The Alabama Guide
Montgomery, AL
Alabama's capital city, where civil rights history, a riverfront downtown and leafy historic neighborhoods meet.
79 places This weekend in Montgomery
Today in Montgomery
- Tonight Chance Rain Showers 63°
- Sunday Rain Showers Likely 73°
- Sunday Night Chance Rain Showers 61°
Forecast: National Weather Service
Few American cities carry as much history per block as Montgomery. The Alabama State Capitol sits at the top of Dexter Avenue, and a short walk down the hill brings you to Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was pastor during the bus boycott, and to the Rosa Parks Museum, built near the spot where Mrs. Parks was arrested in 1955. The Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum, National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Freedom Monument Sculpture Park tell the story of slavery, racial terror lynching and their legacy with honesty and care. Plan unhurried time for them. They are moving, and they are meant to be.
Montgomery also knows how to have a good evening. Downtown’s riverfront has the Harriott II riverboat, Riverwalk Stadium and a row of restored warehouses on and around The Alley, while Old Cloverdale and the Garden District are lovely for a slow walk under the oaks. Old Alabama Town, the Hank Williams Museum and the Montgomery Zoo round out the museums and attractions, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival stages a full season of theater. For food, look for Southern and soul food kitchens, smoky barbecue and a growing list of downtown cocktail bars.
Montgomery questions, answered
What is Montgomery best known for?
Montgomery is known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement. The 1955 to 1956 bus boycott began here, the Selma to Montgomery march ended on the Capitol steps in 1965, and the city is home to the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. It is also Alabama’s capital, the place where Hank Williams got his start, and the hometown of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald.
How much time should I give the civil rights sites?
Give them at least a full day, and two if you can. The Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice each deserve a few hours, and EJI runs a shuttle between its sites. The Rosa Parks Museum, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and the Civil Rights Memorial are close together downtown. Check hours and reservation requirements before you go, and leave room in the day to sit with what you have seen.
How do I get to Montgomery?
Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) is about 15 minutes from downtown, with nonstop flights to hubs like Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas. By car, Montgomery sits where I-65 meets I-85: Birmingham is about 1.5 hours north, Atlanta about 2.5 hours northeast, and Mobile and the Gulf Coast about 2.5 to 3 hours south.
When is the best time to visit Montgomery?
Spring (March through May) and fall (October and November) bring mild weather that suits walking downtown and in the historic neighborhoods. Summers are hot and humid, so plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings. Baseball season at Riverwalk Stadium runs spring through late summer, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival performs through much of the year.
Where should I stay in Montgomery?
Downtown puts you within walking distance of the Capitol, the civil rights sites and the riverfront, which makes it the easiest base for a first visit. Eastchase and the I-85 corridor on the east side have more newer hotels and are handy for shopping. Browse local places to stay for inns and smaller hotels.
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Every place in Montgomery
m.Clemm Photography
Documentary style portraits across the River Region
Fun City Adventure Park
A trampoline wonderland on Montgomery's east side
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Ice King Cafe
Made-to-order Thai rolled ice cream and boba tea
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