Downtown, Twickenham, West Huntsville, MidCity, Research Park, Monte Sano, and more: a quick tour of Huntsville's neighborhoods and what each one is good for.
Huntsville is spread out, and knowing which neighborhood is which will make your visit, or your move, a lot easier. Here is a quick tour of the parts of town most people ask about. Each one links to a longer guide.
The Historic Core
Downtown Huntsville is the center of things: Courthouse Square, Big Spring Park, museums, breweries, and coffee shops. Right next to it, Twickenham has the largest concentration of antebellum homes in Alabama, and Old Town and Five Points are shady, walkable districts of bungalows and older homes. Five Points has Big Ed's Pizza, open since 1961.
The Mountain
Monte Sano is the outdoor playground: a state park, a Land Trust preserve, and Burritt on the Mountain. Blossomwood sits at its base, with midcentury ranches and custom homes and quick trail access.
The Creative West Side
West Huntsville is where old industrial buildings became Lowe Mill, Stovehouse, and Campus No. 805. The Space & Rocket Center and the Botanical Garden are here too.
Entertainment and Innovation
MidCity District has The Orion Amphitheater, Topgolf, and murals. Research Park is the second-largest research park in the country, and it is also home to Bridge Street Town Centre and the Village of Providence.
The South and East Suburbs
South Huntsville has Ditto Landing, Green Mountain, and neighborhood restaurants. Hampton Cove is a quiet suburb with a Robert Trent Jones golf complex and the Hays Nature Preserve.
Next Door: Madison
Madison is a separate city west of Huntsville, with a historic railroad downtown, Old Black Bear Brewing, and Trash Pandas baseball.
Which Should You Pick?
- Visiting for a weekend: stay downtown or in West Huntsville, then drive to the rest.
- Want history and walkability: Twickenham, Old Town, or Five Points.
- Want outdoors: Monte Sano, Blossomwood, or Hampton Cove.
- Want new construction and shopping: Research Park or MidCity.
See our first-timer's weekend itinerary for how to put them together.
Details about businesses mentioned in this article (hours, offerings, atmosphere, and more) may change or may not be fully accurate. Spot something that needs a correction? Let us know and we'll fix it right away.
