Huntsville, Alabama for Space Fans: The Perfect 1 Day Itinerary

If you’ve ever wanted to go to Space Camp, then a visit to Huntsville, Alabama is perfect for you! Nicknamed the Rocket City, Huntsville has been in the business of space since the 1950s. Geek-out with this one day itinerary to learn all about Huntsville’s incredible space history.

There are so many amazing things to do in Huntsville, Alabama, but the city is most known for its space history.

Whether you’re a NASA enthusiast, a space history buff, or just looking for a unique day trip, Huntsville is the ideal spot for a journey to the stars.

If you’re a space fanatic only in town for a short amount of time, this 1 day itinerary will give you a taste of what Huntsville has to offer. After this, you’ll definitely want to return!

1 Day Huntsville Itinerary for Space Fans

This one day itinerary will take you on a journey of discovery to explore Huntsville’s remarkable space history.

Have Breakfast at Honest Coffee Roasters

You’re going to want to start off your day of space-filled fun early in the morning if you want to see it all. It’s a good thing, then, that Honest Coffee Roasters in historic downtown Huntsville opens bright and early every day at 7 a.m.

You can grab some coffee or tea and your choice of acai bowls, oatmeal, bagels, sandwiches, or breakfast burritos to fuel you for the long day ahead.

Visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center

It’s a quick 10 to 15 minute drive from downtown to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is the thing to see in Huntsville, whether you’re a space fan or not! Huntsville became a hotspot for space and missile research beginning in 1941 and saw the development of the Redstone Rocket, Explorer 1, the Marshall Space Flight Center, the Apollo Lunar Landing Program, and the Saturn rockets.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center opened in 1970. The museum has an extensive collection of space artifacts and displays that includes rockets, engines, spacecraft, and simulators. The main building houses changing exhibits, an indoor rock climbing wall, an IMAX theater, and more.

Outside, the museum continues with the Rocket Park, the Space Shuttle, the G-Force and Space Shot rides, and the Saturn V rocket.

Inside the Davidson Center building, the suspended segments of a Saturn V rocket, one of only three in the world, show the rocket’s stages and engines. This exhibit hall contains more hands-on activities and simulators.

Admission to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center costs $30 for adults, $20 for children.

Take a Marshall Space Flight Center Tour

While you’re at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, you should make time for a tour of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. This bus tour departs daily from the main entrance of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center at 12:30 p.m.

On the tour, you’ll get to see some exciting NASA facilities like the Propulsion Research and Development Laboratory and the Redstone Test Stand where static tests of the June I and Mercury Redstone Launch Vehicles were performed.

This is a highly regulated tour, so it’s important to note that all participants must be U.S. citizens with valid picture IDs for those over 16.

Admission for the tour costs $20 per person.

Eat a Late Lunch at West End Grill

After all that exploring, you’ll be ready for a late lunch. Just a few minutes away from the Space & Rocket Center is West End Grill.

West End Grill is a great neighborhood pub near Bridge Street Town Centre. They have a menu with a little bit of everything, so you’re sure to find something you like.

Choose from a selection of burgers, sandwiches, grilled favorites, and Southern classics. Go for the Fried Chicken Sandwich or the Southern Country Fried Platter. They also offer an Express Lunch Menu perfect for your short lunch break before you get back to exploring all things nerdy in Huntsville.

Shop Space-Related Art at Lowe Mill ARTS and Entertainment

Once you’re done with lunch, it’s time to explore Huntsville’s creative side.  

Lowe Mill ARTS and Entertainment, located in a repurposed factory not far from downtown, has over 150 artist studios. You can find some incredible art, including plenty of space-related art. You’ll definitely want to check out Danny Davis from Tangled String Studios, a retired NASA engineer who builds stringed instruments, and Kana Clark from Melty Space Case who paints nebulas and planets using melted wax.

There are even workshops and classes throughout the year that you can join and learn how to hone in on your own creativity.

Enjoy the Space-Themed Murals Around Town

Huntsville’s art scene is becoming out-of-this-world. It’s no surprise that many of the murals around town are adorned with space themes.

The best part of checking out Huntsville’s murals is that it’s completely free! These are some of my favorite space-themed murals around Huntsville:

• “Love You To the Moon And Back” is a retro-inspired mural celebrating the anniversary of the Apollo Launch. This mural is located at Interiors by Consign on Whitesburg Drive.
• “Galactic Holmes Art Mural” in Downtown Huntsville on the corner of Holmes Avenue and Washington Street features the planets of the solar system on top of a shimmering galaxy of stars.
• “Welcome to Huntsville” is an iconic mural on the side of 200 West Side Square facing into Big Spring Park East. This mural is like a picture-perfect postcard featuring the Saturn V rocket that you can pose with and send to all your friends.
• “Space is Our Place” located on the side of Straight to Ale at Campus 805 has rockets, planets, and other space-themed and Huntsville-themed imagery. And since Campus 805 the next stop on this itinerary, it’s the perfect place to end your space mural tour!

Have Dinner and Drinks at Campus No. 805

It’s time to head back to school! Campus No. 805 is a trendy hotspot that has taken over an old public middle school campus.

Here you’ll find various bars, breweries, restaurants, and other entertainment. It’s a great place to relax after a long day of touring and learning.

There are plenty of great restaurants to choose from: Ale’s Kitchen, Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza, and Hops N Guac are a few local favorites.

You’ll definitely want to finish off your night with some space-themed local brews like Straight to Ale’s Monkeynaut, named for the brave monkeys that paved the way for manned U.S. spaceflight; Yellowhammer Brewery’s T-Minus, inspired by the powdered orange drink that was sent into space with America’s first astronauts; and any of Rocket Republic Brewery’s aptly named drinks like Mach One, Astronaut Brown, and Terrestri-Ale.

Mapping Out Your Huntsville Space Itinerary

Ready to discover Huntsville’s space history? Use the map below to plan out your 1-day itinerary in Huntsville for space fans!

Get ready to step into the Space Race era and experience Huntsville through the eyes of a space fan. Strap in and get ready for lift off to Huntsville, Alabama to explore the city’s incredible space history!

Still have some time left in Huntsville?

Maybe you flew through all the stops on this itinerary and you still have time left to explore. That’s great! I have plenty of other Huntsville resources to help fill your time here. Check out more amazing things to do in Huntsville:

• Explore Huntsville, Alabama’s Rich History at These Top Sights
• Alabama Hikes: U.S. Space & Rocket Center Trails
• Mother-Daughter Weekend in Huntsville, Alabama
• The Best Rooftop Bars in Huntsville, Alabama
• 7 Spooky and Haunted Spots in Huntsville, Alabama

I hope you enjoy your your amazing 1 day in Huntsville, Alabama for space fans!

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Ready to visit Huntsville, Alabama? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Huntsville to help plan your trip!
• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Huntsville using Hotels.com.
• Get Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

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Cheers!

Paige

Did you find this 1 day space itinerary to Huntsville, Alabama helpful? Let me know in the comments!