These 10 Towns In Alabama Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2025
Perhaps most famous for the city of Mobile, home of Battleship Memorial Park, and Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, Alabama has a plethora of fabulous smaller towns with their own unique attractions as well. These phenomenal attributes make these less-populated towns some of the best in all of the United States. From charming Guntersville and Lake Guntersville State Park to picturesque Gulf Shores and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, there are a multitude of awe-inspiring sights within the “Heart of Dixie.” Whether you want peace and tranquility in nature, wish to check out a local festival, or want to sample tasty local seafood, these ten towns are some of the best-ranked in Alabama for 2025.
Guntersville
At the confluence where Lake Guntersville and the Tennessee River meet, the town of Guntersville is the perfect spot for outdoor adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. Lake Guntersville State Park, northeast of town, has a plethora of awesome attractions. Along with fishing, hiking, and boating, visitors can experience an exhilarating zip-line, a sunny beach, and even an 18-hole golf course.
The town of Guntersville is also home to several parks, including Errol Allen Park and South Town Civitan Park. Civitan Park has a variety of activities, including a fishing pier, a mile-plus loop trail, and scenic views of the lake, while Errol Allen Park, in close proximity to the Lake Guntersville B&B inn, hosts spectacular spring and fall concerts that are great for the entire family.
Eufaula
The picturesque town of Eufaula, located less than an hour south of Columbus, Georgia, is home to several historic attractions. The Shorter Mansion, built from 1901 to 1905, the Hart House, built in 1850, and Kendall Manor, with construction finishing in 1867, just after the Civil War, are just a few of the historic houses in Eufaula.
Lakepoint State Park is another magnificent attraction in the small town of Eufaula. Just north of downtown, this phenomenal natural attraction sits along the edge of Lake Eufaula. Some of the amenities include a lodge, a marina, and cabins that are available for rent. They even have an on-site restaurant called the Water’s Edge, with delicious seafood served fresh every day.
Selma
Known most prominently for the Battle of Selma and for the Selma to Montgomery marches, the historic small town of Selma is situated along the northern bank of the Alabama River, 50 miles west of Montgomery. Selma is also home to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where Martin Luther King Jr. led a successful march in 1965 to advocate for the freedom for African-Americans to be able to vote.
Other historic attributes of the town of Selma include Sturdivant Hall, also known as the Watts-Parkman-Gillman House, a Greek Revival Mansion that was first completed in 1856, and the Old Depot Museum. The latter commemorates the time from before the American Civil War through to when the Civil Rights Movement first occurred.
Tuscumbia
Home to Ivy Green, birthplace and childhood home to well-known author, advocate, activist, and public speaker Helen Keller, the town of Tuscumbia, along the banks of the Tennessee River, has a thriving historical influence. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame is also located in Tuscumbia, honoring a vast array of music by artists such as Nat King Cole and Hank Williams.
Some notable natural attractions near Tuscumbia include Cane Creek Nature Preserve, located southwest of downtown, and Spring Park, situated just a few blocks south of Ivy Green. Spring Park has tranquil settings for a family picnic, as well as events like “Music in the Park.” Cane Creek offers over 15 miles of hiking trails, several scenic waterfalls, and some of the most thrilling views in northwestern Alabama.
Fort Payne
A true oasis about an hour east of Huntsville, Alabama, the small town of Fort Payne has great natural attractions. From Little River Canyon, with charming vistas of waterfalls, canyons, and sandstone cliffs, to DeSoto State Park, home of the 104-foot DeSoto Falls, there is something for even the most seasoned outdoor enthusiast to enjoy.
Fort Payne is also home to the Fort Payne Depot Museum and the Alabama Fan Club & Museum, for those who want to stay closer to town. The Depot Museum, housed inside the 1891 Fort Payne Railroad Depot, displays past railroad memorabilia, as well as artifacts belonging to Native Americans who lived in the area. Alabama Fan Club And Museum has 50 years of music memorabilia, as well as personal items from members of the band.
Monroeville
About halfway between Montgomery and Mobile, the town of Monroeville is home to several attractions that showcase historic value while still showcasing the town’s natural beauty. The Old Courthouse Museum not only features one of the settings from the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird” but also displays memorabilia related to Harper Lee, the author of the book by the same name.
Monroeville is also home to Whitley Lee Park. This charming park, situated on the west side of town, offers 20 acres of beautiful landscape. There is a gorgeous lake, a scenic trail around the lake, and picnicking opportunities for the entire family. There is even a community house in the park, featuring everything from ballroom dances to food-related events.
Wetumpka
The charming town of Wetumpka is home to awe-inspiring natural, historic, and cultural attractions. Fort Toulouse-Jackson Park, on the eastern bank of the Coosa River, features all three. Guests can experience historic 1751 Fort Toulouse and 1814 Fort Jackson, enjoy the campground, and even check out Alabama Frontier Days, if you are visiting in November, with reenactments of what life was like in frontier times.
Wetumpka is also home to more modern attractions. Wind Creek Wetumpka, considered to be Alabama’s best casino & resort, has phenomenal performers like Patti LaBelle and Peter Frampton, as well as thousands of games of chance. The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts presents a variety of unique events throughout the year, including Paint Day with Alisa Beck and Watercolor Methodology.
Fairhope
The picturesque town of Fairhope can be found along the eastern shore of scenic Mobile Bay, about an hour west of the city of Pensacola, Florida. One of the most popular attractions in Fairhope is Fairhope Avenue. Home of Fairhope Pier, Fairport Avenue offers visitors to the town, as well as the locals, the chance to shop, picnic, swim, and even stroll through a luxurious rose garden.
Other fabulous attractions in Fairhope include Fairhope Museum, featuring everything from artifacts of the earlier settlers, to an antique fire truck and a life-sized replica of a train car, to portraits of former leaders of Fairhope. There is also Weeks Bay Reserve to check out. Located south of downtown, this charming nature reserve features a stunning walk through acres of gorgeous landscape.
Dauphin Island
Another great destination in the “Heart of Dixie,” the picturesque town of Dauphin Island, situated on a Gulf Coast island by the same name, is located just off the western shore of Mobile Bay. The town of Dauphin Island is home to several great natural attractions, like the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, which has over 30 different aquariums, and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary.
Other attributes that Dauphin Island is famous for include the Mobile Bay Ferry, which brings passengers from Dauphin Island across the bay to Fort Morgan, West End Beach, situated on the opposite side of Dauphin Island, and Fort Gaines, known best for its influence in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War.
Gulf Shores
East of Fort Morgan, the coastal town of Gulf Shores has its own share of natural attractions, like Gulf State Park and Bon Secour Preserve. Bon Secour has 6,000 acres of landscape, with a variety of great trails, like the Pine Beach Trail and Gator Lake Trail. Gulf State Park has its own fishing pier, as well as two miles of pristine beach, great for collecting unique seashells.
The town of Gulf Shores is also home to Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, featuring some of the most captivating exhibits seen anywhere. Guests can interact with tigers, lions, kangaroos, lemurs, capybaras, sloths, and many more.
Whether you want to check out Fort Toulouse-Jackson Park with friends in charming Wetumpka or visit Edmund Pettus Bridge and Sturdivant Hall in Selma, there are a multitude of excellent small towns across the stunning landscape of the “Heart of Dixie.” Whether you find yourself traveling through the luxurious small town of Tuscumbia or trekking across the southern part of the state, by Monroeville, these ten towns are some of the best-ranked towns in Alabama.
