Overview
Florence is a city in northwest Alabama near Mississippi and Tennessee.
15 sights · 4 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Florence
Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum
A house built in 1939 and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The house is open for tours, which last about 45 minutes.
The Forks of Cypress
This was a cotton plantation located in Florence. The remains can still be seen in the form of 24 Greek columns and the Jackson Family cemetery.
Wilson Dam
This 110x600 feet Dam is part of the TVA system. The maximum lift is 100 feet, it is the highest single lift lock east of the Rockies.
The George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival
The Florence Indian Mound & Museum
The Tennessee Valley area's largest domiciliary mound. Features typical workmanship of the Indians who lived in this area before the Cherokees, Chickasaws, and Creeks.
The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts
Showcases artists from around the Southeast, and offers classes and workshops to people of all ages. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 33°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Dec and Mar. (climate data from nearby Mountains)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MSL Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, Muscle Shoals — 5 mi away. Directions
- HSV Huntsville International Airport, Huntsville — 53 mi away. Directions
- BHM Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham — 101 mi away (major hub). Directions
US Highway 72 which runs from East-West from Chattanooga to Memphis passes through Florence. Most major attractions, hotels,restaurants, etc are located on or near US 72 or Florence Blvd as it's known within the City of Florence. US Highway 43 runs North-South from Nashville, TN to Mobile Alabama. It travels the same path as US 72 through Florence.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum, The Florence Indian Mound & Museum, The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts
- Lunch 360 Grille and Lounge
- Afternoon Pope's Tavern, Children's Museum of the Shoals
Day 2
- Morning Wilson Dam, Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall, The George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival
- Afternoon Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride, Fame Recording Studios
Day 3
- Morning The Forks of Cypress, Sacred Way Sanctuary, Arts Alive
- Afternoon First Fridays in Florence, W.C. Handy Festival
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
US Highway 72 which runs from East-West from Chattanooga to Memphis passes through Florence. Most major attractions, hotels,restaurants, etc are located on or near US 72 or Florence Blvd as it's known within the City of Florence. US Highway 43 runs North-South from Nashville, TN to Mobile Alabama. It travels the same path as US 72 through Florence.
Florence lies about 48 miles west of Interstate 65 Exit 351 in Athens, Exits 340A-340B Decatur/Huntsville, Exit 310 at Cullman.
By plane
Near Florence, there are a few options for flying in and out. Boutique Air has service to Northwest Alabama Regional Airport from Atlanta. More flights can be found leaving from Huntsville, AL; Birmingham, AL; Nashville,TN; and Memphis, TN. Huntsville would be the shortest drive at just over one hour. The others are a little more than two hours drive.
Go Port of Huntsville (HSV)
By bus
Greyhound buses stop at a gas station at 358 Cox Creek Pkwy.
See
Museums
See Pope's Tavern
This building served as a hospital along the way of many Civil War soldiers from both the North and South. It also served time as a stagecoach stop, a tavern, and an inn. The museum houses Civil War artifacts as well as antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries. This remains one of Florence's oldest standing structures.
See The Forks of Cypress
This was a cotton plantation located in Florence. The remains can still be seen in the form of 24 Greek columns and the Jackson Family cemetery.
Other Sights
Do
Enjoy fishing at the "Small Mouth Bass Capital of the World" around Wilson Dam, a regular on popular fishing shows. Alternatively, hiking, motor boating, and water skiing can be tried.
Music History Tours
Festivals
Do Florence Renaissance Faire
Held in Wilson Park this unusual event draws 30,000 – 40,000 people each year to its site in downtown Florence, Alabama. It is always held on the fourth Saturday and Sunday in October, taking advantage of the fall weather and foliage. Wilson Park hosts a variety of vendors, events, and demonstrations with a medevile theme.
See The Sam Phillips Music Celebration (started January 2005. It is an annual week long event that takes place the first week in January by celebrated with events that include the Sam Phillips Birthday Party)
See Arts Alive (began in 1986 and celebrates the art of Southern artist who gather to display their work in Wilson Park)
See The Spirit of Freedom Celebration (showcases music, and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day on the banks of the Tennessee River)
See First Fridays in Florence (arts and music event that occurs every First Friday from April through December in Historic Downtown Florence.)
Books
- Read The Store by T. S. Stribling. This is the 1933 Pulitzer Prize winner that many believe was inspired by Rogers Department Store which closed in 2001.
Buy
Shop Florence Mall
Regional Mall consisting of 4 main Anchors, Sears, JC Penney, Dillards and Belks. Department Stores. Contains most mid price national chains and is the focal point for surrounding shopping centers and big box stores.
Eat
Eat 360 Grille and Lounge (Renaissance Tower; Dam Tower)
Alabama's only revolving restaurant overlooks the city and Tennessee River.
Sleep
Go next
- Huntsville, famous for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center
- Tuscumbia, home to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and a Moon Tree (a loblolly pine whose seed went around the moon)
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