Overview
Mountains, aka North Alabama, is a region at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains known for its abundant natural beauty, including many caves, lakes, and waterfalls.
1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mountains
Spring Valley Beach Water Park
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.
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.
- HSV Huntsville International Airport, Huntsville — 28 mi away. Directions
- BHM Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Birmingham — 47 mi away (major hub). Directions
Huntsville International Airport (HSV) has direct flights from Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington DC, on American; Atlanta and Detroit on Delta; and Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Washington DC on United. Frontier Airlines started nonstop service from Huntsville to Denver and Orlando in October 2018. Silver Airways operates flights from Orlando. Other options include Northwest Alabama Regional Airport MSL.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Huntsville — U.S. Space and Rocket Center Museum, Huntsville Museum of Art, Alabama Constitution Village.
- Day 2: Florence — Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House Museum, The Forks of Cypress, Wilson Dam.
- Day 3: Scottsboro — The Scottsboro Boy's Museum & Cultural Center, Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge, Remnants of B.B. Comer Bridge.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Places in Mountains
Huntsville
City / town · 85 listings
Florence
City / town · 28 listings
Scottsboro
City / town · 12 listings
Decatur
City / town · 9 listings
Fort Payne
City / town · 9 listings
Tuscumbia
City / town · 8 listings
Athens
City / town · 6 listings
Oneonta
City / town · 6 listings
Guntersville
City / town · 2 listings
Arab
City / town · 1 listings
Russell Cave National Monument
Park · 1 listings
Elkmont
City / town · 1 listings
Cullman
City / town · 1 listings
Sipsey Wilderness
Park
Walls of Jericho
Park
Rickwood Caverns State Park
Park
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Cities
- Ardmore
- Athens - the "chicken stew capital of the world."
- Arab
- Boaz
- Centre
- Crane Hill]]|lat=34.093889|long=-87.063056|image=
- [[Cullman|lat=34.1775|long=-86.844722|image= - home of the Ave Maria Grotto
- Decatur
- Double Springs
- Elkmont - home of Belle Cheve Cheese
- Florence
- Fort Payne
- Guntersville
- Hamilton
- Huntsville - home of Marshall Space Flight Center
- Moulton
- Muscle Shoals - Alabama's music capital
- Oneonta
- Russellville
- Scottsboro
- Tuscumbia - Helen Keller's home
Other destinations
- Sipsey Wilderness
- Joe Wheeler State Park
- Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
- Bankhead National Forest
- Dismals Canyon
- Natural Bridge Park
- Monte Sano State Park
- Cathedral Caverns State Park
- Lake Guntersville State Park
- Bucks Pocket State Park
- High Falls Park
- DeSoto State Park
- Little River Canyon National Preserve
- Rickwood Caverns
- Walls of Jericho
Get in
Huntsville International Airport (HSV) has direct flights from Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington DC, on American; Atlanta and Detroit on Delta; and Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Washington DC on United. Frontier Airlines started nonstop service from Huntsville to Denver and Orlando in October 2018. Silver Airways operates flights from Orlando. Other options include Northwest Alabama Regional Airport MSL.
Huntsville was once notorious for having some of the highest average fares in the United States. While the affordability of flying Huntsville has improved greatly, the reputation remains, and many locals and visitors still use the Nashville (BNA) or Birmingham (BHM) airport whenever flying into or out of North Alabama. Both airports are roughly 1½ hours away from Huntsville.
Get around
As with much of the United States, access to a car is absolutely necessary to get around when visiting North Alabama. Huntsville's public bus system is not very extensive, and waits between buses have been known to reach up to an hour.
Despite the stereotypes surrounding Appalachia and the South in general, most roads in this part of the country are well maintained. Dirt roads are hard to find in the modern day, although unpaved gravel roads are somewhat more common. Due to the mountainous terrain in the northeast part of the state, a high clearance and/or 4-wheel drive vehicle may come in handy if visiting more rural areas.
Do
- The Talladega Scenic Drive winds approximately 26 miles (40 km) along the backbone of the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The drive climbs to Cheaha Mountain and Cheaha State Park, the highest point in Alabama. In autumn, this drive bursts with color as the oak, maple, hickory, and persimmon change color. In spring, the dogwood and redbud are equally beautiful.
Drink
Huntsville has a fast-growing craft beer industry.
Stay safe
Huntsville has a very high crime rate for a city of its size. However, crime is highly concentrated in the areas of the city north of University Dr and west of I-565, areas which the average visitor has little reason to visit.
Venomous snakes such as the copperhead are present in the area, so be aware when hiking during the warmer months.
Nearby
Birmingham
City / town · 80 listings · 50 mi away
Gadsden
City / town · 12 listings · 52 mi away
Homewood
City / town · 10 listings · 53 mi away
Bessemer
City / town · 8 listings · 58 mi away
Hoover
City / town · 11 listings · 59 mi away
Pelham
City / town · 2 listings · 65 mi away
Fayetteville
City / town · 5 listings · 65 mi away
Jacksonville
City / town · 7 listings · 70 mi away
My experience
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