Alabama factories to visit and tour

Alabama has factories to visit and tour. Below, first are the active, working factories. The next section has historical operations which often have demonstrations or renactments. These incluse both large and small operations, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education.

In some cases, such as a manufacturing process that is no longer in use, the only way to see it and learn about it is a museum or living history center. So, we also provide information about engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. And if there is some place that is just plain fun to visit, we add that, too!

These are perfect for homeschooling, for STEM and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! They're learning and getting an education without even realizing it. And most of these are either free or under $10! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?

Here are some of the top factory tours in Alabama and contact information and tips about visiting them.

Factories, Engineering, Museums and other fun demonstrations and exhibits to visit in Alabama

 

• Austal USA - shipbuilder
  1 Dunlap Drive, Mobile, AL 36602. Email: AustalUSAInfo@austalusa.com. It says, you can book tours and activities on Expedia, but there's nothing there right now.  Presumably, you can take a guided tour of the shipyard. Austal USA is an American shipbuilder based on Blakeley Island known for constructing naval vessels and commercial ships. Tours of their shipyard offer an opportunity to see the shipbuilding process, from design to construction, and learn about the maritime industry.
• GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico - maritime museum
  Cooper Riverside Park, 155 Water St, Mobile, AL 366024. Phone: (251) 436-8901. GulfQuest/National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico opened on September 26, 2015, is a non-profit interactive maritime museum dedicated to the maritime heritage and culture of the Gulf of Mexico.
• Honda Manufacturing of Alabama - car manufacturer
  1800 Honda Drive, Lincoln, AL. Open: October 2023 their website says "The Honda Visitors Program and all plant tours are currently suspended. Please check back regularly for the most up-to-date information on when tours will resume. Thank you!" Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
  Advance reservations required.
  Tours typically last approximately one-and-a-half hours.
  Limit of 50 people per tour. For more than 50, type the number in special accommodations.
  Must be at least 12 year old to tour. All tours are free of charge.
• Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Factory Tour - automobile manufacturer
  700 Hyundai Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36105. Open: Reservations Required: To book a Hyundai tour, click here. Tour reservations may be made up to six months in advance. You are invited to come watch the process of building over 1,500 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles each work day. After checking out the display vehicles in the showroom, you’ll watch a briefing and video before boarding the tour tram and putting on a headset and safety glasses. Your tour guide will drive you though the manufacturing plant and explain the many steps involved with making a vehicle. You’ll enjoy watching the technology, learning how it all works, and waving at our enthusiastic Alabama Team Members. Cost: No Charge. Tour Days and Times: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m by reservation only. The tour provides an opportunity to witness the assembly of Hyundai's new design direction called "Fluidic Sculpture" and see the all-new Hyundai Sonata and Elantra. The tour is free of charge and lasts approximately 75-90 minutes. Reservations are required and can be made up to six months in advance⁵.Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama offers guided tours of its manufacturing facility where Hyundai vehicles are produced. Visitors can learn about the various stages of vehicle assembly and the advanced technology used in the manufacturing process.
• Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) - automobile manufacturer
  11 Mercedes Dr, Vance, AL 35490. Phone: (205) 507-2252. Open: Please call (205) 507-2252 or, toll-free, (888) 286-8762 between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:00 pm CST for tour availability or to request your reservation. Their website in October 2023, says the tour is temporarily unavailable. The Mercedes-Benz factory tour provides an inside look at the production of luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Visitors can see the manufacturing process, from the assembly line to quality control, and gain insights into the craftsmanship that goes into these vehicles.
• Remington Firearms Factory - gun maker
  Huntsville, AL. They closed in 2020.
• Tiffin Motorhome Factory Tour - RV factory
  Wayfarer Winfield, AL Plant. Tifton Winfield, AL Directions. For more information or to schedule a tour of our Wayfarer Plant please call (205) 487-4710. Take a guided factory tour of Tiffin Motorhomes to see how we build our luxury RVs! Starting Monday, May 1, we will offer tours Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at our Red Bay facility starting at 9:30 a.m. We will offer one tour at both our Belmont and Winfield facilities on Thursdays starting at 12:30 p.m.  Holidays are excluded from these days. Please wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. The Red Bay walking tour departs from the Visitor’s Center at the front gate and lasts approximately an hour and a half.  The Belmont tour departs from the guard shack at the entrance.
  The Winfield tour departs from the main lobby. No appointment necessary. The tour provides an opportunity to see how Tiffin motorhomes are assembled from start to finish. The tour is free of charge and lasts approximately two hours.

Alabama Historical Forts and Sites, Famous buildings, Active Federal facilities to tour, Geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

 

• NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is situated on the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Visitors are welcomed at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Marshall's official Visitor Center, which offers public bus tours of Marshall. Space and Rocket Center visitors can learn more about Marshall's legacy and ongoing work. Interactive exhibits and historic artifacts demonstrate our critical role in supporting the breadth of NASA's exploration and science missions. Visitors will learn how Marshall develops, integrates and manages complex space systems and scientific research projects that continue to yield exciting and innovative scientific discoveries. Space and Rocket Center bus tours of Marshall are $20 for guests ages 5 and up. Children 4 and under ride free. For more information, visit: https://www.rocketcenter.com/bustours. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) is a Smithsonian Affiliate and the Official Visitor Center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. We have one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world.
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State parks

• Bladon Springs State Park
• Blue Springs State Park
• Buck's Pocket State Park
• Cathedral Caverns State Park
• Cheaha State Park
• Chewacla State Park
• Chickasaw State Park
• DeSoto State Park
• Frank Jackson State Park
• Gulf State Park
• Joe Wheeler State Park
• Lake Guntersville State Park
• Lake Jackson RV Park at Florala
• Lake Lurleen State Park
• Lakepoint State Park
• Meaher State Park
• Monte Sano State Park
• Oak Mountain State Park
• Paul Grist State Park
• Rickwood Caverns State Park
• Roland Cooper State Park
• Wind Creek State Park

Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

Located in the Deep South, Alabama is hot and humid in the summer, but the northern part of the state does have mountains that make that area cooler. The southern part of the state is hotter, flatter and muggier. Winters are typically brief and usually mild.

Camping in Alabama

If you're looking to save money on your trip, camping may be a fun alternative to hotels and motels, especially, if you already have the gear, or are looking to get some. BTW, this websites ( https://RoadTrippingAndCamping.com ) explains everything you need to know about camping gear and where to the best gear at the lowest prices.

There are both state parks and private campgroundsin Alabama.