present day
• Huntsville Botanical Garden – beautiful gardens that include a dinosaur garden, a space-themed garden, and also a storybook garden
• Monte Sano State Park – hiking and walking trails
• Harmony Park Safari – get up close to and feed many animals
• Do some shopping and/or catch a movie at Bridge Street Town Centre

Talladega National Forest

55 minutes

Alabama is actually home to four national forests:

• Conecuh National Forest
• Tuskegee National Forest (see more below – under Tuskegee)
• Bankhead National Forest (see below for more info)
• Talladega National Forest

For the sake of a day trip idea, Talladega National Forest is closest to Birmingham. This National Forest is located in the beautiful Appalachian Mountain Range.

• Walk to High Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Alabama.
• Camp at Pine Glen Campground (and you can also see Shoal Creek here at the campground).
• Explore the many hiking trails (with a variety of trails from easy to more difficult).

The Talladega National Forest is home to Cheaha State Park – See below for more info on this State Park.

Cheaha State Park

1 hour, 20 minutes

At 2407 feet above sea level, Mount Cheaha is the highest point in the state of Alabama.  Cheaha State Park is located on top of Mount Cheaha. The park offers several hikes that lead to areas where you have gorgeous views of the Talladega National Forest.        

This park has won TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the past 5 years!

Things to do:

• Climb Mt. Cheaha – the largest mountain in Alabama
• Walk on the Bald Rock trail- choose between the original hiking trail or the raised boardwalk. There is also an overlook at the end of the trail with amazing views of the Talladega National Forest.
• Climb up the winding staircase to the top of The Observation Tower Building
• Hike the 1/4 mile trail to Pulpit Rock. This area also offers unbelievable views and rappelling is allowed.
• Right before you enter the park, you can check out the Native American Relic Museum.
• In warmer/nicer weather enjoys swimming, bike riding, and also gem mining.

Entrance into the park is free for children 3 and under, 4-11 years olds cost $2, 12+ cost $5, and Seniors cost $2.

WEBSITE

Lynchburg, Tennessee

2 hours, 30 minutes

Lynchburg is another one of our favorite day trips from Birmingham. You may not think of a liquor distillery as a family-friendly activity, but it is a very interesting tour. And, the rest of the town is full of character and fun things to do (candy store, anyone?)

Things to do:

• Jack Daniels Distillery -tours of the distillery are free
• The Lynchburg Hardware & General Store has two floors full of unique Jack Daniels Merchandise
• Eat at Miss Mary Bobo’s – A historic house that serves home-cooked meals family-style to all guests.
• For only $1, you can tour the Moore County Jail Museum.
• Stop in The Lynchburg Cake & Candy Company for some sweet treats. They have also won TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the past 5 years!
• Stroll through the Historic Downtown Lynchburg Square – and also see the Court House, shops, restaurants, and other local attractions.
• Located next to Jack Daniel’s Distillery is the Lynchburg Winery.
• Check out the local Harley Davidson shop.

Tuskegee, Alabama

2 hours, 15 minutes

Tuskegee offers some excellent learning experiences for the whole family. You can enjoy historical and natural sites here. Since you can be here in a little over 2 hours, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy all that Tuskegee has to offer.

Things to do:

• Tuskegee has two National Park Sites – Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (history of pilots during World War II) and Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site (learn the history/inventions of George Washington Carver and see the burial places of Booker T. Washington and the George Washington Carver).
• Tuskegee National Forest – This is the smallest National Forest in the country with many hiking and biking trails. Don’t forget your hiking gear and bicycles!

Tupelo, Mississippi

2 hours, 10 minutes

Things to do:

• Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo
• See the birthplace of Elvis Presley
• Natchez Trace Parkway Visitors Center –  Information Center, bookstore, exhibits, a short movie, restrooms, nature walk, and offices.
• Eat at Johnnie’s Drive-In
• Tupelo National Battlefield – visitors can learn about the scope and impact of this battle that resulted in more than 2,000 casualties
• Tombigbee State Park – Fishing, Hiking & Biking Trails, Swimming Beach
• The Stables Downtown Grill – Catfish nachos!? Yes, please!!
• Oren Dunn City Museum – the Oren Dunn City Museum tells the story of Tupelo from its birth to the present day.
• Veterans Museum – Civil War memorabilia – guns, swords, uniforms, maps, pictures, artifacts, and also a signed document by Abraham Lincoln
• Try the Smash Burger over at Neon Pig – Voted Best Burger in America by the Thrillist

Mentone, Alabama

1 hour, 40 minutes

If your family loves spending time outdoors, then Mentone is the perfect day trip for your family. Mentone is a small town located at the top of Lookout Mountain. It has the highest elevation of any town in the state! You can be here in less than 2 hours, and it’s one of those great day trips from Birmingham.

Things to do:

• Little River Canyon Nature Preserve – hiking, biking, bird watching, fishing, kayaking, and rock climbing (this area has forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims, bluffs, pools, boulders, and also some sandstone cliffs to enjoy and explore!)
• Desoto State Park – Kayaking, fishing, hiking, biking, cycling, rappelling, bouldering, picnicking, wildflower expeditions, and exploring waterfalls
• Eat at the Mentone Wildflower Cafe – Voted the Best Cafe in Alabama

Bankhead National Forest

1 hour, 30 minutes

Bankhead National Forest is known as “the land of a thousand waterfalls” and is popular for its many outdoor activities. This forest covers 180,000 acres and offers many bluffs, canyons, waterfalls, springs, and lakes.  Double Springs is located in the Bankhead & Sipsey Wilderness Area.

Things to do:

• hiking
• horseback riding
• hunting
• boating
• fishing
• swimming
• canoeing

Do you have any additional suggestions for fun day trips from Birmingham, Alabama? Let us know in the comments!

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