Alabama
Alabama suits travelers who want civil rights history in Birmingham and a historic Gulf Coast port in Mobile, often on one trip.
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Alabama is a state in the Deep South of the United States. Tennessee lies to its north and the Gulf of Mexico to its south. Birmingham, the largest city in the state, sits in the north-central part of Alabama. Its civil rights sites from the 1960s, including the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and 16th Street Baptist Church, are the core of a visit. Montgomery and Selma, both on the civil rights trail, are about 1.5 to 2 hours away by car. Mobile is a port city on Mobile Bay in the southwest, with a historic downtown and a working waterfront.
Alabama suits a trip of four to six days, enough for a day or two in each city and time for a drive between them. Plan for spring or fall. Summers are hot and humid, which makes walking around both cities harder. A rental car is the practical way to move between Birmingham and Mobile and to reach the Gulf Coast.
Alabama in five
- Rent a car for the stateBirmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) and Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) both have car rental desks. Outside downtown Birmingham and Mobile, most sights need a car.Getting around
- Set up offline maps before you leave BirminghamDownload offline maps for rural county roads before you leave the metro areas, where mobile signal can drop.Phones and eSIM
- Start the civil rights trail in BirminghamThe Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the 16th Street Baptist Church are within walking distance downtown. Allow a morning for the Institute.Birmingham
- Check dry counties before you buy alcoholAlabama has dry counties where alcohol sales are banned or limited, and spirits are sold only at state-run ABC stores. Check the county before a rural drive.
- Watch the Gulf Coast hurricane seasonAtlantic hurricane season runs through the late summer and fall. Mobile and the Gulf beaches are exposed to storms that can change travel plans.Mobile
Neighborhoods
Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama's largest city, draws visitors to its 1960s civil rights sites, the cast-iron Vulcan statue above the city and Southern cooking.
Mobile
Mobile draws visitors for Mardi Gras, which was first celebrated here in 1703, along with antebellum house museums and a working deep-water port on Alabama's Gulf Coast.
Things to do in Alabama
See all attractions in Alabama
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for visa-waiver passports; most others need a visa Read more
- Emergency
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- 15 to 20% at sit-down restaurants; expected
- Time
- UTC-6 (Central), with daylight saving time
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCool, quiet
- FebruaryCool, wet
- MarchSpring, mild
- AprilSpring, pollen
- MayWarm, green
- JuneHot, humid
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustStorms, hot
- SeptemberWarm, quieter
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberMild, quiet
- DecemberHoliday lights
Right now in Alabama
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 25°
- Humidity
- 51%
- Wind
- 17 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Alabama
04:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today26°16°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue24°17°30%Tuesday: Rain. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 30%.
- Wed25°18°86%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Thu27°18°22%Thursday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Fri25°15°8%Friday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat23°12°1%Saturday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Sun22°9°9%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 9%.
Updated 03:25 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Montgomeryabout 1.5 hours by carThe Rosa Parks Museum and the Alabama State Capitol, where the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march ended.
- Selmaabout 1.5 to 2 hours by carThe Edmund Pettus Bridge and the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute.
- Tuscaloosaabout 1 hour by carThe University of Alabama campus and Bryant-Denny Stadium.
- Huntsvilleabout 1.5 to 2 hours by carThe US Space & Rocket Center, with a Saturn V rocket on display.
Before you go to Alabama
Rules for Alabama, checked
- Most visitors from visa-waiver countries need an approved ESTA before flying to the US; check eligibility on the official CBP site.Source
- Alabama dry counties restrict or ban alcohol sales, so check the county's rules before buying drinks in rural areas.
Plan around Alabama
Other states, entry rules and planning
Read the guideBirminghamCivil rights history, Vulcan Park and Southern food
Read the guideMobileMardi Gras, historic houses and the Gulf Coast
Read the guideGetting aroundCar rental, airports and driving distances
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical prices
Read the guideVisas and entryESTA and passport rules
Read the guideAlabama FAQ
Is Alabama worth visiting?
Yes, for civil rights history, Southern food and the Gulf Coast. Birmingham and Montgomery cover the history, and Mobile and Gulf Shores add the coast.
Do I need a car in Alabama?
Yes for most trips. Birmingham has a bus network, but Selma, Montgomery and the Gulf Coast are practical only by car.
How many days do you need in Alabama?
Three to four days covers Birmingham and Montgomery. Add two or three days for Mobile and the Gulf Coast.
Is Birmingham or Mobile a better base?
Birmingham for civil rights sites and a larger choice of hotels and restaurants. Mobile for its Mardi Gras history and access to the Gulf.
Is tipping expected in Alabama?
Yes. Servers at sit-down restaurants expect 15 to 20 percent of the bill.