Decatur, AL

Decatur grew up where riverboats, wagons and railroads met on the Tennessee River, and its two historic downtowns still show it. Bank Street in Old Decatur holds the 1833 Old State Bank, one of the few buildings to survive the Civil War here, along with rows of brick storefronts. A short drive south, the Albany district has Delano Park and its rose garden, Victorian homes and the Princess Theatre. Add a riverfront, big parks and a national wildlife refuge, and the River City makes an easy weekend. The Tennessee River here is wide and slow, part of Wheeler Lake, so boating and fishing are never far away.

Start at the Cook Museum of Natural Science, a hands-on museum that works for adults as well as kids, then walk Bank Street for antiques and gift shops. Point Mallard Park has a water park that claims the first wave pool in America, plus golf and trails. Eat at a barbecue joint (North Alabama’s white sauce is a local signature), and finish the evening at one of Decatur’s breweries and bars near downtown. On a summer evening, Rhodes Ferry Park along the river is a good place to watch the sun go down.

Decatur questions, answered

What is Decatur known for?

The Tennessee River, historic districts and birds. Decatur’s Bank Street and Albany neighborhoods are full of 19th and early 20th century buildings, Point Mallard Park draws summer crowds, and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge just east of town hosts tens of thousands of sandhill cranes and a few endangered whooping cranes each winter. The city is also known for North Alabama barbecue and its white sauce.

When is the best time to visit Decatur?

Memorial Day weekend brings the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic to Point Mallard, with balloon races and evening glows. January is crane season, celebrated with the Festival of the Cranes at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Summer is all about the water park and the river, and fall is comfortable for walking the historic districts.

How do I get to Decatur?

Huntsville International Airport (HSV) is the closest commercial airport, about 25 minutes east via I-565. Decatur is just off I-65, and US 31 and Alt. US 72 run through town. Downtown Huntsville is about 30 minutes away, Birmingham about an hour and 15 minutes south, and Nashville about an hour and 45 minutes north.

What is there to do with kids in Decatur?

Plenty. The Cook Museum of Natural Science has an aquarium, live animals and interactive exhibits. Point Mallard Park has the water park in summer plus playgrounds and trails, and the Wheeler refuge visitor center has an observation building for watching cranes and ducks. Delano Park in the Albany district has a large playground and splash pad.

Where should I stay in Decatur?

Hotels line the Beltline (US 31) and the riverfront near the Tennessee River bridges, convenient to Point Mallard and downtown. Look at our places to stay for smaller options, and book early for the balloon festival weekend, when rooms across the area fill up.