Montgomery is the capital of Alabama and one of the state's most important cities. Named after Richard Montgomery, an Irish soldier who became a major general in the Continental Army, it is located on the southern side of the Alabama River. Montgomery is the fourth-largest city in Alabama, and the population of the Montgomery Metropolitan area is more than 350,000.
Montgomery has a rich history starting in the Civil War era and moving on to the fight for civil rights in America. In 1861, Montgomery was chosen as the first capital of the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy, when the South broke away from the north prior to the Civil War. Montgomery was the site of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is regarded as the first large-scale U.S. demonstration against segregation.
Because of the history of the city, museums, historical sites, and memorials are common in Montgomery. You can visit the Civil Rights Memorial, Legacy Museum, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Rosa Parks Museum, and much more. Along with improving the infrastructure and historical markers located within the city limits, the city revitalized the riverfront and Court Square in 2007.
There is also plenty to do for children and families. The Montgomery Zoo, Newtopia Fun Park, and the Alabama Safari Park, as well as local shopping and dining options throughout the city, are all great day trips for families.
Campgrounds Near Montgomery, Alabama
The Woods RV Park in Montgomery has more than 100 spaces and includes amenities like Wi-Fi, modern showers and bathrooms, large parking spaces for RVs, good fishing, a playground, and more. The Woods RV park is one of the largest in the area, and it is close enough to Montgomery to get to all of the sites, shopping, and restaurants that the city has to offer.
Capital City RV Park is centrally located near Montgomery and features good prices, clean and quiet spaces, and clean showers and restrooms. The site features full hookups, level pull-through sites long enough to fit almost any RV, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and personal bathrooms. The park is close to anything you could want, including good restaurants, the Talladega Race Track, multiple lakes and rivers, golfing, and much more.
Leisure Isle RV Park is big rig- and pet-friendly and offers close access to the interstate on the south side of the city. If you are looking for a campsite with fishing and water sports, Leisure Isle is on the banks of the Tallapoosa River. The park offers full hookups, Wi-Fi, clean restrooms and showers, low prices, and plenty of flat and long spaces. Being that close to Interstate 85, you can get pretty much anywhere quickly, and there are a lot of restaurants and points of interest close by.
State Parks Near Montgomery, Alabama
Wind Creek State Park sits on the western side of Lake Martin, one of the largest man-made lakes in the U.S. and a well-known resort lake in the area. Wind Creek covers more than 1,445 acres and contains more than 600 RV campsites within its borders, many of which are equipped with full hookups. There is public access to Lake Martin available in the park along with more than 20 miles of hiking trails. Wind Creek State Park is the largest in Alabama and is about an hour's drive from Montgomery.
Oak Mountain State Park is located north of Montgomery and south of Birmingham, and at 9,940 acres, it is the largest park in the Alabama system. Some of the attractions located in the park include a BMX track, the Alabama Wildlife Center, and the Oak Mountain Interpretive Center. When you visit Oak Mountain, you can swim, camp, hike, bike, golf, ride horseback, fish, and much more. There are multiple RV parks as well, many of which have full hookups, Wi-Fi, and more.
Located about 50 miles east of Montgomery directly down Interstate 85 is Chewacla State Park. Right between Opelika and Smiths Station, the park features Chewacla Lake, which offers multiple recreational activities. Some of the things that you can do in Chewacla State Park include swimming, boating, fishing, camping, and hiking. Auburn University is also in proximity to the park.
National Sites Near Montgomery, Alabama
The Selma to Montgomery Trail is a must-visit when you are in the Montgomery area. Walking down this historic trail allows you to explore the events that led to African Americans having equal voting rights. The Martin Luther King Jr. Walking Trail, Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail, and the U.S. Civil Rights Trail are all along the Selma to Montgomery Trail.
The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site played a vital role in the desegregation of the American military. It was the site of the "Tuskegee Airmen Experiment," which trained 10,000 African American men and women for military service. The site preserves and celebrates the contribution these men and women made in desegregating the U.S. military.
The Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site preserves the Tuskegee Institute whose first principal was Booker T. Washington. The school recruited some of America's best teachers and students to train them and prepare them for further education. Touring the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site gives you a glimpse of how
National Forests Near Montgomery, Alabama
Tuskegee National Forest is less than an hour's drive from Montgomery. At around 11,000 acres, Tuskegee National Forest is the smallest national forest in the U.S., but it offers visitors a lot of things to do. Within the forest, you can go horseback riding, camping, target shooting, hiking, and mountain biking. It is maybe best known for the eight miles of the famous Bartram National Recreation Trail, a very scenic and beautiful hike. Its proximity to the historical and cultural sites of Alabama makes it a great place to stay when visiting the state.
Almost the same distance away as Tuskegee, but to the northwest of Montgomery, you will find Talladega National Forest. Talladega National Forest is almost 400,000 acres at the foot of the Appalachian Trail. Talladega is unique in that there are three different sections of the forest that do not connect to each other but are still part of the same national park. Talladega National Forest is a great place to fish, boat, kayak, hike, camp, and see the sights at the start of the Appalachian Mountains. There are numerous campgrounds and RV parks, and you can find one with hookups and other amenities inside the forest.
William B. Bankhead National Forest is about a two-hour drive north of Montgomery and is the northernmost of the four national forests in the state. The park has garnered the nickname "Land of a Thousand Waterfalls," and a short hike into the park reveals why. The Sipsey Fork is the only wild and scenic river in the state, and it runs through the park alongside numerous streams. The water in this region has formed a large number of beautiful waterfalls and supports an incredible display of wildlife that make this park a very popular destination for tourists. There are equestrian trails, hiking trails, and numerous bodies of water, as well as multiple campgrounds and RV parks, within William B. Bankhead National Forest.
