Transportation in Alabama (Overview)

Transportation in Alabama relies on a network of Interstate highways, freight and passenger railroads, commercial airports and Gulf Coast shipping. The state is crossed by Interstates 10, 20, 22, 59, 65 and 85, has passenger rail service on two Amtrak routes and is served by commercial airports in Birmingham and Huntsville, among others.[1][2][3]

Highways

Alabama’s Interstate system includes I-10 across the southwest, I-20 and I-59 through Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, I-22 between Mississippi and Birmingham, I-65 as the main north-south route and I-85 from Montgomery to Georgia, plus spurs such as I-165, I-565 and I-759. See Interstate Highways in Alabama.[1]

Railroads and passenger trains

Railroads began in Alabama in 1832 with the Tuscumbia Railway and shaped the growth of Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile. Freight rail is operated today by companies including CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF and Canadian National. Passenger service is provided by the Crescent and, since August 2025, the Mardi Gras Service between Mobile and New Orleans.[2][4] See the railroad history of Alabama.

Airports

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport was dedicated in 1931, opened a new terminal in 2014 and served about 3.09 million passengers in 2019. Huntsville International Airport opened in 1967, has a 12,600-foot runway and handled 1.72 million passengers in 2025.[3] See Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and Huntsville International Airport.

Maritime and military sites

Mobile’s harbor on the Gulf of Mexico anchors the state’s maritime history, and the preserved battleship at Battleship Memorial Park sits on Mobile Bay.

From rivers to rails

With hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, water transport was the most significant way to travel in the territorial period and early statehood. Railroad construction began in 1832, and by the mid-nineteenth century rail had reshaped the state economy and landscape, spurring civic, agricultural and industrial growth.[6]

Roads and air

Modern road building is tied to the good roads movement of the twentieth century, and the rise of military and civil aviation brought more commerce and people to the state. The aerospace industry helped the nation reach outer space and land on the Moon. Related topics include steamboats, Alabama railroads, the Federal Road, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and the state airports.[6]

FAQs

What are the main Interstates in Alabama? I-10, I-20, I-22, I-59, I-65 and I-85.

Does Amtrak serve Alabama? Yes, with the Crescent (Anniston, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa) and the Mardi Gras Service (Mobile).

Sources

1. Wikipedia: List of Interstate Highways in Alabama
2. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Alabama Railroads
3. Wikipedia: Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport
4. Wikipedia: Crescent (train)
5. Wikipedia: Huntsville International Airport
6. Encyclopedia of Alabama: Transportation in Alabama

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 10, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue