Highest-rated things to do in Alabama, according to Tripadvisor
When planning your next holiday, you might feel an instinctual pull toward destinations that would take you across oceans, like Tokyo or Paris, but there are experiences closer to home that will have you thinking twice before booking a trip abroad ever again.
If you're craving a burst of adrenaline, why not reserve a spot in Michigan's famed Saugatuck Dune Rides? The activity's charmingly dated website is a great indication of its word-of-mouth notoriety and timeless appeal. Over in Arizona, you might be surprised to find that it's not just the Grand Canyon that tempts travelers to its desert landscape—it's also one-of-a-kind venues like the Musical Instrument Museum, where music enthusiasts can find over 7,500 instruments from 200 countries around the world.
Indeed, even if you've lived in Alabama your whole life, you might be surprised by just how many top-rated things you've yet to cross off your list. From architectural wonders and picturesque views to historical museums and other must-see sights, you'll find your appreciation for Alabama reignited just by reading through this list of top-rated things to do.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated things to do in Alabama using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 3, 2024.
Whether you're a family of five traveling in a recreational vehicle or a duo of friends looking for a quick getaway in Alabama, read on for a list of sights you could easily plan a trip around.
#30. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
- Rating: 4.5/5 (522 reviews)
- Address: 20 32nd St. North Birmingham, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Fairhope Municipal Pier
- Rating: 4.5/5 (594 reviews)
- Address: 1 North Beach Road Fairhope, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
- Rating: 5/5 (287 reviews)
- Address: 3614 North Jackson Hwy Sheffield, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
- Rating: 4.5/5 (685 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Birmingham Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.5/5 (555 reviews)
- Address: 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd. Birmingham, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Gulf Shores Welcome Center
- Rating: 5/5 (483 reviews)
- Address: 3459 Gulf Shores Pkwy Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Mobile Bay Ferry
- Rating: 4.5/5 (733 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Noccalula Falls Park & Campground
- Rating: 4.5/5 (732 reviews)
- Address: 1500 Noccalula Falls Park Gadsden, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Rosa Parks Library and Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (773 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Mobile Carnival Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (590 reviews)
- Address: 355 Government St. Mobile, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
- Rating: 4/5 (1,664 reviews)
- Address: 20499 Oak Road East Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
- Rating: 4.5/5 (518 reviews)
- Address: 2612 Lane Park Road Birmingham, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Cathedral Caverns State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (465 reviews)
- Address: 637 Cave Road Woodville, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. The Wharf
- Rating: 4/5 (1,571 reviews)
- Address: 23101 Canal Road Orange Beach, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Dexter Parsonage Museum - Dr. Martin Luther King home
- Rating: 5/5 (551 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Alligator Alley
- Rating: 4.5/5 (562 reviews)
- Address: 19950 Highway 71 Couch Plant Road Summerdale, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Little River Canyon National Preserve
- Rating: 4.5/5 (566 reviews)
- Address: 4322 Little River Trl Northeast Fort Payne, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. FORT MORGAN HISTORIC SITE
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,041 reviews)
- Address: 110 State Highway 180 51 State Hwy 180 Fort Morgan, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Vulcan Park and Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,406 reviews)
- Address: 1701 Valley View Drive Birmingham, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. National Memorial for Peace and Justice
- Rating: 5/5 (569 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Bellingrath Gardens & Home
- Rating: 4.5/5 (849 reviews)
- Address: 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road Theodore, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Huntsville Botanical Garden
- Rating: 4.5/5 (916 reviews)
- Address: 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. Southwest Huntsville, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. McWane Science Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (962 reviews)
- Address: 200 19th St. North Birmingham, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum
- Rating: 5/5 (456 reviews)
- Address: 2060A Airport Road Southwest Huntsville, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Legacy Museum
- Rating: 5/5 (524 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,311 reviews)
- Address: 520 16th St. North Birmingham, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Gulf State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,447 reviews)
- Address: 20115 State Park Road Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
- Rating: 5/5 (1,302 reviews)
- Address: 6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway Birmingham, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. U.S. Space and Rocket Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,272 reviews)
- Address: 1 Tranquility Base Huntsville, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,007 reviews)
- Address: 2703 Battleship Pkwy Mobile, Alabama
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Michelle No, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.