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Chickasaw Shipyard Village Historic DistrictChickasaw, #1 on this list · Chickasaw Shipyard Village Historic District · Photo: Cecouchman · CC BY-SA 3.0
Alabama rankings · Outdoors

Best towns for the outdoors in Alabama

Chickasaw ranks first on outdoors among Alabama’s 187 towns of 2,500+; 6 of the 187 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work

#1

Chickasaw

Mobile County · 6,166 people
A+

Outdoors grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #180 of 187 in AL

#3

Anniston

Calhoun County · 20,930 people
A

Outdoors grade, better than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #181 of 187 in AL

All 187 towns

Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 32 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

187 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1ChickasawMobile County · 6,166 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #180 of 187
2PelhamShelby County · 25,664 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 187
3AnnistonCalhoun County · 20,930 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #181 of 187
4GuntersvilleMarshall County · 9,394 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 187
5Orange BeachBaldwin County · 8,798 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #53 of 187
6HuntsvilleMadison County · 233,627 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #61 of 187
7CitronelleMobile County · 3,897 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 187
8Gulf ShoresBaldwin County · 17,394 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #74 of 187
9DecaturMorgan County · 58,056 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #110 of 187
10GadsdenEtowah County · 33,367 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #168 of 187
11OppCovington County · 6,738 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #124 of 187
12BirminghamJefferson County · 195,893 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #164 of 187
13FlorenceLauderdale County · 42,581 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 187
14MoundvilleHale County · 3,628 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #85 of 187
15AuburnLee County · 85,113 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 187
16EufaulaBarbour County · 12,437 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #183 of 187
17PinsonJefferson County · 7,830 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 187
T18MobileMobile County · 200,824 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #169 of 187
T18Spanish FortBaldwin County · 11,203 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #41 of 187
20TuscaloosaTuscaloosa County · 114,316 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 187
21WetumpkaElmore County · 7,535 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 187
22SaralandMobile County · 16,652 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #64 of 187
23Fort PayneDeKalb County · 15,189 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #81 of 187
24McCallaunincorporated, Jefferson County · 13,253 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #78 of 187
25PrichardMobile County · 18,825 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #173 of 187
26DemopolisMarengo County · 6,641 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #165 of 187
27MontevalloShelby County · 7,872 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 187
28SheffieldColbert County · 9,416 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #151 of 187
29MadisonMadison County · 67,968 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 187
30Alexander CityTallapoosa County · 14,515 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #160 of 187
31CentrevilleBibb County · 2,709 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 187
32Mountain BrookJefferson County · 21,661 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 187
33SelmaDallas County · 16,077 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #185 of 187
34HooverJefferson County · 93,550 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 187
35CullmanCullman County · 20,799 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #72 of 187
36ChildersburgTalladega County · 4,571 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 187
37PricevilleMorgan County · 3,952 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 187
38ScottsboroJackson County · 16,123 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #106 of 187
39IrondaleJefferson County · 13,545 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #105 of 187
40FayetteFayette County · 4,060 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #130 of 187
41DothanHouston County · 72,060 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #161 of 187
T42CaleraShelby County · 18,992 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 187
T42Lake ViewTuscaloosa County · 3,969 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 187
44OxfordCalhoun County · 22,199 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 187
45LoxleyBaldwin County · 6,131 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #102 of 187
46HelenaShelby County · 23,388 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 187
47Eagle Pointunincorporated, Shelby County · 3,110 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 187
48GenevaGeneva County · 4,307 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 187
49SilverhillBaldwin County · 2,529 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 187
50Muscle ShoalsColbert County · 17,666 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 187
51HaleyvilleWinston County · 4,303 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 187
52HomewoodJefferson County · 28,118 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #36 of 187
53FairhopeBaldwin County · 26,625 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #59 of 187
54MonroevilleMonroe County · 5,758 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #162 of 187
55Bay MinetteBaldwin County · 8,555 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 187
56BoazMarshall County · 10,619 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #63 of 187
57MoultonLawrence County · 3,436 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #109 of 187
58GreenvilleButler County · 6,912 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #184 of 187
59Phenix CityRussell County · 38,344 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #159 of 187
60AlabasterShelby County · 34,748 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #22 of 187
61ClantonChilton County · 9,289 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 187
62OneontaBlount County · 7,022 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #65 of 187
63RussellvilleFranklin County · 10,904 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #82 of 187
64TallasseeElmore County · 4,738 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 187
65AlbertvilleMarshall County · 23,710 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 187
66PrattvilleAutauga County · 40,582 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 187
T67JacksonClarke County · 4,452 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #174 of 187
T67TalladegaTalladega County · 14,840 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #172 of 187
69ThomasvilleClarke County · 3,545 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #163 of 187
70HancevilleCullman County · 3,390 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #62 of 187
71OzarkDale County · 14,269 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #167 of 187
T72MontgomeryMontgomery County · 195,300 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #152 of 187
T72ValleyChambers County · 10,294 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #171 of 187
74JacksonvilleCalhoun County · 14,400 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #79 of 187
75HartselleMorgan County · 16,312 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #37 of 187
76BrewtonEscambia County · 5,113 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 187
77BrentBibb County · 4,414 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #156 of 187
78Theodoreunincorporated, Mobile County · 4,964 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #157 of 187
79BessemerJefferson County · 24,984 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #177 of 187
T80AdamsvilleJefferson County · 4,178 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 187
T80CentreCherokee County · 3,912 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #129 of 187
82SpringvilleSt. Clair County · 5,597 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 187
83FoleyBaldwin County · 30,354 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 187
84MidfieldJefferson County · 4,906 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #144 of 187
85AthensLimestone County · 34,209 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 187
86LivingstonSumter County · 3,242 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #182 of 187
87EutawGreene County · 2,640 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #145 of 187
88AtmoreEscambia County · 8,360 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #186 of 187
89AndalusiaCovington County · 8,763 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 187
90Vestavia HillsJefferson County · 38,306 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 187
91PiedmontCalhoun County · 4,696 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 187
92HamiltonMarion County · 6,769 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 187
93New HopeMadison County · 3,054 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 187
94HueytownJefferson County · 16,159 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #153 of 187
95TarrantJefferson County · 5,639 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 187
96JasperWalker County · 14,585 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #66 of 187
97EvergreenConecuh County · 3,272 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #176 of 187
98HartfordGeneva County · 2,801 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #52 of 187
99ArabMarshall County · 9,061 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 187
100TrussvilleJefferson County · 27,273 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 187
101Underwood-Petersvilleunincorporated, Lauderdale County · 3,100 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 187
102Pleasant GroveJefferson County · 9,346 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 187
103RoanokeRandolph County · 5,440 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 187
104SemmesMobile County · 6,259 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #178 of 187
105DaphneBaldwin County · 31,396 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 187
106TroyPike County · 18,022 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #149 of 187
T107HeadlandHenry County · 5,603 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #48 of 187
T107TrinityMorgan County · 2,638 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #35 of 187
109LeedsJefferson County · 12,831 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #87 of 187
110Pell CitySt. Clair County · 14,320 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 187
111LanettChambers County · 6,781 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #170 of 187
112AttallaEtowah County · 5,807 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #141 of 187
113RobertsdaleBaldwin County · 7,761 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 187
114Grand Bayunincorporated, Mobile County · 3,553 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 187
115Valley GrandeDallas County · 3,903 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #179 of 187
116GlencoeEtowah County · 5,426 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 187
T117ColumbianaShelby County · 5,106 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #46 of 187
T117RainsvilleDeKalb County · 6,020 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 187
119Moores Millunincorporated, Madison County · 6,378 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #38 of 187
120West End-Cobb Townunincorporated, Calhoun County · 3,453 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 187
T121ClayJefferson County · 10,198 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 187
T121Cottondaleunincorporated, Tuscaloosa County · 2,632 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #77 of 187
123TuskegeeMacon County · 8,644 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 187
124EnterpriseCoffee County · 31,211 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 187
125NorthportTuscaloosa County · 31,648 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #103 of 187
126Center PointJefferson County · 15,538 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 187
127Smiths StationLee County · 5,596 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #70 of 187
128Meridianvilleunincorporated, Madison County · 11,150 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 187
129WarriorJefferson County · 3,320 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 187
130TuscumbiaColbert County · 9,332 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #39 of 187
131OpelikaLee County · 35,765 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 187
132Rainbow CityEtowah County · 10,406 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #94 of 187
133HeflinCleburne County · 3,572 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #107 of 187
134OdenvilleSt. Clair County · 6,023 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #80 of 187
135Brook Highlandunincorporated, Shelby County · 8,146 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 187
136MillbrookElmore County · 17,623 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 187
T137FairfieldJefferson County · 9,483 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 187
T137FultondaleJefferson County · 9,307 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 187
T137SatsumaMobile County · 6,851 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #44 of 187
140WinfieldMarion County · 4,842 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #83 of 187
141Harvestunincorporated, Madison County · 5,955 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 187
142LuverneCrenshaw County · 2,690 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #150 of 187
143Indian Springs VillageShelby County · 2,553 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 187
144Emerald Mountainunincorporated, Elmore County · 3,535 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 187
145Holtvilleunincorporated, Elmore County · 5,158 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #104 of 187
146MoodySt. Clair County · 13,559 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #58 of 187
147GardendaleJefferson County · 16,425 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #67 of 187
148Tillmans Cornerunincorporated, Mobile County · 17,677 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #148 of 187
149TrianaMadison County · 5,244 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 187
T150ChelseaShelby County · 17,716 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 187
T150ElbaCoffee County · 3,408 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #166 of 187
152KimberlyJefferson County · 4,858 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #32 of 187
153Hokes BluffEtowah County · 4,706 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 187
T154Holtunincorporated, Tuscaloosa County · 3,629 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 187
T154Pike RoadMontgomery County · 11,899 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #33 of 187
156WeaverCalhoun County · 3,289 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 187
157SylacaugaTalladega County · 12,055 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #154 of 187
158Owens Cross RoadsMadison County · 3,334 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #34 of 187
159ArgoSt. Clair County · 4,376 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 187
160LincolnTalladega County · 8,110 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #131 of 187
161DalevilleDale County · 4,971 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #158 of 187
162Red BayFranklin County · 3,196 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 187
163Alexandriaunincorporated, Calhoun County · 3,475 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 187
T164Choccoloccounincorporated, Calhoun County · 2,620 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #54 of 187
T164Highland Lakesunincorporated, Shelby County · 5,866 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 187
166Bon Secourunincorporated, Baldwin County · 2,789 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #68 of 187
167JemisonChilton County · 3,030 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #128 of 187
168MarionPerry County · 2,602 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #175 of 187
169La FayetteChambers County · 2,621 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #155 of 187
170MargaretSt. Clair County · 7,149 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #43 of 187
171Grayson Valleyunincorporated, Jefferson County · 6,077 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 187
172Good HopeCullman County · 2,682 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #27 of 187
T173Hazel Greenunincorporated, Madison County · 3,940 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 187
T173SouthsideEtowah County · 9,718 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 187
175Mount Oliveunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,567 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 187
T176Remlapunincorporated, Blount County · 2,761 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #60 of 187
T176Union SpringsBullock County · 3,091 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #187 of 187
178Redlandunincorporated, Elmore County · 4,982 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 187
179Saksunincorporated, Calhoun County · 10,681 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #84 of 187
180SumitonWalker County · 2,511 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 187
181Stapletonunincorporated, Baldwin County · 3,009 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 187
182Meadowbrookunincorporated, Shelby County · 9,117 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 187
183Huguleyunincorporated, Chambers County · 2,577 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 187
184DadevilleTallapoosa County · 2,920 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 187
T185Forestdaleunincorporated, Jefferson County · 9,742 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #125 of 187
T185Ladoniaunincorporated, Russell County · 3,346 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #86 of 187
T185Pine Levelunincorporated, Autauga County · 4,170 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #45 of 187
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Alabama town is best for the outdoors?

Chickasaw (Mobile County) ranks first on outdoors among 187 towns, with an A+; Pelham and Anniston follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (187 in Alabama). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Alabama page.

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More Alabama lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

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