Day Trips From Huntsville

Looking for one more adventure before the end of summer? Keep reading for nine attractions under two hours from Huntsville!

Mooresville (~20 minutes)

Less than 30 minutes away from Alabama's biggest city, you'll find one of its smallest towns. Known as the Williamsburg of Alabama, the entire town of Mooresville — home to a grand total of 47 residents — is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But don't let the small size fool you: From walking tours and gardening workshops to antique stores and the state's oldest post office, there's plenty to see and do in this idyllic village.

Circa 1821 tavern in Mooresville

Guntersville (~40 minutes)

Any Alabama native knows that the only way to survive a Southern summer is by diving into the nearest body of water, whether it's a river, swimming pool, or lake. In Guntersville, you'll find all three. Known as Alabama's Lake City, Guntersville is all about outdoor recreation, from hiking and horseback riding at the state park to swimming and sailing at the state's largest lake. Once you're ready to head back indoors, eclectic shopping and dining options await you in the historic downtown.

Ave Maria Grotto (~50 minutes)

An hour away from Huntsville, you'll find St. Peter's Basilica, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Alamo — all in miniature. The life's work of Brother Joseph Zoettl, these and over 120 other miniature replicas, both spiritual and secular, adorn the rocky crags of Ave Maria Grotto. If you take your time, it takes about an hour to walk through the entire grotto, leaving time after to go shopping in downtown Cullman or explore the region's newest waterpark.

Ivy Green (~1 hour 10 minutes)

At Ivy Green, you can tour Helen Keller's birthplace and see the water pump where Anne Sullivan taught her her first word. Meticulously restored, the house features original furnishings and belongings, as well as a museum full of artifacts from Keller's long life of travel, learning, and activism. During the summer, on-site performances of The Miracle Worker bring the story to life in the spaces where it happened.

Muscle Shoals (~1 hour 15 minutes)

For a period of time in the mid-20th century, the hit recording capital of the world was a small town in the northwest corner of Alabama: Muscle Shoals. Today, the recording studios that hosted everyone from Aretha Frankling to the Rolling Stones have opened their doors for interactive tours, making the area a must-see for music fans. If that's not reason enough to visit, consider a stop by the oldest ice cream parlor in Alabama, famous for its throwback recipes and affordable prices.

Home of the Muscle Shoals Swampers

Little River Canyon (~1 hour 30 minutes)

The deepest canyon east of the Mississippi lies just 90 minutes from Huntsville. Home to the country's longest mountaintop river, the Little River Canyon National Preserve is a beautifully rugged place, where you can get back to nature through hiking, fishing, kayaking, and bird watching. If you look closely through the trees, you might even see chairlift tower footings and crumbling rock walls — remnants of the short-lived but much-loved Canyon Land Park and Zoo.

Dismals Canyon (~1 hour 30 minutes)

Don't let the name fool you. Dismals Canyon is one of the closest things Alabama's got to a magical otherworld: a sunken forest home to wandering caverns, glittering waterfalls, moss-covered boulders, and the Dismalites. Cousins to the famous "glowworms" of Australia and New Zealand, Dismalites are tiny bioluminescent worms so selective in their habitats that they can only be found in Dismals Canyon.

Ethridge (~1 hour 30 minutes)

Just an hour and a half north of Alabama's tech capital, you'll find a place where technology takes the backseat of the buggy: Amish Country. Whether you drive through Ethridge or experience the local culture on a horse-and-buggy tour, a visit to the South's largest Old Order Amish settlement is like a visit to the past: horses remain the main mode of transportation, farming is the way of life, and you won't see a cell phone. Make sure to bring a shopping bag, as many houses have signs out front advertising a variety of homemade goods, from furniture and vegetables to baked goods and quilts.

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Travel Tip:

When planning your trip to see the Amish, try to visit between Monday-Saturday, as Sundays are reserved for family and church. Also, make sure to bring cash if you plan on purchasing, as they are unable to accept cards or online payments. Lastly, although it can be tempting to take lots of pictures, keep in mind that almost all the Amish hold religious beliefs that prohibit their being photographed.

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Chattanooga (~1 hour 50 minutes)

Train rides, fairylands, and wildlife await you in Chattanooga, just under two hours away. Tucked between the mountains and the river, the Scenic City has something for everyone. Whether you opt to spend the day exploring the country's tallest underground waterfall, riding a city tour bus straight into the Tennessee River, seeing seven states from the top of Lookout Mountain, or visiting an aquarium that consistently ranks among the country's best, make sure to grab a MoonPie on your way out of town — they got their start here!

Rock City