Talladega Scenic Drive

State: Alabama
Length: 26 miles / 41.8 km
Time to Allow: One hour to drive the Byway.

Visit east-central Alabama on the Talladega Scenic Drive. It’s a short drive to Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama. The byway is short at just 26.4 miles focusing on the Talladega National Forest. It’s drivable in just an hour, but it takes longer to fully enjoy the sights like scenic mountains, rock outcroppings, rural settlements, and state parks. You can even see Alabama’s highest peak with 2,407 feet with access to the Horseblock and Cheaha mountains connected to the Appalachian Mountains.

Make the Cheaha Wilderness your first stop picking up the trail in the southwest. It’s densely covered in woodlands stretching all the way to the Talladega National Forest, with scenic outlooks and roads leading to the top of the mountain. Get panoramic views of Alabama and hiking options too. Wild turkeys and deers are often seen in the wilderness area, and two lakes are accessible by trails. Try out primitive camping at the Turnipseed Campground.

From there, head to the Talladega National Forest to visit the Appalachian Mountains that lead all the way to Georgia and up to Maine. The 400,000-acre forest covers the southern end of the infamous mountains. You can also visit the Lake Chinnabeee Recreation Area for seclusion and a 17-acre lake but does not have a sandy beach. However, you can swim, fish, and enjoy many other outdoor activities. Unfortunately, camping is no longer allowed due to seasonal flooding.

Stop at Adam’s Gap, accessible by the Pinhoti Trail. Along the way, you will see incredible rock outcroppings, streams wildflowers streams, waterfalls, and impressive views. Make sure to visit the Kymulga Grist Mill and Covered Bridge. The two historical sites are around 200 years old and offer incredible views. The Cahulga Creek Park offers beautiful scenery and activities, including boating and fishing.

The trail ends in Helfin, Alabama, close to the Georgia border, moving north. That town was incorporated in 1882 and offers shopping for Cleburne County. While there, make sure to stay at the Pine Glen Campground Recreation. They offer cooking grills, bathrooms, fishing, and hiking close to the Pinhoti Trail. Then, stop at Marie’s Barbeque House for homemade Brunswick stew and peanut butter cake. In the fall, the town offers the Bennett Farms Pumpkin Patch, where you can pick your own pumpkins.

On this byway, expect to spend more time in the wilderness than in society. The Talladega park offers everything you could want in a national park with recreation areas with open camping in the right seasons. You can also enjoy swimming beaches, state-of-art campgrounds with options for both RVs and tent camping. With electrical, water, and sewer hookups, RV’s will love the Corinth Recreation Area. They even offer a 100 person pavilion and dressing rooms with warm showers. Spend the day or spend a week and connect with nature forgetting your troubles on this incredible byway.

More Alabama Byways

You can check out additional Byways in Alabama by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the Alabama Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.