3 unique Alabama adventures for summer—road trips for less than a tank of gas

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Alabama is one of the most beautiful and biodiverse states in the country, and if you haven’t taken time to explore recently, summer is the perfect time.

What if we told you we found a way to skip a summer’s worth of car payments to make that an even better idea?

Keep the good savings rush going and hit the road with three great road trips from Birmingham, all reachable with less than a tank of gas.

Discover the arts in Montgomery this summer

_{Admire 4,000 works at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts this summer, and stop for a selfie break on your road trip to the Shakespeare Festival. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)}

Your first thought when Montgomery comes to mind might be that it’s our state’s capital, but the city’s burgeoning arts and culture scene is worth a visit. It’s just a quick 90-mile jaunt south from downtown Birmingham, and there’s some fun stuff happening this summer you should check out, including at the:

• The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
  • What to see: Their America250 exhibit, running May 30-Aug 16, 2026
  • Where: 1 Museum Drive, Montgomery, AL
  • Cost: FREE! There’s no charge for admission + plenty of free parking
  • Tip: The MMFA offers a lot of free, fun programming as well. Check their calendar to align a class with your road trip.
• The Alabama Shakespeare Festival + Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park
  • What to see: If you want to catch a performance, their regular season kicks off in the fall, but you can enjoy “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” July 16-Aug 16, 2026.
  • Where: 1 Festival Drive, Montgomery, AL
  • Cost: tickets for “Beautiful” are $30+
  • Tip: Visits to the ASF grounds (it’s a gorgeous spot for a stroll + a picnic!) are free + the park is open daily, dawn to dusk.

Explore nature in Little River Canyon

Fort Payne is about 90 miles northeast of Birmingham, and it’s an enjoyable drive through the foothills of the Appalachians. Once there, you’ll find gorgeous Little River Canyon National Preserve, the 6th most visited National Park canyon in the United States. There’s plenty of trail and hiking options for every experience level and simply stunning scenic backdrops to stretch your legs.

• What: Little River Canyon National Preserve
• Where: 4322 Little River Trail #100, Fort Payne, AL
• Cost: $15 for a standard pass
• Tip: The Eberhart Trail is a steep, 3/4-mile out-and-back trail where you can venture into the canyon, down to the river + a popular swimming hole (bring your swimsuit!).

Enjoy the rhythm in Florence + Muscle Shoals

_{See where many of the great songs of the last century were recorded in northwest Alabama at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio (left) + FAME Studios (right). (Lisa Battles, Bess Christopher / Bham Now)}

Artists that have recorded 20th century hits in north Alabama’s Colbert County will blow your mind. From the Rolling Stones to the Beatles to Lana Del Rey and Chris Stapleton, the Florence-Muscle Shoals area is the place to visit for music lovers. And you can boogie up the road about two hours northwest of Birmingham (or the length of 2-3 great albums) and see where it all went down.

• What: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Tour, available Tues-Sat
• Where: 3614 Jackson Hwy, Muscle Shoals, AL
• Cost: $25 for adult tickets
• Tip: Consider extending your stay in Florence (10 minutes from the studio) for a fun weekend getaway.

How to skip your car payment this summer + find a lower rate

Now that we’ve piqued your interest with a few great summer road trip ideas, we’ve made it even more budget-friendly thanks to AlaTrust Credit Union. This not-for-profit financial institution was founded in Birmingham in 1935 and consistently offers its members (see how to join here) great deals on auto, home, savings and more.

The one that really excited us—and inspired these great road trips!—is a limited time offer this summer that can lower a new or existing auto loan by a percentage point and defers payments for 3 months*. We used AlaTrust’s loan calculator to demonstrate:

• If your current interest rate is 5% APR on a $30k loan for 48 months, you’d owe $690.88/month
• If you take advantage of AlaTrust’s Beat Your Rate promotion, that same scenario could lower your loan rate by a percentage point, down to 4% APR, and result in $648.31 savings over the life of your 48-month loan.

That’s putting money back in your pocket so you’re ready for your next great Alabama adventure. But you’ll need to hit the road to take advantage of this deal: AlaTrust’s Beat Your Rate promotion only runs through July 31, 2026. Find out the details below and visit your closest AlaTrust location to get going.

Where will your summer take you? Skip town—and three car payments—with help from AlaTrust Credit Union.

*1 Promotion valid through July 31, 2026. Loans include: New and Used Auto Loans only. Vehicles currently and previously financed with AlaTrust are not eligible for this promotion. Loan qualifications are based on assessment of individual creditworthiness and our underwriting standards. Final approval based on multiple credit criteria, including debt ratios and sufficient disposable income. Call us at 1-800-264-8031 for full program disclosures, exclusions, terms and conditions. Members who qualify and fund a vehicle loan during the promotion period will receive a 1.00%(100bps) rate reduction off their current verified APR. This promotion has a floor rate of 3.99% APR and a ceiling rate 18.95% APR. 

2 Deferred Payment Information: For a limited time, payments may be deferred for the first (3) months (or 90 days) from the date of the loan. Interest begins accruing on the date the loan is made. 

3 Rate and Term: APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Loans are subject to credit qualifications and approval. Required to open a member account. See the credit union for rate and fee disclosures. Restrictions apply. 

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