USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is a 100-acre veterans memorial on the banks of Mobile Bay in Mobile, Alabama, anchored by two National Historic Landmarks: the World War II battleship USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum.
This guide was updated in June 2026. Multiple travel guides and aggregator sites still list the adult admission as $13 — the current official price for ages 12–55 is $18, a significant increase that most older sources have not reflected. There is also a separate $5 parking fee per vehicle, which is frequently omitted from listings. You can book on Viator ahead of your visit.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL 36602 |
| Hours | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm daily |
| Ticket office closes | 4:00 pm daily |
| Christmas Eve | Open 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (last ticket 1:00 pm) |
| Closed | Christmas Day only |
| Ages 12–55 | $18.00 |
| Ages 55+ | $15.00 |
| Ages 6–11 | $6.00 |
| Age 5 and under | Free |
| Active Duty Military | Free (with CAC card, in person only) |
| Veterans | $15.00 (in person only) |
| AAA members | $16.00 (in person only) |
| Parking | $5 per standard vehicle; $30 for oversized vehicles |
| Nearest transit | Car — no public transit to the park |
| Typical visit | 3–4 hours |
Opening hours
The park is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the ticket office and gift shop closing at 4:00 pm. Visitors who arrive after 4:00 pm cannot purchase tickets and will not be admitted.
Christmas Eve only: The park closes early, at 2:00 pm, with the last ticket sold at 1:00 pm.
There are no seasonal hour variations beyond Christmas Eve. The park opens at 8:00 am seven days a week, making it an early-start-friendly stop.
Ticket prices
All prices are confirmed from the official admissions page. Active Duty Military discounts and the Veterans, AAA, and Active Duty Dependent rates must be purchased in person at the ticket office — they are not available online. The standard online general admission covers ages 6 and above.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Ages 12–55 | $18.00 |
| Ages 55+ | $15.00 |
| Ages 6–11 | $6.00 |
| Age 5 and under | Free |
| Active Duty Military (CAC required, in person) | Free |
| Active Duty Dependents age 12+ (in person) | $13.00 |
| Active Duty Dependents age 6–11 (in person) | $5.00 |
| Veterans (in person, with Military ID) | $15.00 |
| AAA Members (in person, with card) | $16.00 |
Parking is a separate charge of $5 for standard vehicles. Oversized vehicles — including RVs, campers, tractor-trailers, and vehicles with three or more axles — pay $30, which includes one adult admission ticket. Cash is accepted up to $20 bills; no personal or business checks.
Optional on-site extras include a Flight Simulator ($7 per person) and a Virtual Reality Experience ($9 per person). Book on Viator to purchase general admission ahead of time.
Why visit USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park?
- 🏛️ Two National Historic Landmarks in one ticket: General admission covers both the battleship USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum — the latter one of the oldest American submarines on public display anywhere in the country.
- 🎟️ Free for active duty military: US active duty military personnel enter free with a valid, unexpired CAC card — a genuine tribute at a park created specifically to honour those who served.
- 🌿 680 feet of battleship to explore: The USS Alabama is one of the largest WWII-era warships preserved as a museum, measuring 680 feet long and rising 194 feet from keel to truck light. Visitors access multiple decks, crew quarters, weapons systems, and the command areas.
- 📜 Nine Battle Stars and the Tokyo Bay finale: The “Mighty A” earned nine Battle Stars for Pacific service in WWII and led the American fleet into Tokyo Bay on 5 September 1945 — the culmination of the war — a story told across the ship’s self-guided exhibit areas.
- 💰 Over 30 aircraft including a B-52 and a Blackbird: The Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion and outdoor displays include a B-52 Stratofortress, a Tuskegee Airmen P-51D Mustang, and an SR-71 Blackbird spy plane — a major secondary attraction beyond the ships themselves.
How to get there
By car: The park is located on Battleship Parkway (US-90/US-98), east of downtown Mobile, on a causeway peninsula extending into Mobile Bay. From Interstate 10, take the Battleship Parkway exit and head east — the park entrance is clearly signposted. From downtown Mobile, the drive takes around ten minutes. From New Orleans, it is approximately two and a half hours east on I-10. From Birmingham, it is around two and a half hours south on I-65 then I-10.
On foot or by public transit: There is no public bus or rail service to the park. Visitors without a car should arrange a taxi or rideshare from central Mobile, which takes around 15 minutes.
Note on parking payment: Parking is a separate $5 charge payable at the entrance gate. Have cash or a card ready. The park does not accept bills larger than $20 or personal/business checks.
Parking
Parking costs $5 per standard vehicle. Oversized vehicles — including RVs, campers, trailers, and vehicles with three or more axles — pay $30, a fee that includes one adult admission ticket. There is ample space for large vehicles. Overnight parking is not permitted. The park has kennels available for guests travelling with pets; animals may not accompany visitors on board the ships.
How long to spend
A thorough self-guided visit covering the battleship, submarine, aircraft pavilion, and outdoor grounds takes most visitors three to four hours. The battleship alone — with its multiple decks, crew quarters, weapons mounts, and exhibits — accounts for at least two hours of that. Allow extra time if you plan to use the Flight Simulator or VR Experience, or if visiting with children who will want time on the outdoor grounds and memorials. The park opens at 8:00 am, and arriving early means beating the heat in summer and avoiding the largest coach tour groups.
Accessibility
The park grounds are wheelchair accessible, and the official site confirms wheelchair accessibility across the site. Pushchairs and strollers are welcome. Service animals are permitted throughout.
However, visiting the ships themselves requires a moderate level of physical fitness. The USS Alabama and USS Drum involve steep naval ladders between decks — characteristic of military vessel design and not convertible for wheelchair access. Visitors with significant mobility limitations will be able to access the grounds, memorials, aircraft displays, and gift shop, but should be aware that the interiors of both vessels are not wheelchair accessible. Contact the park in advance on 1-800-GANGWAY if you have specific accessibility questions.
What to see
The USS Alabama (BB-60) is the centrepiece of the park and one of the most impressive preserved battleships in the United States. Commissioned in August 1942, she served in both the North Atlantic and the Pacific, earning nine Battle Stars. Visitors access the ship via the main gangway and self-guide through multiple decks using colour-coded tour routes. Highlights include the 16-inch gun turrets, the captain’s quarters, crew berthing areas, the combat information centre, and the ship’s enormous engine rooms. The sheer physical scale of the vessel — 680 feet long, with armour plating up to 18 inches thick on the turret faces — is difficult to appreciate until you are aboard.
The USS Drum (SS-228) is the submarine moored beside the battleship and is one of the oldest American WWII submarines surviving on public display. Commissioned in November 1941 — just weeks before Pearl Harbour — Drum completed 13 war patrols and sank 80,580 tons of Japanese shipping. Visitors enter through the forward hatch and move single-file through the full length of the vessel, passing the torpedo rooms, the control room, and the cramped crew quarters. The contrast with the battleship’s scale is striking and gives a powerful sense of what submarine warfare demanded of its crews.
The Aircraft Pavilion is a large climate-controlled hangar housing an extraordinary collection of military aircraft, including a B-52 Stratofortress, a Tuskegee Airmen P-51D Mustang, an F4U Corsair, and various other warbirds spanning from World War II through the Cold War era. Additional aircraft are displayed outdoors, including the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane — one of the park’s most-photographed exhibits.
Tanks, artillery and ground vehicles are displayed across the park grounds alongside the aircraft, including a range of WWII-era armoured vehicles and heavy weapons. The outdoor military hardware display gives the park significant depth beyond the two ships and is worth a thorough walk even if military vehicle history is not a primary interest.
Park memorials are scattered throughout the grounds and honour specific units, campaigns, and branches of service. The park’s mission — established by the Alabama Legislature in 1963 — is explicitly to honour all Alabamians who served in uniform, and the memorial installations reflect that breadth. The Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion is particularly significant as a named tribute.
Stevie’s Kitchen is the on-site dining option aboard the USS Alabama, offering a galley-style meal experience. It is a practical stop for families spending a full day at the park.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Buy tickets before 4pm — not before 5pm | The ticket office closes at 4:00 pm sharp. The park itself closes at 5:00 pm, but visitors who have not bought tickets by 4:00 pm cannot enter. Arrive with time to spare. |
| Budget $5 for parking separately | The parking fee is collected at the gate before you buy admission — many visitors are caught out by not having cash or card ready. It is not included in advance ticket purchases. |
| Military discounts require in-person purchase | Veterans, AAA, and Active Duty dependent rates are only available at the ticket office with valid ID. They cannot be applied to online or Viator bookings. Active duty personnel enter free with an unexpired CAC card. |
| Wear comfortable shoes | The battleship involves significant walking, steep ladders, and metal deck gratings. Open-toed shoes are strongly inadvisable for the ship decks. |
| Book ahead for summer visits | The park draws over 300,000 visitors per year and is busiest in summer. Book in advance on Viator to streamline your arrival. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the park open every day? | Every day of the year except Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve it closes at 2:00 pm with the last ticket sold at 1:00 pm. |
| Is the battleship accessible for wheelchair users? | The park grounds and outdoor exhibits are accessible. The ships themselves involve steep naval ladders and are not accessible by wheelchair. Contact the park before visiting if this affects your plans. |
| Do I need to book in advance? | Walk-up entry is available, but booking in advance on Viator saves time at the ticket office and is recommended in July and August. |
| Is there food available on site? | Yes — Stevie’s Kitchen operates aboard the USS Alabama and offers meals. The gift shop also stocks snacks. |
| How does this compare to other battleship museums? | The USS Alabama is larger and has more interior access than many comparable preserved battleships. The addition of the USS Drum, the Aircraft Pavilion, and extensive outdoor military hardware makes this one of the most comprehensive military park experiences in the American South. |
Things to do nearby
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center is in downtown Mobile and offers hands-on science exhibits and an IMAX cinema — a good option for families wanting to balance the military-history focus of the battleship park with something more interactive for younger children.
Mobile Museum of Art is the largest art museum in Alabama and is located in Langan Park, around ten minutes from the battleship park, with a strong collection of American decorative arts and travelling exhibitions.
Historic Mobile downtown — including the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Bienville Square, and the Dauphin Street entertainment district — is around a ten-minute drive from the park and rewards an evening walk combining dining, architecture, and one of the oldest city centres in the American South.
Fort Conde is a reconstruction of the 18th-century French colonial fort in downtown Mobile, with interpretive displays on the city’s colonial-era history under French, British, and Spanish rule — a historical layer distinct from the WWII focus of the battleship park.
Dauphin Island is around 35 miles south of Mobile via the Dauphin Island Parkway, a barrier island with a public beach, a fort (Fort Gaines, which participated in the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay), and one of the best birding sites on the Gulf Coast during spring migration.
What to visit tomorrow
If battleships and naval history museums are the draw, these are the strongest comparable options within roughly two to three hours of Mobile.
USS Kidd Veterans Museum (Baton Rouge, Louisiana — 2 hours west) preserves a WWII Fletcher-class destroyer on the Mississippi River alongside aviation and military artefact exhibits. The Kidd is one of the best-preserved destroyers in the United States and gives a strong point of comparison with the Alabama’s scale.
National Naval Aviation Museum (Pensacola, Florida — 1 hour east) is one of the largest naval aviation museums in the world and is free to enter. Over 150 aircraft spanning the history of US naval aviation are on display — an outstanding complement to the Aircraft Pavilion at Battleship Park.
Fort Morgan State Historic Site (Gulf Shores, AL — 1 hour south) guards the entrance to Mobile Bay and was the Confederate fortification captured by Admiral Farragut during the famous 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay. It provides a Civil War naval-history dimension that directly complements the WWII focus of Battleship Park, and the drive along the Fort Morgan Peninsula is scenic.
More Alabama travel
Other Alabama travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Discover the birthplace of American Carnival at the Mobile Carnival Museum.
- Plan your visit to the McWane Science Museum in Birmingham, Alabama.
- Planning a road trip from Memphis to Birmingham, Alabama.
- Visitor guide to DeSoto Falls near Mentone, Alabama.
- Where to stop on the Memphis to Montgomery drive.
