Auburn (Alabama) - city in Lee County, Alabama, USA

Auburn is in the River Heritage region of Alabama, and home to Auburn University in downtown Auburn. During the university's home football games, the town fills up with thousands of alumni and college football fans for a weekend of tailgating.

Get in

By plane

Most people traveling to Auburn fly into either Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (IATA: ATL) in Atlanta, GA or Birmingham International Airport (IATA: BHM) in Birmingham, AL, both of which are about 120 miles away.

The nearest commercial airports are Columbus Metropolitan Airport (IATA: CSG) in Columbus, GA or Montgomery Dannelly Field (IATA: MGM) in Montgomery, AL. Both are about 50 miles from Auburn.

• Robert G. Pitts Auburn-Opelika Airport (IATA: AUO), 32.615°, -85.433889°. Has no service from major air carriers.

By train

There is no passenger train service to Auburn.

By car

Auburn is accessible from Interstate 85, which runs four miles south of Auburn.

• I-85, providing access to Atlanta, GA and Montgomery, AL. Exits 51 (College Street) and 57 (Glenn Avenue) provide the most convenient access to Auburn.
• US-29, providing access to Troy and points south.
• US-280, providing access to Birmingham, AL. It is fastest to take AL-147 from US-280 into Auburn, as US-280 continues to Opelika.

By bus

• Greyhound. Provides service to the Auburn area.
• BreakShuttle, Support@GroupZOOM.com. Only available during scheduled breaks. Private service geared for students transiting during recesses, though is open to the public. Provides service from Atlanta, Nashville, and Tampa, among other cities.

Get around

By foot

Downtown Auburn is easily traversable on foot. The sidewalks and pedestrian crossings in and near downtown are heavily utilized by Auburn's student population which means that cars will often stop if they see a pedestrian waiting at a crosswalk. However, the further one gets from downtown, the greater the distances become. Eventually, you will need to reconcile yourself to using a car or bicycle.

Areas outside of Downtown and north Auburn, especially areas along South College and Wire Road, lack sidewalks and pedestrian crossings and are not suitable for pedestrian traffic.

By bicycle

Bicycles are a common method of transportation in Auburn, allowing one to cover longer distances than when on foot. Most areas in Auburn can be reached by a short bike ride of any other point. Auburn was voted a "bicycle friendly city" by the league of American Bicyclists because of the city's bike plan, bike lanes, and advocacy efforts. Both the City of Auburn and Auburn University have established bicycle committees.

Auburn City Police will occasionally cite bicyclists for riding on the sidewalk. In Auburn (like the rest of the U.S.), bikes are considered traffic just like cars, though drivers will often ignore bicyclists. Be aware of your surroundings.

By taxi

• Tiger Taxi, +1 334 444-4444, admin@auburntaxi.com. 24/7. Provides personal transportation services geared towards Auburn University and the surrounding area.
• Twin City Taxi, +1 334-246-9999, jcorrea@twincitytaxillc.com. 24/7. Service provided to Auburn-Opelika area. Airport shuttles available. $3 initial fee, $2 per mile

By transit

• Lee-Russell Public Transit (LRPT), +1 334 749-9092. M-F 6AM-6PM. Dial-a-ride service. Primarily for residents of Auburn-Opelika. All pickups must be scheduled at least one business day in advance. TigerTransit provides transportation services exclusively for Auburn University students and faculty, and is not accessible to people unaffiliated with the university.

Phenix City Express provides transportation services to the general public during football gamedays.

By car

Cars are the most popular form of transport in and around Auburn. Traffic can be bad during short periods of time near downtown Auburn. Parking can also be difficult to find near downtown Auburn at certain times of the day. On Friday and Saturday of home football game weekends, traffic and parking are particularly bad.

Visitors are advised to pay close attention to any notices concerning the towing of unauthorized vehicles. Towing notices are enforced on a regular basis. In particular, towing from apartment complexes may occur at any time of the day or night.

Car Rental Companies include:

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 806 Opelika Road, +1 334 826-0227. M-F 7:30AM-6PM, Sa 6:30AM-noon, closed Su.

See

• Auburn University, 32.603374°, -85.486078°. The scenic campus is home to 23,000 students and features buildings in the Greek Revival through the Modern styles.
• Donald E. Davis Arboretum, 249 Sciences Center Classroom, 32.595021°, -85.483478°, +1 334 844-5770. Daily, sunrise-sunset. The arboretum features native trees, shrubs and wildflowers of the southeastern United States, including 150 different tree species native to Alabama and the Southeast. Located on the corner of Mell Street and Simmons Drive on the Auburn University campus. Free admission 2019-08-23
• Eagle's Nest, on top of Haley Center on the Auburn University campus. The highest point in Lee County provides a fantastic view of campus and the surrounding countryside. Can only be accessed by Auburn University Student Recruiters and War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen, so take a campus tour starting from the Upper Quad.
• Jordan-Hare Stadium, 32.602222°, -85.489167°. The 87,451-seat venue for Auburn University's football team located in the center of campus. No admission except on gameday, but still a terrific sight.
• Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, 901 S College St, 32.5877°, -85.4838°, +1 334-844-1484. A 40,000-square-foot art museum opened in 2003, featuring visiting collections as well as a permanent collection devoted primarily to 19th- and 20th-century American and European art. Also features 15 acres of botanical gardens featuring large-scale sculpture, a three-acre lake, and a landscape that incorporates walking paths, benches and water features. Located on South College at Kimberly Drive. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and college students and children under 17 free 2016-10-06
• Lovelace Athletic Museum, 250 Beard-Eaves Court, 32.597941°, -85.492045°, +1 334-844-4750. A museum dedicated to the history of Auburn Athletics, primarily focused on Auburn football but showcasing Auburn's success in other arenas. Located on the corner of Samford Drive and Donahue Drive on the Auburn University campus. Admission is free.

Do

• Roll the trees at Toomer's Corner (intersection of Magnolia and College streets in downtown Auburn) following an Auburn victory.
• Get lemonade at Toomer's Drugs, located at Toomer's Corner. Once there was also a nostalgic college bar called the War Eagle Supper Club, but it was demolished in 2016.
• Follow the Auburn University Walk of Fame on the streets of downtown Auburn.
• Take a bike ride on Auburn's many on-street bike lanes and off-street bike paths (or, in absence of a bike lane, ride on the street because bikes rule the road in Auburn!)
• Tuskegee National Forest, 32.4764°, -85.6072°. Just west of Auburn, it offers the 8.5-mile-long Bartram National Recreation Trail which is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and bird watching.
• Chewacla State Park, 32.55409°, -85.48085°. A pleasant park to unwind which is located just off I-85.

Golf

Golfing is an enormously popular outdoor sport in Auburn among both visitors and those associated with the university. The area's mild winters mean that the game can be played year-round, and a number of fantastic golf courses are located in and around the Auburn area. Auburn was also ranked as the number one city in the nation for Golf in 2005 by Golf Digest (dead link: January 2023). Among them:

• Robert Trent Jones Grand National. It's a stop on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and features 54 holes of golf along Lake Saugahatchee. Green fees are from $40 to $62.
• Indian Pines features 6,213 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. Green fees from $25 to $30.

Buy

• Auburn University Bookstore, 32.60369°, -85.48633°. Located in Haley Center on the Auburn University campus. Auburn University souvenirs and supplies.
• J&M Bookstore, 115 S College St, 32.606019°, -85.481641°, +1 334-887-7007. 10am–5pm. Located on College Street between Magnolia Avenue and Thach Avenue. Auburn University souvenirs and supplies.
• Tiger Rags. Located on Gay Street between Magnolia Avenue and Thach Avenue, Auburn University souvenirs and the unofficial official gameday and victory T-shirts.

Eat

In addition to the usual fare found in most American cities, Auburn has some excellent local and regional restaurants:

• Amsterdam Café, 410 South Gay Street, +1 334 826-8181, info@amsterdamcafeauburn.com. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM.
• Ariccia Italian Trattoria & Bar, +1 334 821-8200. A pricey but excellent Italian restaurant that is a great place to take a date.
• Brick Oven Pizza Co., 2520 Enterprise Drive (on Gay Street near the intersection of Glenn Avenue), +1 334 745-0223, info@brickovenonline.com. Su-Th 11AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11AM-10:30PM. A gourmet pizza restaurant with pizzas and pasta. Eat outside if you can.
• China Palace, 2450 Martin Luther King Drive (On College Street in downtown Auburn adjacent to the Heart of Auburn Hotel), +1 334 887-8866. M-F 11AM-2PM, 5PM-9:30PM; Sa Su 5PM-9:30PM. Serves an "Asian fusion" including Chinese, Thai, and even a sushi bar that is very reasonably priced and deliciously fresh!
• Hamilton's on Magnolia, 174 East Magnolia Avenue, 32.60638°, -85.48005°, +1 334 887-2677, info@hamiltonsonmagnolia.com. Su-Tu 11AM-9PM, W-Sa 11AM-10PM.
• Laredo Mexican Grill (Laredo's), 1832 Opelika Road, +1 334 246-4101. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-9PM. A good Mexican place. Wednesday night is Margerita Night.
• Little Italy Pizzeria, 129 East Magnolia Avenue, +1 334 821-6161. Great pizza at a great price. Stagnooooooo!
• Mellow Mushroom Pizza, +1 334 887-6356. Downtown Auburn on College Street. Pizza joint with a great atmosphere and is always hopping, especially after an Auburn victory.
• Momma Goldberg's Deli (Momma G's), 500 West Magnolia Avenue (On the corner of West Magnolia Avenue and North Donahue Drive.), +1 334 821-0185. Su-Th 10AM-2AM, F Sa 10AM-3AM. An Auburn landmark, the run-down shack conceals some of the best sandwiches to be found anywhere. Be sure to try the "Momma's Love all the way."
• Niffer's Place, 1151 Opelika Road, +1 334 821-3118. M-W 11AM-9:30PM, Th-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM. A local casual dining restaurant with good hamburgers, salads, wings, and sandwiches.
• Tenda Chick, +1 334 821-8543. Excellent all-around chicken restaurant but famous locally for its chicken fingers.

Drink

Auburn has several good bars for students and visitors. The bars in the downtown area regularly change names and redecorate, so keep an eye out for new bars.

A relic not to be forgotten is War Eagle Supper Club, as it was an Auburn classic. Once ranked by Playboy among the best college bars in the country, Supper Club was a different kind of place. It drew all crowds and all ages, and was unrivaled for great live music and dirty ambience.

• 17-16, 156 E Magnolia Ave, 32.60634°, -85.48050°. A fairly large one story bar with a very relaxed feel. Pool tables in the back and an outdoor patio and bar in the back as well. Very popular with Greeks and not very rowdy, A good place to go early in the night before Bourbon or Sky Bar. 21+

Sleep

Budget

• Auburn Lodge, 2145 South College Street, 32.563769°, -85.502824°, +1 334 826-8900. $60-75 per night
• InTown Extended Suites, 1188 Commerce Drive, 32.630263°, -85.439694°, +1 334 826-1123.
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Auburn, 2174 South College Street, 32.563474°, -85.504257°, +1 334 826-1444. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.
• Stay Lodge, 1654 S College St, 32.575420°, -85.500155°, +1 334 521-9100.
• Quality Inn, 2283 South College Street, 32.563051°, -85.503072°, +1 334 821-6699. $65 per night

Mid-range

• Auburn's Gameday Center, 129 North Donahue Drive, 32.607470°, -85.490711°, +1 334 826-8870. Very close to Jordan-Hare.
• Crenshaw Guest House, 371 North College Street (3.5 miles north of Exit 51.), 32.612416°, -85.482091°, +1 334 821-1131. Check-in: 3PM-6PM, check-out: 11AM. Traditional bed & breakfast. Two-night minimum. $110-150 per night

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Auburn Opelika, 2257 Interstate Drive (Near Auburn University), 32.615559°, -85.406298°, +1-334-742-2590. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. From $119 per night 2015-04-22

• Hampton Inn Auburn, 2430 South College Street, 32.556179°, -85.508304°, +1 334 821-4111. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.
• Holiday Inn Express Auburn, 2013 South College Street, 32.567552°, -85.500633°, +1 334 502-1090. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.
• Sleep Inn & Suites, 135 Spirit Drive, 32.561935°, -85.502324°, +1 334 501-7171. $79-85 per night
• Quality Inn University Area, 1212 Mall Parkway, 32.626884°, -85.443810°, +1 334 502-5020. $77-82 per night

Splurge

• Fountainview Mansion, 2700 Mimms Trail, 32.547790°, -85.492367°, +1 334-704-4451, info@fountainviewmansion.com. Luxury mansion. Two-night minimum on football weekends. $149 and up
• Hilton Garden Inn Auburn/Opelika, 255 Hilton Garden Drive, 32.605151°, -85.430330°, +1 334 502-3500. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.
• The Hotel at Auburn University, 241 South College Street, 32.602943°, -85.480890°, +1 800-228-2876. A fantastic hotel located just across from central campus. Formerly known as the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center, the hotel features 248 rooms also has a restaurant and lounge, Ariccia and a comfortable lobby area. $$
• The Collegiate Hotel at Auburn (CoHo), 205 South Gay Street, 32.604089°, -85.479655°, +1 334-821-2646, manager@staycoho.com. A former women's dormitory that was renovated, it features a rooftop bar, wrap around porch, and 40 guest rooms and suites. 2018-08-24

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