The Alabama Guide
Dothan, AL
The Peanut Capital of the World and hub of Alabama's Wiregrass region, with downtown murals, Landmark Park and the National Peanut Festival.
50 places This weekend in Dothan
Today in Dothan
- Sunday Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 74°
- Sunday Night Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy 62°
- Monday Partly Sunny 79°
Forecast: National Weather Service
Dothan calls itself the Peanut Capital of the World, and it earns the title: a large share of the country’s peanuts are grown within a short drive of town. The city is the commercial center for southeast Alabama and nearby Georgia and Florida, ringed by the Ross Clark Circle. Downtown is the place to start, with historic buildings covered in large painted murals telling the story of the region, and painted peanut statues turning up on street corners around the city.
Spend an afternoon at the Wiregrass Museum of Art, housed in the 1913 city power and water plant, then drive out to Landmark Park, a 135-acre heritage park with a working 1890s farmstead, nature trails and a planetarium. The Dothan Area Botanical Gardens are a peaceful stop in spring. Food here is down-home, so look for barbecue and Southern cooking, and pick up boiled or roasted peanuts at local markets. For the arts, check what is on at the downtown theaters and galleries under arts and entertainment. Dothan also makes a handy stop on the drive between Montgomery and the Florida Panhandle beaches.
Dothan questions, answered
Why is Dothan called the Peanut Capital of the World?
The Wiregrass region around Dothan grows a large share of the peanuts produced in the United States, and the city is a center for peanut processing and agribusiness. Dothan celebrates the crop with the National Peanut Festival each fall and painted peanut statues all over town. Agriculture remains the area’s largest industry.
When is the National Peanut Festival?
The National Peanut Festival is held each November at the fairgrounds south of Dothan and draws up to 200,000 visitors. Expect carnival rides, livestock shows, concerts, peanut recipe contests and a big parade through town. Book hotels early if you plan to visit that week.
What is there to do in Dothan?
Start with the Murals of the Wiregrass and the Wiregrass Museum of Art downtown. Landmark Park preserves rural Wiregrass life with a historic farmstead, church and general store, plus trails and a planetarium. The Dothan Area Botanical Gardens and the Water World water park are good family stops, and Fort Rucker’s U.S. Army Aviation Museum is about 30 minutes west.
How do I get to Dothan?
Dothan Regional Airport (DHN) has commercial service and is about 15 minutes from downtown. Larger airports in Montgomery and Tallahassee are each roughly a two hour drive. By car, US 231 connects Dothan to Montgomery (about an hour and 45 minutes) and Panama City Beach (about an hour and 45 minutes), and US 84 runs east and west through the city.
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