5 Best Alabama Road Trips

Most people know Alabama as a landmark location for many key moments in America’s history, from the Civil War to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. But alongside its historic monuments and museums, Alabama has a vibrant present filled with bustling cities, rolling mountains, championship golf courses and more.

Take a look at the Alabama road trips in our list to see what we’re raving about. We’ve pulled together some of the best routes from our American Road Trip Planner, to help you plan the perfect southern adventure.

So, whether you’re a history buff, golfing pro or self-proclaimed foodie, there’s an Alabama road trip just for you. Read on and get inspired…

1. Alabama to Alabama: Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

831 miles, 11-14 days, 11 stops

Love to golf? Practice your swing on some of the best golf courses in southern America on this Alabama-based road trip. Collect your car in Mobile and drive northwest to the first course at Magnolia Grove, where you can play a round on one of the world’s top 50 golf courses. Spend the night in downtown Mobile, so you’re well-rested for your next few games at Lakewood Club and Highland Oaks.

Your fifth stop on the trip is just outside of Montgomery, at Capitol Hill – the host course of the Guardian Championship. Bring your A-game for its 18-hole Senator course, complete with 40 feet mounds and 140 bunkers. It’s not for the faint-hearted.

From here, you can tick off the rest of the Robert Trent Jones Trail, including the challenging Ross Bridge course and Oxmoor Valley in the heart of the Appalachians. End your tour by the Tennessee River at The Shoals facility for your final day.

Take on the Robert Trent Jones Trail

2. Atlanta to Louisiana: The Road to Civil Rights

1,110 miles, 12 days, 9 stops

Alabama was at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, with Montgomery, Selma and Birmingham becoming key places for protests, meetings and marches. So, what better way to learn about this historic movement than with a road trip to some of the main sites? 

From the Martin Luther King, Jr National Historic Site in Atlanta, you’ll venture into Alabama. Head to the Rosa Parks Museum, where you’ll learn about Rosa Parks’ life and the pivotal moment where she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.

After Montgomery, drive over to Selma – the starting place of the Selma to Montgomery Marches – and learn about its history at the National Voting Rights Museum. The route then takes you into Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, where you can continue to follow the movement at the states’ very own civil rights museums.

Learn about the Road to Civil Rights

3. New Orleans to New York: Eat the East Coast

1,537 miles, 10 days, 12 stops

Want to find the very best food from New Orleans to New York? Look no further than this delicious 10-day road trip to some of the very best diners and restaurants on the East Coast.

Starting out with flavor-packed creole soup and powdered beignets in Louisiana, you’ll head across state to Wintzell’s Oyster House in Alabama. It’s the best place to grab oysters along the Gulf Coast, and an ideal spot to stop off before heading back up north to Atlanta.

From here, make your way to North Carolina for an all-American BBQ. Just make sure you save some room for your final few nights of the trip – Philly cheesesteaks and Katz’s pastrami subs await.

Eat the East Coast

4. Daytona to Charlotte: Nascar Homelands

1,200 miles, 10 days, 10 stops

Strap yourselves in – this road trip is for those who live life in the fast lane. Starting at Daytona International Speedway, the birthplace of American stockcar racing, our route covers some of the top tracks in the NASCAR series.

Head through Atlanta on your second stop, then continue your road trip to Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway to see the set of the comedy film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. It’s the longest circuit of the series, that separates the pros from the amateurs.

The only way to get around on this road trip is with a classic American sports car, like a Chevrolet Corvette or a Mustang GT-H. Drive in style from the North Wilkesborro Speedway to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and beyond.

Plan your NASCAR Homelands road trip

5. Texas to Florida: To Florida and Beyond

1,734 miles, 10 days, 13 stops

Reach for the stars with this family-friendly road trip across the south and south-east coasts. Stop off at some of the region’s most action-packed theme parks, beaches and museums, including the Houston Space Center, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and Universal Studios Florida.

From Texas to Alabama, this road trip route is packed full of fun activities. Go dirt biking in Sam Houston National Forest, venture inside a space shuttle, then set sail on a sunset cruise at Orange Beach, off the Gulf of Mexico.

This road trip deserves a sporty convertible for driving down the open roads, wind in your hair. Finish up in Miami at the interactive Jungle Island, where kids can meet their favorite animals up close.

Explore Alabama, Florida and beyond

With a range of routes for every occasion, an Alabama road trip is always on the cards. Reserve your car rental in Alabama with Hertz to see historic sites, beautiful beaches and taste some of the best food the southern states have to offer.

You can also use our blog for more travel inspiration.