Contemplate a restored battleship, artifacts from 1700’s France, horticulture, and take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico. “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”
Start at U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Memorial Park on Battleship Parkway to explore the great ship’s engine room, decks, wardroom, and galley. From there, head southwest on I-10 to Rte. 63 south to Fort Gaines and Dauphin Island. Then turn around and retrace the route past the Alabama, detour 5 miles north to Blakely Park, carry on I-10 to U.S. 98 south to Rte. 59 south, then east on Rte. 182 to Gulf State Park for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico and west on I-80 to Fort Morgan.
The U.S.S. Alabama is magnificent, even if you have seen a battleship before, because it is restored better than most. There are many arrays of flora and fauna in the surrounding marshes. Read more . . .
This route showcases 6 of Alabama’s 10 covered bridges and both of its natural bridges. That is only one view of this scenic, 140-mile drive across the state. Beginning in Gadsden, 63 miles northeast of Birmingham on I-59, travel west over the striking Lookout Mountain Parkway on U.S. 278 to Rte. 75 south. After locating the first two bridges near Oneonta, travel eight miles west on U.S. 231 to Cleveland and continue north on U.S. 231 back to U.S. 278, through Cullman and the William Bankhead National Forest to Hamilton. Finally, head north on U.S. 43 to Russelville.