Montgomery

Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, in the River Heritage region of the state.

For other places with the same name, see Montgomery (disambiguation).

Understand

Montgomery briefly held the title of capital of the Confederacy and was also the site of Jefferson Davis' inauguration. Montgomery was also a pivotal location during the civil rights movement, seeing the arrest of Rosa Parks and the ensuing bus boycott, as well as numerous non violent protests led by Dr. Martin Luther King.

• Convention and Visitors Center, 300 Water Street, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 

Get in

By plane

• 🌍 Montgomery Airport (MGM  ^IATA), 4445 Selma Hwy, ☎ [phone]. The Montgomery Airport is a small airport with American Eagle and Delta Connection operating out of the airport. Consider flying through Atlanta (2 hours away by car) or Birmingham (1.5 hours away by car) to save money.  

By car

The two major interstate highways that serve Montgomery are I-85, which connects Montgomery with Atlanta, Georgia; and I-65 which connects Montgomery with Birmingham to the north and Mobile to the south.

By bus

• Greyhound, 950 W South Blvd, ☎ [phone]. Hours: The bus station and ticketing is open 24 hours/ 7 days. 
• Megabus, 495 Molton St (Intermodal Transit Facility). Service from Atlanta, Mobile, and New Orleans. 

Get around

Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS) operates the bus and trolley system in Montgomery.

See

Stained glass under the rotunda of the Alabama State Capitol

• 🌍 Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1 Festival Dr, toll-free: [phone].  
• 🌍 Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, One Museum Drive, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 10AM-5PM Tu-Sa, 10AM-9PM Th, 12PM-5PM Su. Free.  
• 🌍 Civil Rights Memorial, 400 Washington Avenue, ☎ [phone].  
• Blount Cultural Park, 6055 Vaughn Road, ☎ [phone]. Daily 6AM-10PM.. 
• Hank Williams Museum, 118 Commerce Street, ☎ [phone]. 9AM-5PM M-Sa, 1PM-4PM Su.. 
• 🌍 Alabama State Capitol, 600 Dexter Avenue, ☎ [phone]. M–F 8AM–4PM, Sa 9AM–3PM. (updated Jun 2017)
• 🌍 Rosa Parks Museum, 251 Montgomery Street, ☎ [phone]. 9AM-5PM M-F, 9AM-3PM Sa.  
• 🌍 Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, 454 Dexter Avenue, ☎ [phone]. 10AM-4PM Tu-F, 10AM-2PM Sa. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. preached at the church for six years. Adults $5, Children $3.  
• 🌍 Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, ☎ [phone].  
• 🌍 Old Alabama Town, 301 Columbus Street, ☎ [phone]. 9AM-4PM, M-Sa. There are no facades or newly constructed buildings here! This 19th century village features completely authentic 19th and early 20th century homes and buildings that have been saved from demolition, carefully restored, and reopened to the public as a history museum. At Old Alabama Town, you will learn how early Americans of all backgrounds lived and worked in Central Alabama. Adults, $10; Children ages 6–18, $5. Free to ages 5 and younger. A 10 percent discount is offered to AAA, military and seniors.  
• National Memorial for Peace and Justice, 417 Caroline Street. A memorial commemorating the victims of lynching in the United States, intended as a place for people to come and reflect on the country's history of racial injustice. (updated Apr 2018)
• The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration, 115 Coosa Street. A museum about the history of racial injustice in the United States. (updated Apr 2018)

Do

• Alabama National Fair. 
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1 Festival Dr. 
• The Capri Theatre, 1045 E. Fairview. Montgomery's only independent movie theatre.
• 🌍 Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery, 1801 Eddie L. Tullis Rd., ☎ [phone]. (updated Feb 2017)

Learn

A west view of Troy University buildings including Davis Theatre

• Alabama State University.
• Southern Christian University.
• Auburn University Montgomery.
• Faulkner University. Is a small Christian university.
• Huntingdon College. A small United Methodist affiliated college.
• Air University. AU is operated by the U.S. Air Force.

Buy

• 🌍 Eastdale Mall. Anchored by Belk, Dillard's, JCPenney, Sears, and the only in-a-mall indoor ice rink in Alabama.  
• 🌍 The Shoppes at Eastchase (Eastchase Mall), 7274 EastChase Parkway Montgomery, AL 36117, ☎ [phone]. (updated Apr 2017)
• Sanctuary Cigars, 7813 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116. (updated Apr 2017)

Eat

Montgomery's diners tend to be very basic eaters. Lunch times are often served as a "meat and three plate". That is where a restaurant, during the lunch hour, serves a meat course and three sides (vegetables or potatoes). It tends to be very filling (perhaps too filling) but reliable quantity and quality wise.

There seems to be a preference for corporate generic restaurants (Outback, Olive Garden, Red Lobster). If they have a franchise, Montgomery probably has one.

You need to understand a few southern cuisines when dining in Montgomery and these are applicable throughout the Alabama and Mississippi area.

Most restaurants serve "sweet" tea—sweetened with sugar, and may be too sweet for some. when ordering iced tea, "unsweetened" is also an option.

Bar-B-Que means that meat is slow cooked over a wood fire. Sauce is served seen the full range of sauces (mustard type, tomato based, Tex-Mex).

Montgomery is home for the Hyundai automobile plant. Look for several fine Korean and Pan Asian restaurants and interesting menu items.

Montgomery is in lower Alabama and you can expect, in some of the better restaurants, some Cajun influence.

Budget

• 3D Dogs, 153 W Main St, Prattville, ☎ [phone]. Provides a great selection that ranges from Chicago Style hot dogs to gyros. 
• Scott St. Deli, 412 Scott St. A downtown landmark, serves sandwiches and basic deli fare. 
• Chris' Hot Dogs, 138 Dexter Ave. Another favorite, serves, as the name implies, hot dogs and the like. 

Mid-range

• Casa Napoli, 5331 Young Barn Road, ☎ [phone]. Montgomery, AL. Contemporary and traditional Italian dishes 
• Jim & Nicks Bar-B-Que, 6415 Atlanta Hwy. Montgomery, AL 36117, [phone]. Chain Barbecue restaurant. 
• Cafe Louisa, 1034 E. Fairview. Coffee and bakery with affordable sandwiches and other cafe fare
• Tomatino's, 1036 E. Fairview. One of the oldest locally owned pizzerias.
• El Rey Burrito Lounge, 1031 E. Fairview. Tex-Mex with a contemporary flair.

Fine Dining

• Garretts, 7780 Atlanta Hwy, ☎ [phone]. Montgomery -. Fine dining, heavy on fish, with a southern-influenced menu. 
• La Jolla, 6854 Eastchase Pkwy, ☎ [phone]. Montgomery, AL 36117. Tapas and gourmet dining; known locally for the wine selection. 
• Vintage Year, 405 Cloverdale Rd, ☎ [phone]. Montgomery, AL 36106. 
• Luna, 8123 Vaughn Rd. Upscale Tapas restaurant and bar. 

Drink

• Montgomery Brewing Company, 12 W. Jefferson. Montgomery's only microbrewery.

Sleep

A west view of the First Baptist Church, located at S Perry St

• America's Best Inn, 977 W. South Blvd, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Holiday Inn Express, 5135 Carmichael Road, ☎ [phone]. (updated Jun 2017)
• Best Western Hope Hull Inn, 7731 Slade Plaza Boulevard, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Best Western Monticello Inn, 5837 Monticello Drive, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Residence Inn Montgomery, 1200 Hilmar Court, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• SpringHill Suites Montgomery, 1201 Townplace Drive, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• TownePlace Suites Montgomery, 5047 TownePlace Drive, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Wingate by Wyndham Montgomery, 2060 East Boulevard, ☎ [phone]. 

Budget

• Motel 6, 1051 Eastern Boulevard, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 

Mid-range

• Comfort Suites Montgomery, 110 Folmar Pkwy, ☎ [phone]. 
• Courtyard Montgomery, 5555 Carmichael Road, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Red Roof Inn Montgomery, 5601 Carmichael Road, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Holiday Inn, 1185 Eastern Blvd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 4273 Troy Highway, ☎ [phone]. 
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 9250 Boyd-cooper Parkway, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Ramada Inn Montgomery Airport, 1100 W. South Blvd. (I-65 at Exit 168), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. 
• Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center, 300 Tallapoosa Street, ☎ [phone]. 

Splurge

• 🌍 Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center at Capitol Hill, 2500 Legends Circle, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 

Connect

Montgomery's area code is 334.

Stay safe

For emergencies dial 911 for medical and police assistance. Avoid the West and Southwestern parts of the city, as these tend to be where most of the crime is concentrated. Carjacking is not uncommon, so keep your doors locked when not around your vehicle. The Eastern portion of the city, specifically from the Eastern Blvd onward, offers many safe and family friendly shopping attractions and venues.

Cope

During the months of April through October, Montgomery experiences periods of high heat and humidity. Plan your "outside" days accordingly. Be sure to acclimatize to the heat (this should take a few days), take advantage of early mornings and evenings, drink plenty of water.

Go next

• Birmingham

Routes through Montgomery

Birmingham ← Millbrook ←	N  S	→ Greenville → Mobile
Atlanta ← Auburn ←	N  S	→ END
Meridian ← Selma ←	W  E	→ Phenix City → Columbus
Tuscaloosa ← Millbrook ←	W  E	→ Albany → Brunswick
Huntsville ← Oneonta ←	N  S	→ Dothan → Panama City