Selma to Montgomery March Byway
US 80 from Selma to Montgomery along the route of the 1965 voting rights march, from Brown Chapel and the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the State Capitol.
Also known as Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail; US 80
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length54 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout an hour of driving, or a full day to visit the sites[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsUS 80[2]
- Start and endBrown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma to the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, following the march route[2]
- Fees and passesSome museums along the route charge fees.[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
This byway follows the route of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March for voting rights. It starts at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma, crosses the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and follows US 80 through Lowndes County to the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery. The National Park Service manages it as a National Historic Trail, with trail markers along the way.
Between the cities, the road passes the farms and church grounds where marchers camped over five days and four nights, and memorials to people who gave their lives in the movement.
The Park Service runs interpretive centers in Lowndes County and Montgomery, open Monday through Saturday. The Selma center is closed for major construction, so check the trail's hours page before you go.
Stops along the way
-
Brown Chapel AME Church
Where the march began in Selma.
Official information · 32.41252, -87.01625 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Edmund Pettus Bridge
Bridge over the Alabama River, site of "Bloody Sunday," March 7, 1965.
Official information · 32.40609, -87.01897 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
David Hall Farm (Campsite 1)
Where marchers camped the first night, March 21, 1965.
Official information · 32.33453, -86.94787 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Viola Liuzzo Memorial
Memorial beside US 80 in Lowndes County.
Official information · 32.26171, -86.64521 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
City of St. Jude (Campsite 4)
The marchers' last campsite before Montgomery.
Official information · 32.3536, -86.32705 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Alabama State Capitol
The march's destination in Montgomery.
Official information · 32.37771, -86.30087 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Montgomery Curb MarketMontgomery, AL · about 0.4 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- Selma Farmers' MarketSelma, AL · about 0.7 mi from the route
- Fairview Farmers' MarketMontgomery, AL · about 0.9 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- Montgomery State Farmers MarketMontgomery, AL · about 2.7 mi from the route
- Millbrook Farmers' MarketMillbrook, AL · about 7.5 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Selma to Montgomery March Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail: directions and hours (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).