Auburn, Alabama combines college traditions, outdoor recreation, art, gardens, sports, and Southern food in a compact area that is easy to explore over a day or weekend. You can hike beside a waterfall at Chewacla State Park, see major works of art at Auburn University, experience a football Saturday, walk through native plant collections, or spend a relaxed afternoon downtown.
Quick Answer
Top things to do in Auburn, Alabama include hiking and paddling at Chewacla State Park, visiting The Jule art museum, seeing an Auburn football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium, exploring Toomer’s Corner and the Davis Arboretum, enjoying local dining, and adding the Kreher Preserve for an easy family-friendly nature stop.
Key Takeaways
- Chewacla State Park is one of the best choices for hiking, mountain biking, paddling, fishing, picnics, and swimming near Auburn.
- The Jule and the Donald E. Davis Arboretum are strong low-cost choices for art and nature lovers.
- Jordan-Hare Stadium and Toomer’s Corner are central to Auburn’s college-sports culture, especially on home football weekends.
- The Auburn University Club has a championship golf course, but it is private, so visitors should confirm access before planning to play.
- Families can add the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center for woodland trails and nature-focused activities.
Choose the Best Auburn Activity for Your Visit
| Best For | Good Choice | Planning Note |
| Outdoor adventure | Chewacla State Park | Allow several hours if you want to hike and use the lake. |
| Art and rainy days | The Jule | General admission is free; check current hours before visiting. |
| Auburn traditions | Jordan-Hare Stadium and Toomer’s Corner | Home football weekends bring much heavier traffic and crowds. |
| Quiet nature walk | Donald E. Davis Arboretum | Free and suitable for a shorter campus stop. |
| Families | Kreher Preserve & Nature Center | Good for trails, wildlife learning, and outdoor time away from downtown. |
| Food | Acre and downtown Auburn | Reservations are useful for popular dinner periods and game weekends. |
Explore Chewacla State Park
Chewacla State Park covers 696 acres a short drive from Auburn and includes a 26-acre lake, hiking and mountain-biking trails, picnic areas, cabins, camping, a playground, and a swimming area. It is one of the most versatile outdoor attractions in the Auburn area because you can spend an hour on a short walk or make the park the main activity for the day.
The trail network ranges from easier walks to more demanding mountain-bike routes. One popular feature is Chewacla Falls, reached through the park’s trail system. Forest, creek, and lake environments also provide opportunities to see local wildlife and native plants.
Chewacla Lake supports largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish. Fishing requires an Alabama fishing license and is subject to state fishing regulations. Visitors can also bring hand-launched non-motorized watercraft. The park currently offers rentals that can include pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards, subject to availability.
Warning: Chewacla Lake does not have a lifeguard. Swimming and boating are at your own risk. Follow posted boundaries, use appropriate life jackets, and check current park conditions before entering the water.
Picnic tables, grills, shelters, camping, and cabins make the park useful for families who want to stay longer. If your goal is hiking or mountain biking, check the current trail information and weather before starting because wet conditions can affect natural-surface trails.
Visit the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, often called The Jule, is Auburn University’s art museum. The museum opened to the public in 2003, although the university’s art collection began decades earlier.
The university art collection now contains more than 3,000 objects. Important holdings include American modernism, contemporary prints and photographs, Southern art, Audubon material, ceramics, and works associated with artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol. Auburn’s historic acquisition of works from the U.S. State Department’s Advancing American Art exhibition is an important part of the collection’s history.
Rotating exhibitions mean the exact works on view change. The museum also uses outdoor sculpture, educational programs, talks, and other events to connect visitors with art and research.
Pro Tip: General admission is free, but exhibition changeovers and the academic calendar can affect gallery access. Check The Jule’s current visitor information before you drive over.
Attend a Football Game at Jordan-Hare Stadium
For college-football fans, a home game at Jordan-Hare Stadium can be one of the most memorable things to do in Auburn. Auburn Athletics lists the stadium’s current capacity at 88,043, making it one of the largest on-campus football stadiums in the country.
Jordan-Hare Stadium has an official capacity of 88,043 and has served as the home of Auburn football since 1939.
Game day involves much more than the game itself. Fans gather around campus for tailgating, the marching band adds to the atmosphere, and Auburn traditions such as the “War Eagle” battle cry are part of the experience.
The biggest planning issue is crowds. Home football Saturdays affect traffic, parking, restaurant demand, and access to parts of campus. Buy game tickets through official channels, review the current Auburn game-day parking information, and arrive well before kickoff if you want time to walk around campus.
Note: If you are visiting Auburn for attractions rather than football, a non-game weekend is usually easier for parking, restaurants, and relaxed sightseeing.
See a Performance or Explore Telfair Peet Theatre
The Telfair Peet Theatre is home to Auburn University’s Department of Theatre & Dance. The original article described the building as dating to 1965, but Auburn University’s current facilities information says the mainstage theatre was built in 1972.
| Theatre Fact | Verified Information |
| Mainstage built | 1972 |
| Mainstage capacity | 349 guests |
| Major renovation | 2003, including accessibility and equipment upgrades |
| Later expansion | 2014 addition with a black box theatre and dance studio |
The complex includes the mainstage, a black box theatre, dance and acting spaces, classrooms, and production facilities. Rather than assuming public tours run on a fixed schedule, visitors should use the Department of Theatre & Dance’s official facilities and virtual-tour information or check its current performance schedule.
Seeing a student or guest production is a practical way to experience Auburn’s performing-arts community. Performance dates and ticket requirements vary by production.
Play Golf in Auburn
The Auburn University Club features an 18-hole championship golf course set among rolling terrain and woodland. It was established in 1999 and is closely connected to Auburn University’s golf tradition.
The clubhouse includes golf, dining, event, and member facilities, and the course serves as the home of Auburn’s golf teams. However, there is an important detail for travelers: Auburn University Club is a private club. Do not assume you can arrive as a walk-up public golfer. Contact the club before your trip if you need information about guest access, membership, or a tour.
Visitors who want public golf should also look at Auburn-Opelika’s public options. Auburn-Opelika Tourism’s golf guide includes courses such as the redesigned 18-hole Pines Crossing and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National.
Explore the Donald E. Davis Arboretum
The Donald E. Davis Arboretum is a 16-acre botanic garden, outdoor classroom, and conservation resource in the heart of Auburn University’s campus. It focuses on trees, native plants, and natural communities found in Alabama and the southeastern United States.
Walking paths lead through collections that include oaks, native azaleas, carnivorous plants, and other regional species. The garden supports teaching, research, conservation, and public education, so plant labels and collections provide more context than a typical landscaped park.
The Arboretum is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset according to its current visitor information. It works well as a quiet stop before or after exploring the university campus, and you do not need to devote an entire day to enjoy it.
Experience Toomer’s Corner
Toomer’s Corner sits at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue and is one of Auburn’s best-known landmarks. It marks the meeting point between downtown Auburn and the university campus.
The corner is closely associated with Auburn’s tradition of “rolling” the trees and surrounding area with toilet paper after significant athletic victories. The current live oaks are not the original famous trees. Auburn University reports that replacement live oaks were transplanted at the corner in 2015 after the original trees were removed in 2013.
The rolling tradition returned in 2016. Outside major celebrations, the corner is still worth seeing because it places you near downtown restaurants, shops, the university entrance, and Toomer’s Drugs.
Game weekends bring far larger crowds than ordinary days. If you want photographs and a slower walk around the corner, visit earlier in the day or on a non-game weekend.
Explore the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center
Families and nature lovers should consider the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center. Managed through Auburn University, the preserve protects about 120 acres of natural habitat and provides woodland trails, environmental education, and family programming.
The preserve has more than six miles of trails, making it useful for anything from a short nature walk to a longer outing. Its wooded setting also gives families a different experience from the university campus and downtown attractions.
Programs and special events change during the year, so check the official schedule if you want a guided activity rather than an independent walk.
Indulge in Local Cuisine at Acre
Acre remains one of Auburn’s established dining options and is located at 210 E. Glenn Ave. Its menus focus on Southern-inspired dining, with lunch, dinner, brunch, drinks, and seasonal offerings depending on the day.
The restaurant combines a polished dining room with a relaxed Southern setting, making it suitable for a date night, special meal, or an evening after exploring downtown. Because menus and operating hours can change, check the current menu and schedule on Acre’s official website before visiting.
Reservations are a good idea for popular dinner periods, larger parties, and Auburn home-game weekends, when demand around downtown can increase sharply.
If you are also exploring food topics beyond Auburn restaurants, the original article included this guide to Asian melon, covering the fruit’s flavors and uses.
Plan a One-Day Visit to Auburn
If you have only one day, start with Chewacla State Park in the morning before the hottest part of the day. After a hike or lake visit, head toward downtown Auburn for lunch. Spend the afternoon at The Jule and the Davis Arboretum, then walk through Toomer’s Corner before dinner.
Families who prefer an easier nature outing can substitute the Kreher Preserve for part of the Chewacla visit. Art lovers can spend more time at The Jule, while sports fans may want to tour the campus area around Jordan-Hare Stadium.
On a home football Saturday, reverse that strategy and build the whole day around the game. Parking rules, road traffic, tailgating, restaurant demand, and pedestrian crowds can make an ordinary sightseeing schedule unrealistic.
Note: Downtown Auburn has more than 1,300 public parking spaces according to the City of Auburn, but football weekends and special events can change normal parking patterns. Check current signs and event-specific restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some popular outdoor activities in Auburn, AL?
Chewacla State Park is the strongest all-around option for hiking, mountain biking, swimming, paddling, fishing, and picnics. The Donald E. Davis Arboretum offers an easier garden walk, while the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center has more than six miles of nature trails.
What are some family-friendly attractions in Auburn, AL?
Good family choices include Chewacla State Park, the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, The Jule, the Davis Arboretum, and a walk around Auburn University’s campus. Choose outdoor stops early in the day during hot weather.
What cultural activities can I do in Auburn?
Visit The Jule for visual art, check Auburn Theatre & Dance for performances at Telfair Peet Theatre, explore the university campus, or visit Auburn Public Library for current programs and events.
What are some popular dining options in Auburn, AL?
Acre is a well-known Auburn restaurant close to downtown. Other established local names include The Hound, Amsterdam Cafe, and Hamilton’s on Magnolia. Restaurant hours and menus can change, so check directly before visiting.
What annual events and festivals take place around Auburn?
Auburn CityFest is a recurring spring event, and the area hosts many university, sports, holiday, and community events throughout the year. Event lineups can change. For example, Auburn’s longtime Oktoberfest is not taking place in Auburn in 2026, while an Oktoberfest event is scheduled in nearby downtown Opelika. Check the current City of Auburn and Auburn-Opelika Tourism calendars before planning a trip around a festival.
What can I do for free in Auburn?
The Jule offers free general admission, and the Donald E. Davis Arboretum is free and open to the public. Walking around Toomer’s Corner and Auburn University’s campus is also free. Some special programs, parking areas, or events may have separate charges.
Can I see the main Auburn attractions in one day?
Yes. A practical non-game-day itinerary is Chewacla State Park in the morning, downtown for lunch, The Jule and Davis Arboretum in the afternoon, and Toomer’s Corner before dinner. A football Saturday requires a different plan because traffic and crowds take much more time.
Sources
- Alabama State Parks – Chewacla State Park – park acreage, lake size, trails, recreation, camping, and facilities.
- Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art – University Art Collection – collection size, strengths, and major artists.
- Auburn Athletics – Jordan-Hare Stadium – stadium capacity, opening year, and official facility information.
- Auburn University Department of Theatre & Dance – Facilities – Telfair Peet construction date, seating capacity, renovations, and performance spaces.
- Auburn University – Donald E. Davis Arboretum – current acreage, collections, hours, and conservation role.
- Auburn University – Auburn Oaks – Toomer’s Corner oak history and the rolling tradition.
