The Scenic Road Trip That Will Make You Fall In Love With The Beauty of Alabama All Over Again

Alabama is filled with lots of natural scenic beauty, and one of the best ways to experience it is to take a road trip. Listed below, we’ve included a mapped road trip route that’ll take you to five of Alabama’s most scenic spots. Because the distance is only 527 miles, and the estimated drive time is less than 10 hours, this scenic road trip can be done in a single day. However, if you’d like to spend a great amount of time at each place, you could also stretch the road trip out over a weekend.

Let’s get started:

google maps

Take a look at this Google map for complete driving directions.

Dismals Canyon, 901 County Rd 8, Phil Campbell, AL 35581, USA

google/Jaime Britt

This road trip begins at Dismals Canyon. Dismals Canyon, which is located off the beaten path in Phil Campbell, is a picturesque canyon that's part of an 85-acre preserve. What makes this nature spot unique is the fact that it's one of the only places in the world where dismalites (glowworms) live. Over the years, Dismals Canyon has also become a popular place for hiking and camping.

Little River Canyon National Preserve, 4322 Little River Trail #100, Fort Payne, AL 35967, USA

flickr/Shawn Taylor

You'll then take a scenic drive to Little River Canyon National Preserve in Fort Payne. Covering more than 15,000 acres, this preserve is one of Alabama's most beautiful outdoor attractions. It's home to Little River Falls, one of Alabama's most stunning waterfalls, and the Hippie Hole, which happens to be one of the state's most popular swimming holes.

Cheaha State Park, 19644 AL-281, Delta, AL 36258, USA

flickr/Brian Collins

Your next stop will be Cheaha State Park. Cheaha State Park was established in 1933, making it Alabama's oldest continuously operated state park. It's located atop of Mount Cheaha, which offers some of the state's best scenic views. It's also Alabama's highest natural point.

Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, 3906 Turkey Creek Rd, Pinson, AL 35126, USA

flickr/Andy Montgomery

Following a short drive, you'll arrive at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Pinson. Turkey Creek Nature Preserve covers nearly 500 acres and is considered one of Alabama's most scenic outdoor areas. It's home to one of the state's most beautiful waterfalls. It's also one of Alabama's most popular swimming spots.

Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, Co Rd 24, West Blocton, AL 35184, USA

flickr/Dystopos

Your final stop on this scenic road trip before heading back is Alabama's Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in West Blocton. Covering nearly 4,000 acres, this scenic wildlife refuge is home to the largest known stand of Cahaba lilies in the world. These beautiful flowers usually bloom from mid-May to mid-June, so make plans to check them out this year.

Have you ever visited any of these scenic places in Alabama? If so, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments below.

For more information about Alabama’s Cheaha State Park, be sure to take a look at the following article: Few Alabamians Know That Cheaha State Park Was The First State Park In Alabama.