Ready-made plans

Custom planning is temporarily unavailable for this route. Ready-made plans are still available.

Home › Journeys › Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma & Birmingham Civil Rights Journey › 5 days

Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma & Birmingham Civil Rights Journey: 5-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive

Last updated:

The 5-day version for April: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 4-day plan · 5-day plan · best time to go.

View ready-made plans

5
days
470 km
distance
11.2 h
driving
30
curated stops

💡 Good to know for this plan

Before you go · check live details

This is a planning draft. Check these changing details for your dates before booking or travelling.

Day 1 Atlanta

6 curated stops
Transit
0h38
Finish
~17:45
Temperature
9.9°C–22.5°C
Rainy days
~14
Daylight
12.8h
09:00
Atlanta public King-and-civil-rights circuit home.nps.gov map ↗
Use current public King and civil-rights sites; the Birth Home tour is not promised.
50 min · Atlanta · Public areas; confirm current admission and opening before entry
10:00
Georgia State Capitol sos.ga.gov read more map ↗
Explore the grand architecture and learn about Georgia's legislative history.
50 min · Atlanta
11:00
College Football Hall of Fame cfbhall.com read more map ↗
Step onto a football field and explore interactive exhibits celebrating college football.
50 min · Atlanta · Adults $21.99, children 3-12 $17.99, children under 3 free, seniors and students $18.99. Parking free up to 20 minutes, $15 first 3 hours, $1 each additional hour
open: Sun-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat 9AM-6PM
12:00
Georgia Aquarium georgiaaquarium.org read more map ↗
Swim among massive whale sharks and other incredible marine life in eight million gallons of water.
180 min · Atlanta · Adult $29.50, child (3-12) $22, senior (55+) $25.50; Journey with Gentle Giants $233
open: Sun-Thu 9AM-6PM, Fri 9AM-10PM, Sat 8AM-8PM
15:10
High Museum of Art high.org read more map ↗
Explore diverse art collections from around the world.
50 min · Atlanta
16:15
Zoo Atlanta zooatlanta.org read more map ↗
Observe primates, African animals, and giant pandas up close.
90 min · Atlanta · Adult (12+): $26.70 - $33.45, Child (3-11): $21.20 - $26.70, Senior (65+): $24.70 - $30.95, College Student (Student ID Required): $24.70 - $30.95
open: Open every day 9:30AM-4:30PM; Sat Sun during daylight savings time 9:30AM-5:30PM; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Overnight here
e.g. Clarion Inn & Suites Atlanta Downtown · Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown Atlanta
Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 2 Around Atlanta

6 curated stops
Transit
0h36
Finish
~15:55
Temperature
9.9°C–22.5°C
Rainy days
~14
Daylight
12.8h
09:00
Centennial Olympic Park centennialpark.com read more map ↗
Stroll through this iconic park, once the heart of the 1996 Olympics, with attractions nearby.
50 min · Atlanta
10:00
Center for Civil and Human Rights civilandhumanrights.org read more map ↗
Engage with powerful exhibits on the Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles.
50 min · Atlanta · Adult $20
open: Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM
11:00
Margaret Mitchell House and Museum atlantahistorycenter.com read more map ↗
Visit the original home where Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind.
50 min · Atlanta · $13 adult; $10 senior or student; $8.50 child
open: Mon-Sat 10AM-5:30PM, Sun noon-5:30PM; closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving Day, Dec 24-25. Tours on the half-hour, from 30 minutes after opening until 4:30PM
12:00
Atlanta Botanical Gardens atlantabotanicalgarden.org read more map ↗
Stroll through lush gardens and vibrant conservatories.
50 min · Atlanta · $19 (adult); $13 (under 12); free (under 3)
open: April–October: Tue–Sun 9AM–7PM; November–March: Tue-Sun 9AM–4PM, Mon closed
13:00
The King Center and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site nps.gov read more map ↗
Visit the memorial and museum dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.
50 min · Atlanta
14:05
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum jimmycarterlibrary.gov read more
Walk through presidential history in an engaging, interactive space.
50 min · Atlanta · Adults $8; students, military and seniors $6
open: Mon-Sat 9AM - 4:45PM, Sun noon - 4:45PM
14:55
Flying Biscuit Cafe flyingbiscuit.com map ↗
Indulge in breakfast classics, including kosher and vegetarian options.
60 min · Atlanta
open: Opens at 7AM
Overnight here
e.g. Clarion Inn & Suites Atlanta Downtown · Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown Atlanta
Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 3 Montgomery

5 curated stops
Transit
3h42
Finish
~17:10
Temperature
11.5°C–23.8°C
Rainy days
~16
Daylight
12.8h
12:20
Montgomery public Legacy Sites civil-rights circuit legacysites.eji.org map ↗
Use current public Legacy Sites and civil-rights heritage with timed admission checked.
50 min · Montgomery · Public areas; confirm current admission and opening before entry
13:20
Civil Rights Memorial splcenter.org read more map ↗
Reflect at the Civil Rights Memorial, where names of martyrs are inscribed on a granite fountain.
50 min · Montgomery
14:20
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church dexterkingmemorial.org read more map ↗
Visit a historic church where Dr. King once preached.
50 min · Montgomery · Adults $5, Children $3
open: Tue-Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat 10AM-2PM
15:20
First White House of the Confederacy thefirstwhitehouse.com read more map ↗
Step into the First White House of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis's early residence.
50 min · Montgomery
16:20
Museum of Alabama museum.alabama.gov read more map ↗
Discover the rich history of Alabama through engaging exhibits.
50 min · Montgomery · Free
open: Mon-Sat 8ː30AM-4ː30PM
Overnight here
e.g. Sonesta ES Suites Montgomery · Comfort Suites Montgomery
Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 4 Selma

6 curated stops
Transit
3h12
Finish
~17:30
Temperature
11.4°C–24.0°C
Rainy days
~17
Daylight
12.8h
10:25
Selma public voting-rights circuit nps.gov map ↗
Use public voting-rights heritage; do not promise the closed Selma Interpretive Center.
50 min · Selma · Public areas; confirm current admission and opening before entry
11:25
Edmund Pettus Bridge read more map ↗
Stand on a historic bridge pivotal to civil rights history.
50 min · Selma
12:25
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute nvrmi.com read more map ↗
Learn about the civil rights movement at the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute.
50 min · Selma
open: Mon-Thu 10AM-4PM; Fri-Sun : by appointment only
13:25
Vaughan Smitherman Museum selma-al.gov read more map ↗
Discover a restored antebellum home with a hospital history.
50 min · Selma
open: Tue-Sat 9am-4pm
15:00
Old Cahawba Archaeological Park cahawba.com map ↗
Explore a rustic, ghost-town-like former state capital.
50 min · Selma
open: Thu-Mon 10am-5pm, closed Tue and Wed
16:40
Brown Chapel AME Church nps.gov map ↗
Visit a key site where pivotal civil rights meetings began.
50 min · Selma
Overnight here
e.g. St. James Hotel · Hampton Inn Selma
Find a stay → Tours & tickets for the evening →

Day 5 Birmingham

6 curated stops
Transit
3h02
Finish
~17:20
Temperature
10.5°C–23.0°C
Rainy days
~17
Daylight
12.8h
11:15
Birmingham public civil-rights circuit nps.gov map ↗
Use public civil-rights heritage; events, sport and performances remain separate.
50 min · Birmingham · Public areas; confirm current admission and opening before entry
12:15
Birmingham Museum of Art artsbma.org read more map ↗
Appreciate diverse global art, from ancient to contemporary.
50 min · Birmingham · Free
open: Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM
13:15
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame jazzhall.com read more map ↗
Immerse yourself in jazz history and live performances.
50 min · Birmingham · $3/2 (guided/self-guided)
open: Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM (guided tours Mon-Wed Fri 10AM-1:30PM)
14:25
Birmingham Zoo birminghamzoo.com read more map ↗
Encounter over 750 animals, from big cats to reptiles.
50 min · Birmingham · General $11, children 2-12 & seniors 65+ free
open: Labor Day-Memorial Day: daily 9AM-5PM; Memorial Day-Labor Day: Mon Wed-Thu 9AM-5PM, Tue Fri-Sun 9AM-7PM
15:25
Birmingham Botanical Gardens bbgardens.org read more map ↗
Stroll through diverse horticultural displays from around the world.
50 min · Birmingham
open: Daily sunrise to sunset
16:30
McWane Science Center mcwane.org read more map ↗
Engage with interactive science exhibits and aquatic displays.
50 min · Birmingham · Exhibit halls: adults $9, children 2-12 & seniors 65+ $8, children under 2 free; exhibits and IMAX:$14/12/free
open: Sept-May: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat 11AM-6PM, Sun noon-6PM; June-Aug: Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun Noon-6PM

🚗 Rental cars for this trip →

🔍 Check before you book

Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.

Sources (14)

View ready-made plans