Alabama’s civil rights trail: Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery
The churches, bridges and memorials of the civil rights movement, following the route of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march.
- Distance
- 300 km (187 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 20 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- States
- AL
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 300 km (187 mi) with 7 stops, from Birmingham to Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Alabama
Route description
Begin in Birmingham at the 16th Street Baptist Church, where four girls were killed by a bomb in 1963. Across the street, Kelly Ingram Park and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute tell the story of the city’s 1963 protests; plan half a day.
Drive south-west about two hours to Selma, where the Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site of Bloody Sunday in March 1965. Walk across the bridge, then follow US-80 east along the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, stopping at the Lowndes Interpretive Center midway.
In Montgomery, see the Rosa Parks Museum, the Dexter Avenue church where Martin Luther King Jr. was pastor, and the Legacy Museum. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is a powerful memorial to the victims of lynching; allow a full afternoon for both sites.
End an hour east at the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, founded by Booker T. Washington, and the nearby Tuskegee Airmen site at Moton Field. The trip works year-round; parking is easy, but check museum days and hours before you go.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Birmingham
AL - 21 km
16th Street Baptist Church
HistoryBirmingham, ALSite of the 1963 bombing that killed four girls, and a rallying point of the civil rights movement. Kelly Ingram Park and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute are across the street.
- 3150 km
Selma
AL - 40 km
Edmund Pettus Bridge
HistorySelma, ALThe bridge where voting-rights marchers were attacked on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965. You can walk across it; interpretive centers are at both ends of the route to Montgomery.
- 581 km
Montgomery
AL - 61 km
National Memorial for Peace and Justice
HistoryMontgomery, ALA memorial to the victims of racial terror lynchings, with hanging steel monuments for each county. Pair it with the Legacy Museum downtown; allow a full afternoon.
- 768 km
Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
HistoryTuskegee, ALThe campus founded by Booker T. Washington, with his home and a museum on George Washington Carver. The Tuskegee Airmen site at Moton Field is a short drive away.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Birmingham → Selma · 93 mi · 1 h 40 minOn the way: 16th Street Baptist Church.Overnight nearby, for example: Praire Creek Campground (15 mi); Mary's RV Park (5 mi).
- Day 2: Selma → Montgomery · 51 mi · 0 h 54 minOn the way: Edmund Pettus Bridge.Overnight nearby, for example: The Wood RV Park (3 mi); Nettles Mobile Home Park (10 mi).
- Day 3: Montgomery → Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site · 43 mi · 0 h 46 minOn the way: National Memorial for Peace and Justice.Overnight nearby, for example: Chewacla State Park Campground (16 mi); Leisure Time Campground (14 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. Hot in July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Alabama’s civil rights trail: Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery?
3-day road trip of about 300 km (187 mi) with 7 stops, from Birmingham to Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Alabama’s civil rights trail: Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 20 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Alabama’s civil rights trail: Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery start and end?
It starts in Birmingham and ends in Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site.
Which states does Alabama’s civil rights trail: Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery pass through?
Alabama.
Where can you camp along Alabama’s civil rights trail: Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery?
OpenStreetMap lists 21 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Oak Mountain State Park Campground, Praire Creek Campground and Chewacla State Park Campground.
When is the best time for Alabama’s civil rights trail: Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
