Central Alabama, AL

Travel Guide

Birmingham
Barber Motorsports Park showing interior views
Barber Motorsports Park which includes interior views
Birmingham which includes interior views
Barber Motorsports Park

Discover the cultural heart of Alabama in the center of the state, where you will find engaging museums, stunning scenery and thrilling events, including car races and football games.

Experience the culture of southern America’s heartland in Central Alabama, a region that is incontrovertibly shaped by its past while looking forward to a bright future. Famous cities with fascinating historical attractions sit surrounded by scenery that includes picturesque lakes. Smaller towns are shaped by their proudly held traditions.

Start your journey to Central Alabama in Birmingham, the largest city in the state. One of the landmarks in this historic city is the Vulcan Statue, a 56-foot (17-meter) sculpture of the Roman god of blacksmithing, a symbol of the region’s industrial past. Visit the Sloss Furnaces for an enthralling insight into this era of history.

Explore Birmingham’s numerous museums for a complete picture of the city’s multifaceted history. Listen to the music of the greats in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and discover a global array of paintings and sculptures at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Stop by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to learn about the city’s complex role in the 20th-century movement.

Wander around the historic campus of the University of Alabama in the charming city of Tuscaloosa. The campus area houses a wide array of museums, sports grounds and gardens. Watch the famous Crimson Tide play a thrilling game of football.

Central Alabama also has a proud history of motorsports. Get up close to vintage car models in the Barber Motorsports Park and the Wellborn Musclecar Museum. Join huge crowds of locals at the Talladega Superspeedway, famed for its high-speed NASCAR races.

Explore the landscapes outside the towns and cities of Central Alabama. Stroll through shaded woodland and rest by tranquil lakes in the state parks of the region. Cheaha State Park is the home of the highest point in Alabama and features hiking and biking trails. Cyclists will also enjoy the routes running through scenic Chewacla State Park.

Board a flight to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to land in the heart of Central Alabama. The region remains warm throughout the year, although spring and fall are the best times to avoid the most humid months.

Where to stay in Central Alabama

Birmingham showing a statue or sculpture and interior views

Downtown Birmingham

Downtown Birmingham is known for its abundant dining options, and you can plan a trip to McWane Science Center and Regions Field while you're in town.

Downtown Birmingham
Default Image

Homewood

Located in southeastern Jefferson County, Homewood boasts the Hollywood Historic District, known for its Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Home to Samford University, it's a charming suburb near Birmingham.

Homewood
Whenever I’m back home in the “HAM” I always  try and make time to stroll around BBG and relax. It’s awesome here no matter the season.

Mountain Brook

Boasting three picturesque "villages" and a high tree cover ratio, this suburban area offers a forest-like setting with charming residential sections and a network of bridle paths for recreation.

Mountain Brook
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Boulder Hills Natural Area

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Vestavia Hills

Visitors to Vestavia Hills enjoy its restaurants, and if you want to do some exploring, Birmingham Ballet is worth a stop.

Vestavia Hills
To the right of the Walk of Champions while approaching the visitor center and front entrance of Bryant-Denny Stadium, the storied coaches quietly remind us that success is not a matter of luck, but rather the culmination of years of dedication and determination.

University Area

If you're spending some time in University Area, Paul W. Bryant Museum and Coleman Coliseum are top sights worth seeing.

University Area
Vulcan Statue showing a city

Five Points South

4/5(445 area reviews)

Unique features of Five Points South include the theaters and live music. Make a stop by Regions Field or Vulcan Statue while you're exploring the area.

Five Points South
Days Inn by Wyndham Hoover Birmingham

Days Inn by Wyndham Hoover Birmingham

2 out of 5
1800 Riverchase Dr, Hoover, Birmingham, AL
The price is ₩83,340 per night from Nov 17 to Nov 18
₩83,340
₩97,849 total
Nov 17 - Nov 18
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly motel in Birmingham. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,010 reviews)
The breakfast had options like fresh fruit which I appreciate

Reviewed on Oct 25, 2025

Days Inn by Wyndham Hoover Birmingham
Red Roof Inn Birmingham South

Red Roof Inn Birmingham South

2 out of 5
1466 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, Birmingham, AL
The price is ₩99,468 per night from Nov 2 to Nov 3
₩99,468
₩116,378 total
Nov 2 - Nov 3
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,030 reviews)
There were scratches on the doors, the easy access to the parking lot and the thin walls where you can everything and mean everything, which is not what I want to hear when I needed a break.

Reviewed on Oct 27, 2025

Red Roof Inn Birmingham South
Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel

Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel

4 out of 5
1000 Riverchase Galleria, Hoover, Birmingham, AL
The price is ₩173,358 per night from Nov 26 to Nov 27
₩173,358
₩200,470 total
Nov 26 - Nov 27
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,266 reviews)
Clean and really nice. Great price too

Reviewed on Oct 28, 2025

Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Postcard Cabins Talladega Valley, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy

Postcard Cabins Talladega Valley, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy

2 out of 5
215 Cosper Bend Rd, Childersburg, AL
Stay at this cabin in Childersburg. Enjoy free parking, patios, and climate control. Popular attractions Sally West Park and The Meadows Golf Course are located ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (44 reviews)
Cabin was very clean, but we didn’t have a lot room for our luggage. We did sleep well. Kitchen was well equipped.

Reviewed on Oct 22, 2025

Postcard Cabins Talladega Valley, Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy
Landing Midtown

Landing Midtown

4 out of 5
2014 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions The Summit and Heaviest Corner ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (45 reviews)
Get in to the property was terrible they gave me like 7 code that did not work and I had to speak to four different people to just try to get in the building and had to download two different app finally got in to the property around 11:30pm and we arrived there at 5pm but once we finally got in ...

Reviewed on Oct 6, 2025

Landing Midtown
Downtown Birmingham Apartments by Landing

Downtown Birmingham Apartments by Landing

4 out of 5
600 19th St N, Birmingham, AL
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Birmingham. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions Don Kresge Memorial Museum ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (51 reviews)
Check in was a bit of a hassle because our entry codes didn’t work… but once inside, everything was great! Will stay again.

Reviewed on Oct 26, 2025

Downtown Birmingham Apartments by Landing
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Cities near Central Alabama