Alabama is filled with many great road trip destinations. From sprawling state parks to award-winning restaurants, the options are pretty much endless. Listed below, we’ve included the “Alabama Sunrise to Sunset Road Trip” route that not only includes a variety of wonderful stops along the way but also begins well, at sunrise and ends at sunset (but just to give you a heads up, at the front end we think you’re really going to experience the best sunrises in Alabama!). With an estimated drive time of around 5 hours and a driving distance of around 300 miles, this road trip could easily be accomplished in a single day. It all depends on the length of time you wish to stay at each destination.

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1. Cheaha State Park
tripadvisor/Management
Your road trip will begin with a beautiful sunrise overlooking Cheaha State Park in Delta.
Cheaha State Park, 19644 AL-281, Delta, AL 36258, USA
tripadvisor/Vacations Alabama
Cheaha State Park is Alabama's oldest continuously operated state park. It's also located atop of Cheaha Mountain, Alabama's highest natural point. You'll spend the morning exploring the park, which happens to offer one of Alabama's most breathtaking views and of course, one of the best sunrises in Alabama Pictured is the Bald Rock Overlook.
2. Pizza Shack
google/Donna Rooks
Following your park visit, you'll take a drive to Ashland's Pizza Shack for lunch.
Pizza Shack, 114 Court Sq, Ashland, AL 36251, USA
google/Ewing Fabrications
Pizza Shack is well known for their amazing pizzas, however, if you're not in the mood for pizza, no worries. Pizza Shack also offers pastas, sandwiches, and more. You can even get your order to go if you're short on time.

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3. The Montgomery Zoo
Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, 2301 Coliseum Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36110, USA
google/Chris Lukeson
After lunch, you'll continue on to the Montgomery Zoo. This 40-acre zoo is home to more than 500 animals from five different continents. It's a must-visit for animal lovers of all ages.
4. The Shack
google/Carolyn M
Following your afternoon at the zoo, you'll drive to Evergreen for a delicious dinner at The Shack.
The Shack, 281 AL-83, Evergreen, AL 36401, USA
google/Derek Douglas
The Shack is a local restaurant that serves everything from mouthwatering burgers and fresh seafood, to tasty barbecue and homemade sides. There's something on the menu for everyone.
5. Dauphin Island
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
At the end of dinner, you'll take a scenic drive to your final destination: Dauphin Island.
Dauphin Island, AL, USA
flickr/Michael McCarthy
Dauphin Island is the southernmost point of Alabama and it's also the "Sunset Capital of Alabama." So if you're searching for "places to see sunrises near me,"" there's no better spot to end this "Alabama's Sunrise to Sunset Road Trip" than right here in this beautiful coastal town.

Note: Be sure to confirm business hours for all of the destinations before embarking on your road trip.

Have you ever been to any of these road trip destinations in Alabama? If so, which were your favorites? What’s your favorite spot(s) to watch a sunrise or sunset? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

For more information about Alabama’s Bald Rock Overlook, be sure to take a look at the following article: The Breathtaking Overlook In Alabama That Lets You See For Miles And Miles.

If you’re still clamoring for more Alabama adventures, check out this video about the top tourist destinations in the state:

 

 

 

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More to Explore

Adventures in Alabama

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | February 06, 2023

Where can we find state parks in Alabama?

  • Chewacla State Park in Auburn is an expansive 696-acre park featuring hiking, fishing, camping, and swimming.
  • Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville) features cathedral-like walls which give it its current name, but it was originally called the "Bat Cave."
  • Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is a very popular vacation destination because of its gorgeous white-sand beaches stretching for 2 miles along the Gulf of Mexico.

Read on to learn more about the many other state parks in Alabama.

 

Where can we find historic attractions in Alabama?

  • The USS Alabama in Mobile is one of the state’s most popular attractions. It is a museum, you can tour the entire ship, and it is listed on the National Historic Landmark registry.
  • The Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery is the First Confederate Capitol in the nation and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma is another National Historic Landmark, as it was the site of the historic Bloody Sunday march for civil rights on March 7, 1965.

Read on to learn more about the many historic attractions in Alabama.

 

Where are some of the best places to go camping in Alabama?

  • Monte Sano State Park in Hunstville offers a variety of camping options including primitive tent campsites, full hook-up campsites, and original Civilian Conservation Corps stone cabins, among others.
  • Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City is one of the country’s largest state-owned campgrounds, encompassing 320 acres and well over 500 campsites.
  • Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham is Alabama's largest state park with nearly 10,000 acres of space which lends itself to a wide variety of campsite options.

Read on to learn more about some of the best places to go camping in Alabama.

 

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