Hotels in Selma, AL

Resting in the Black Belt region of south-central Alabama is the famous historic city of Selma. Situated along the banks of the Alabama River, the city has left a unique and critical mark on American civil history. Most widely known for the 1960s Selma Voting Rights Movement and the Selma to Montgomery marches, beginning with “Bloody Sunday” in 1965, Selma is an important stop for anyone interested in taking a deeper look at the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. Outside of its incredible cultural history, this city is also abundant with nature parks with river vistas, southern comfort food, fascinating museums, and captivating local art to discover while staying at top Selma hotels in town.

The National Voting Rights Museum and Institute is an American museum in Selma, that honors, collects, and chronicles the archives and artifacts plus the crucial testimonies of the activists who participated in the events leading up to and including the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, and passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The museum also features the fearless individuals who worked for the African-American Voting Rights and Women's Suffrage movements during this potent time in American history.

It wouldn’t be a complete trip to Selma without a stop at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, not far from Selma hotels in town. This National Historic Landmark carries U.S. Route 80 Business across the Alabama River in Selma and was constructed in 1940. The bridge is historically and culturally relevant for being the site of the conflict of “Bloody Sunday” on March 7, 1965, when police attacked Civil Rights Movement demonstrators as they were attempting to march to the state capital of Montgomery. Then on March 21, after just a few weeks of respite, the marchers once again crossed the bridge and walked on to the Capitol building. See this incredibly moving historic landmark in person and take a worthy walk on the same ground where Martin Luther King, Jr. once marched. Drink in the beautiful views of the Alabama River from the bridge and snap a few pictures of the famous signs plus the many 100-plus-year-old buildings resting in the downtown area.

Riverfront Regional Park is a great green space to enjoy for the afternoon, located just outside the best Selma hotels. The historic park overlooks the Alabama River and provides a wonderful vantage point from which to observe the Edmund Pettus Bridge (a great place to snap some photos, too!). With over three miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, you’ll have plenty of active opportunities while here for the day. The main trail is a roughly two-mile lake trail that leads from the parking lot past Lake Wilson and loops around Lake Benoist.

Have a fantastic southern stay in Hoover, and don’t forget to check out our other hotels nearby in Cullman, Prattville, and Pelham.