Alabama Road Trip with Kids: Bridges, Bravery & Breaking Bread (Day 9)
Welcome to Day 9: Selma to Montgomery Trail
If you’re looking for meaningful things to do with kids in Central Alabama, Day 9 of our road trip follows one of the most important Civil Rights routes in American history. From walking the Edmund Pettus Bridge to visiting the Lowndes Interpretive Center, today’s stops offer powerful moments that will spark deep questions and unforgettable family conversations.
If your kids are reading Ethan & Oliver Adventures: The Great Alabama Road Trip, Chapter 9 captures this journey through courage, silence, and story—barefoot steps, heartfelt whispers, and the sacred rhythm of learning from the past.
Itinerary Overview
Route: Selma → Lowndes County → Montgomery
Total Drive Time: ~2.5 hours
Activity Time: ~6–7 hours
Start Time: 8:00 AM
Stop 1: Edmund Pettus Bridge – Selma, AL
Website: Edmund Pettus Bridge
What to Expect
Begin your day at the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge, where the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery March began. Walking across this steel arch over the Alabama River is a deeply moving experience, offering a tangible connection to “Bloody Sunday” and the courage of those who marched for voting rights.
NPS Stamp: Yes (Selma Interpretive Center nearby)— No Passport book? No Problem — Grab Yours Here!
Educational Tie-In:
- Civil Rights Movement & Voting Rights Act of 1965
- March 7, 1965 (“Bloody Sunday”)
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and peaceful protest
- Role of children and teens in the march
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: How do you think you would feel walking in the march in 1965? What would you be most nervous or proud about?
Faith Connection: Isaiah 41:10 — “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.” Discuss how the marchers found courage in their convictions, even when they faced danger.
Stop 2: David Hall Farm – First Campsite (Drive-by View)
What to Expect
A quiet farmland stop where marchers camped on their first night. It offers a chance to imagine the exhaustion — and determination — of those walking nearly 54 miles over five days.
Educational Tie-In:
- Geography of the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
- Community support for the marchers
Stop 3: Lowndes Interpretive Center – White Hall, AL
Website: Lowndes Interpretive Center
What to Expect
Located along U.S. 80, this museum immerses visitors in the stories of the marchers through photographs, artifacts, and oral histories. A meaningful stop for understanding the human side of history.
NPS Stamp: Yes
Educational Tie-In:
- Primary sources: photographs and oral histories
- Role of rural communities in the march
- Youth participation in social movements
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: Why do you think kids and teens chose to march alongside adults?
Stop 4: Robert Gardner Farm – Third Campsite (Drive-by View)
What to Expect
Another significant resting point for the marchers, reminding visitors of the long, physically demanding nature of peaceful protest.
Stop 5: Dinner at Mellow Mushroom – Montgomery, AL
Website: Mellow Mushroom Montgomery
What to Expect
End the day with pizza, pretzels, and family stories at this colorful, art-filled restaurant — a nostalgic spot for Mom and Aunt Jan.
What We Learned
- Walking where history happened creates a deeper understanding than reading alone
- Ordinary people — including children — made extraordinary sacrifices for justice
- Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s taking the next step even when fear is present
State Symbols Spotted Today:
- Alabama River (geographic landmark)
Plan It Yourself
You can map this exact route—and customize it for your own family—using Roadtrippers Plus. It’s our favorite trip-planning tool for finding kid-friendly stops, tracking drive times, and keeping everything in one place.
View our full trip on Roadtrippers: Ethan & Oliver Adventures: Great Alabama Road Trip Map
Up Next: Day 10 – Courage, Change, and Conversations
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