Getting around Selma, Alabama, is easiest to plan around downtown, which sits along the Alabama River and includes the Water Avenue and Old Town historic districts. From Luxury Inn rooms, the city centre is about a four-minute drive or a 33-minute walk.
- Downtown Selma is centered along the Alabama River.
- The Edmund Pettus Bridge is at Broad Street and Water Avenue.
- Selma has four historic districts: Water Avenue, Old Town, Riverview, and Icehouse.
How Selma is laid out for visitors
Selma’s downtown landmarks cluster around the riverfront and the Water Avenue and Old Town historic districts. The city’s four historic districts are Water Avenue, Old Town, Riverview, and Icehouse; before the January 2023 tornado, they contained more than 1,250 contributing historic structures.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge stands at Broad Street and Water Avenue, with the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute nearby. Brown Chapel AME Church is at 410 Martin Luther King Jr. Street. Those locations give you useful points to orient a walk through central Selma.
How do you get from Luxury Inn to downtown Selma?
Selma city centre takes about four minutes by car or about 33 minutes on foot from Luxury Inn. For a first stop near the bridge, the Selma Interpretive Center is at 2 Broad Street, at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and serves as a welcome center for the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail.
Brown Chapel AME Church’s visitor listing says admission is charged and advises calling ahead to schedule a tour.
Getting between the main landmarks
The Edmund Pettus Bridge is at Broad Street and Water Avenue, and visitors can walk across it. The National Voting Rights Museum and Institute is near the bridge.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge visitor guide explains the bridge’s place in Selma’s visitor area.
Walking, driving, and local transport
Walking works for downtown stops if you allow more time than you would for a drive. The City of Selma says visitors can walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. For a broader route through downtown and its landmarks, the one-day Selma itinerary brings the city’s stops into a day plan.
Street parking throughout Selma is free, according to the National Park Service. Uber says riders can request rides in Selma through its app, though pickup times may be longer than in larger cities.
During the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee, the formal Sunday crossing follows a walk of seven city blocks from Brown Chapel AME Church to the foot of the bridge. The bridge closes to vehicles starting early Sunday morning during Jubilee, and short, unannounced closures may happen in the days beforehand. Parking near the bridge fills quickly on Jubilee Sunday.
Accessibility and practical checks
Confirm opening arrangements for sites that require advance planning. Brown Chapel AME Church’s visitor listing advises calling ahead to schedule a tour. If your visit overlaps with the Bridge Crossing Jubilee, check the National Park Service official site before you go for current bridge and event guidance.
FAQs
Can you walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge?
Yes. The City of Selma says visitors can walk across the bridge, which stands at Broad Street and Water Avenue.
Is parking free in Selma?
Street parking throughout Selma is free. Spaces near the bridge fill quickly on Jubilee Sunday.
Can you request a rideshare in Selma?
Uber says riders can request rides in Selma through its app. Pickup times may be longer than in larger cities.