Huntsville (Alabama)

Huntsville is in northern Alabama, about 20 miles (32 km) from the border with Tennessee. The city is a center for missile defense and aerospace technologies, with companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman having major operations here. Cummings Research Park, the second largest research park in the country, is home to many of these companies.

Understand
Huntsville was founded in 1805 by a Virginia man named John Hunt. For the first 140 years of its history, the city was a sleepy cotton town. In 1950, the US Army transferred Dr. Werner von Braun and his team of German rocket scientists to Redstone Arsenal. Within a decade, the city became a center for rocket design and construction. In 1960, NASA opened the Marshall Space Flight Center, which has played a significant role in the Mercury-Redstone (named after Redstone Arsenal), Gemini, and Apollo manned space programs.

Huntsville is home to almost 200,000 residents (2018). The Huntsville metro area, with 463,000 residents, is the third largest in Alabama, after Birmingham and Mobile, though the city proper became the largest in Alabama as of the 2020 Census. Madison, Athens, Decatur, and a number of smaller cities are generally considered part of the Huntsville metro area.

Climate
Summers are hot and humid, but the thermometer rarely goes above. Strong thunderstorms do come out of nowhere in the afternoons. Autumn is quite comfortable in Huntsville. First frost normally happens around Halloween. In winter, snow is a possibility, but never a guarantee. Most snow in Huntsville is on the light side (less than 2 inches). However, any snow amounts more than 1/3" can close roads and schools.

Being in a "tornado alley", Huntsville gets many tornado warnings in the spring, as well as a second tornado season around November-December.

By plane


Huntsville is served by the following carriers:
 * American Eagle, with service from Charlotte, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Washington, D.C.-Reagon
 * Delta Air Lines, with service from Atlanta.
 * Delta Connection, with service from Detroit and seasonal service from Atlanta.
 * Frontier Airlines, with service from Orlando and seasonal service from Denver.
 * Silver Airways, with service from Orlando.
 * United Express, with service from Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston-Intercontinental, and Washington D.C.-Dulles

By train
There is no passenger train service to Huntsville.

By car
Huntsville is accessible from nearby Interstate 65, approximately 20 miles west of downtown. An interstate spur, Interstate 565, runs from I-65 eastward for 21 miles, to and through downtown Huntsville.


 * I-565: Spur route to I-65, providing access to Birmingham, AL, Nashville, TN, and Decatur, AL.
 * US 72: providing access to Chattanooga, TN (via Interstate 24), Memphis, TN, and Athens, AL.
 * US 431: providing access to Guntersville, AL and Anniston, AL.
 * US 231: providing access to Fayetteville, TN and Arab, AL.

By bus
see also Intercity buses in the USA

Get around
Huntsville is very car-oriented.

By bus
Public transportation is not popular in Huntsville, but does exist. The city offers 13 bus routes, including a Tourist Trolley, which loops past most of the city's attractions and shopping areas. Turnovers between buses can be between fifteen minutes in downtown and one hour in outlying areas. There are also two free weekend evening routes that serve Downtown, Five Points, and the Medical District.
 * Fares
 * One way: $1
 * Seniors, students, children under 6, one way: $.50
 * Tourist Loop: $2 (all day pass)
 * Downtown Weekend Trolley: Free
 * Hours
 * M-Th: 6AM–6PM
 * F: 6AM–2AM (Downtown Trolley only after 6PM)
 * Sa: 7PM–2AM (Downtown Trolley only)
 * Su: No service

By bike

 * Downtown Huntsville is served by the Pace bike share program. For fairly cheap rates, there are bicycles in several locations in the city. However, outside of the center of downtown (near Big Spring Park) and greenways, Huntsville is not very bike-friendly.

See


While not widely known as a tourist destination, Huntsville does have a number of attractions of interest.

Museums

 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.
 * State Black Archives and Museum, Wilson Bldg, Alabama A&M University, . M-F. On the campus of Alabama A&M University in North Huntsville/Normal. $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for toddlers and A&M faculty and students.

Parks and greenspaces
Information about parks can be found at the city website.


 * Big Spring International Park Huntsville's signature park, located downtown. This is where Huntsville was founded more than 200 years ago. Features various gifts given to the city by countries like Japan (the Red Bridge) and Norway (the lighthouse). Restaurants, hotels, and the Von Braun Center are nearby. It underwent an expansion near the Embassy Suites hotel.
 * Green Mountain Nature Trail, South Shawdee Road, . Open daily. A mile-long nature trail that wraps around a 16-acre lake. Features a covered bridge, picnic area, and a "Braille trail." Located off Green Mountain Road in Southeast Huntsville.
 * Green Mountain Nature Trail, South Shawdee Road, . Open daily. A mile-long nature trail that wraps around a 16-acre lake. Features a covered bridge, picnic area, and a "Braille trail." Located off Green Mountain Road in Southeast Huntsville.
 * Green Mountain Nature Trail, South Shawdee Road, . Open daily. A mile-long nature trail that wraps around a 16-acre lake. Features a covered bridge, picnic area, and a "Braille trail." Located off Green Mountain Road in Southeast Huntsville.
 * Green Mountain Nature Trail, South Shawdee Road, . Open daily. A mile-long nature trail that wraps around a 16-acre lake. Features a covered bridge, picnic area, and a "Braille trail." Located off Green Mountain Road in Southeast Huntsville.

Historic districts

 * Twickenham Historic District. The Twickenham and Old Town historic districts, located just east of downtown, feature large homes that were built as early as 1814. In June and July, free guided walking tours of the area start at 10AM each Saturday.

Do

 * Canoeing on the Flint River. Several canoeing expeditions are available. The Flint River is in East Madison County, about 7 miles from downtown.
 * Canoeing on the Flint River. Several canoeing expeditions are available. The Flint River is in East Madison County, about 7 miles from downtown.

Axe throwing
The fun and stress relieving activity of throwing axes at a wooden target is an activity in Huntsville.



Sports

 * Rocket City Trash Pandas: Minor League baseball team playing in the Double-A Southern League at Toyota Field in the suburb of Madison.
 * Huntsville will become home to a professional men's soccer team in 2023, specifically the as-yet-unnamed reserve side for Nashville SC of Major League Soccer. The team will play in the third-tier MLS Next Pro, a league made up almost entirely of MLS reserve sides. Joe W. Davis Stadium, which had for decades been the city's home for minor-league baseball, is being rebuilt into a soccer-specific venue for the new side.
 * Rocket City Trash Pandas: Minor League baseball team playing in the Double-A Southern League at Toyota Field in the suburb of Madison.
 * Huntsville will become home to a professional men's soccer team in 2023, specifically the as-yet-unnamed reserve side for Nashville SC of Major League Soccer. The team will play in the third-tier MLS Next Pro, a league made up almost entirely of MLS reserve sides. Joe W. Davis Stadium, which had for decades been the city's home for minor-league baseball, is being rebuilt into a soccer-specific venue for the new side.
 * Huntsville will become home to a professional men's soccer team in 2023, specifically the as-yet-unnamed reserve side for Nashville SC of Major League Soccer. The team will play in the third-tier MLS Next Pro, a league made up almost entirely of MLS reserve sides. Joe W. Davis Stadium, which had for decades been the city's home for minor-league baseball, is being rebuilt into a soccer-specific venue for the new side.
 * Huntsville will become home to a professional men's soccer team in 2023, specifically the as-yet-unnamed reserve side for Nashville SC of Major League Soccer. The team will play in the third-tier MLS Next Pro, a league made up almost entirely of MLS reserve sides. Joe W. Davis Stadium, which had for decades been the city's home for minor-league baseball, is being rebuilt into a soccer-specific venue for the new side.

Festivals

 * Whistlestop Weekend. Held the second weekend in May at the Huntsville Depot. Features music and a Barbecue cookoff.
 * Galaxy of Lights. A drive-through Christmas lights show held at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Open from 5:30–9PM nightly from mid-November to New Year's Eve.

Learn

 * University of Alabama in Huntsville. A mid-sized university that specializes in engineering and science. Part of the University of Alabama system. Located off Sparkman Drive near Research Park.
 * Alabama A&M University. A historically black college located in Normal in Northeast Huntsville.
 * Oakwood University. A small Seventh Day Adventist school located in Northwest Huntsville.
 * JF Drake State Technical College. A small public technical school in Northeast Huntsville.
 * Calhoun Community College. The largest community college in Alabama, with campuses in Huntsville, Decatur, and Redstone Arsenal.
 * Athens State University. The state's only 2-year upper-level university. Located in Athens, which is about 20 miles west of Huntsville.
 * Florida Institute of Technology. Campus on Redstone Arsenal serving the local high tech community.

Eat
Like most cities, Huntsville does have its fair share of fast-food restaurants, but there are many local eateries as well that serve every budget and taste. Because of Huntsville's diverse population, there are ethnic restaurants that specialize in Greek, Indian, Thai, and many other ethnicities.



Breweries
The micro brewery scene in Huntsville is new but growing fast.



Stay safe
Though crime levels are above average for a city in its population bracket, most of the crime is restricted to inner city neighborhoods that would be of no interest to visitors. In general, the most dangerous region of the city is the northern neighborhoods (particularly the northwest). In addition to crime, If hiking on Monte Sano or engaging in some other outdoor activity, be aware that during the Summer, temperatures can hit triple digits and one can dehydrate quickly. Be sure to consume an adequate amount of fluids during the warm temperatures.

Telephone
The area codes for Huntsville and North Alabama are 256 and 938, which overlay the same region. As a result of this overlay, all calls within Huntsville require dialing a ten-digit number.

Internet
Free WiFi is available at these places:
 * Big Spring Park
 * Krystal- Five locations in Madison County.
 * Stanlieo's Sub Villa- Jordan Lane and Governors Drive locations.
 * Atlanta Bread Co.- in the Target shopping center on University Drive.
 * West End Grill- on Old Madison Pike near the Research Park Blvd. interchange.
 * Huntsville Hospital
 * Crestwood Hospital
 * Huntsville International Airport

Newspapers

 * The Huntsville Times. Huntsville's Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday newspaper.
 * Valley Planet. A monthly alternative newspaper.

Medical
There are two major hospitals in Huntsville.
 * Huntsville Hospital, 101 Sivley Road, . A public hospital located downtown on Governors Drive.
 * Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children. Located just east of the main hospital.
 * Crestwood Medical Center, 1 Hospital Drive, . A private hospital off of Airport Road in South Huntsville.

Other hospitals in the Huntsville region:
 * Athens-Limestone Hospital, 902 Washington St, Athens,.
 * Parkway Medical Center, 1874 Beltline Road, Decatur,.
 * Decatur General Hospital, 1201 Seventh Street, Decatur.
 * Highlands Medical Center, 380 Woods Cove Road, Scottsboro,.
 * Marshall Medical Center North, 8000 Alabama 69, Guntersville,.
 * Lincoln Medical Center, 106 Medical Center Blvd., Fayetteville, TN,.

Go next

 * Lynchburg – home of Jack Daniel's Distillery. A 45-minute drive from Huntsville.
 * Guntersville – this town on Lake Guntersville is a popular weekend retreat for Huntsvillians. About a 40-minute drive from Huntsville on US 431 South.
 * Decatur – home of "America's First Wave Pool" at Point Mallard Park.
 * Florence – home of many museums and festivals.
 * Scottsboro – home of the "Unclaimed Baggage Center." Much of the world's unclaimed airline luggage ends up here, for sale to the public in grossly oversized "luxury" thrift store.

Farther away- all are a 1½-2 hour drive.


 * Chattanooga
 * Birmingham
 * Nashville