USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park gives you a close look at life aboard a World War II battleship and submarine, along with military aircraft, vehicles, weapons, and memorials. This guide explains what to see, how much time to allow, what the visit costs, and what to expect from the ladders, walking routes, dining, and accessibility.
Quick Answer
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is a self-guided military history attraction in Mobile where one admission covers the USS Alabama, USS Drum, Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion, outdoor equipment, and memorials. Allow at least 2.5 hours, arrive well before the 4:00 p.m. last-ticket time, and expect steep ladders and tight spaces beyond the accessible main deck.
Key Takeaways
- The park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4:00 p.m.
- Admission includes the USS Alabama, USS Drum, Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion, outdoor military displays, and memorials.
- Allow about 2.5 hours for a focused visit or 3 to 4 hours for a slower visit with breaks, photographs, dining, and the gift shop.
- The USS Alabama’s main deck and restrooms are identified as accessible, but other routes include stairs, steep ladders, and narrow passageways.
- Wear secure closed-toe shoes and bring water, sun protection, and enough time to move carefully.
Before You Visit USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is located beside Mobile Bay at 2703 Battleship Parkway in Mobile, Alabama. The park combines two National Historic Landmarks, the USS Alabama battleship and USS Drum submarine, with aircraft, tanks, artillery, vehicles, and memorials honoring military service.
The park is currently listed as open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4:00 p.m.. It is open every day except Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, it closes at 2:00 p.m., and the final ticket is sold at 1:00 p.m.
Pro Tip: Start with the USS Alabama while your energy is highest, continue to the USS Drum, use the air-conditioned Aircraft Pavilion as a break, and finish with the outdoor equipment and memorials.
Plan Your Visit at a Glance
At a Glance
| Address | 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile, AL 36602 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; last ticket sold at 4:00 p.m.; closed Christmas Day |
| Admission | Listed rates: $18 for ages 12–55, $15 for ages 55+, $6 for ages 6–11, and free for children 5 and younger |
| Discounts | Veterans are listed at $15, AAA members at $16, and active-duty U.S. military personnel receive free admission with qualifying ID |
| Parking | $5 for general vehicles; $30 for oversized vehicles, including one adult admission; overnight parking is not allowed |
| Payment | Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express; personal and business checks are not accepted |
| Tour Style | Mostly self-guided; printed tour guides are available at check-in |
| Time Required | About 2.5 hours for a focused visit; 3 to 4 hours for the fuller experience |
| Physical Effort | Moderate to demanding on the full ship and submarine routes because of ladders, steps, low clearances, and metal walking surfaces |
Rates and hours were verified on July 23, 2026. Review the official USS Alabama admissions page before traveling because prices, discounts, holiday hours, and policies can change.
Why Is USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park Important?
The park is a memorial to people who served in the United States Armed Forces. Its centerpiece is the USS Alabama (BB-60), a South Dakota-class battleship that served during World War II and earned nine battle stars.
The USS Alabama was decommissioned on January 9, 1947. When the federal government announced plans to scrap the South Dakota-class battleships in the early 1960s, Alabama residents organized a statewide preservation campaign. More than one million schoolchildren took part, contributing almost $100,000 to help save the ship.
The battleship reached Mobile in 1964, and USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park opened to the public on January 9, 1965. The opening took place exactly 18 years after the ship’s decommissioning.
The park is both a museum and a living memorial, so visitors should explore respectfully and allow time to understand the people behind the equipment.
The USS Alabama and USS Drum were both designated National Historic Landmarks on January 14, 1986.
What Can You See and Do at the Park?
Tour the USS Alabama Battleship
Start with the USS Alabama. Official education information describes 12 decks as open for touring. The ship contains crew quarters, gun turrets, sick bay, the galley, the brig, an engine room, navigation areas, workspaces, and upper-deck viewpoints.
Visitors follow color-coded routes through different parts of the ship. Official overnight-program information describes Yellow, Green, and Red routes, with each route requiring at least about 30 minutes. Your actual time will depend on crowds, mobility, photographs, and how often you stop to read the exhibits.
The ship’s scale is impressive, but the smaller details often leave the strongest impression. Look at the stacked bunks, narrow passageways, ladders, work areas, communications equipment, and spaces used by a wartime crew that reached about 2,500 people.
Enter the USS Drum Submarine
The USS Drum (SS-228) sits in a cradle beside Mobile Bay. The park identifies it as the oldest American submarine on public display. It was donated to the USS Alabama Battleship Commission in 1969 and opened for public tours on July 4 of that year.
The submarine provides a tighter and more physical view of wartime service than the battleship. Expect compact sleeping areas, small hatches, narrow passageways, equipment in nearly every available space, and little room to pass other visitors.
Explore the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion
The Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion contains historic aircraft, vehicles, artifacts, and a memorial wall honoring Alabama’s Medal of Honor recipients. Major exhibits include an A-12 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, a gull-winged Corsair, and a P-51D Mustang Red Tail display similar to aircraft flown by the Tuskegee Airmen.
The pavilion is also a useful indoor break after climbing through the ship. It gives you a chance to slow down, cool off, and explore military history from a different perspective.
Walk the Outdoor Exhibits and Memorials
After the three main attractions, walk the grounds to see tanks, artillery, aircraft, and other military equipment. Memorials honor Korean War and Vietnam War service, Coast Guard members, military service dogs, people lost in service since September 11, 2001, and other veterans and service members.
How to Plan a 2.5-Hour or 4-Hour Visit
Focused 2.5-Hour Route
- USS Alabama: 60 to 70 minutes
- USS Drum: 25 to 30 minutes
- Aircraft Pavilion: 25 to 30 minutes
- Outdoor equipment and memorials: 15 to 20 minutes
- Walking and transition time: 10 to 15 minutes
This plan works when you want to see every major area without reading every display. Choose one or two battleship routes rather than trying to explore every open space.
Relaxed 3-to-4-Hour Route
- USS Alabama: 75 to 100 minutes
- USS Drum: 30 to 40 minutes
- Aircraft Pavilion: 40 to 50 minutes
- Grounds and memorials: 25 to 35 minutes
- Meal, gift shop, photographs, and breaks: 30 to 45 minutes
The longer plan is better for families, photographers, veterans, military-history fans, and anyone who needs more rest between ladders and walking sections.
Tips for Visiting the Park
Warning: Many tour areas contain steep ladders, narrow hatches, low overhead clearances, and metal surfaces that can become hot or slippery. Hold handrails, watch your head, supervise children closely, and skip any route that does not feel safe for your mobility or comfort level.
| Tip | Why It Matters |
| Arrive before mid-afternoon | The last ticket is sold at 4:00 p.m., and one hour is not enough for the main attractions. |
| Wear closed-toe shoes | Secure shoes provide better support on ladders, metal decks, steps, and uneven outdoor surfaces. |
| Bring water and sun protection | Mobile can be hot and humid, and the visit includes exposed decks and outdoor walking. |
| Use the pavilion as a break | The Aircraft Pavilion provides an indoor change of pace after the battleship or submarine. |
| Check mobility needs before boarding | The main deck is identified as accessible, but many other areas require steps and ladders. |
| Check weather and maintenance notices | Weather, restoration work, and maintenance can temporarily restrict access to specific spaces. |
Visiting With Children
Explain the ladders, low clearances, and narrow spaces before boarding. Children should remain close to an adult and should not run, jump, climb on exhibits, roughhouse, or throw objects. These rules protect both visitors and the historic ships.
A stroller can be useful on portions of the grounds, but it cannot follow many battleship or submarine routes. A child carrier may be more practical for younger children, although the adult carrying it must still be comfortable using ladders and tight passageways.
Accessibility and Limited Mobility
The park’s official education information identifies the USS Alabama’s main deck and its restrooms as accessible. Other ship routes include stairs, ladders, and confined spaces. The USS Drum also has narrow hatches and compact passages.
Visitors who use a wheelchair, walker, cane, or other mobility aid should contact the park before traveling to confirm which exhibits and routes will work for their needs. The ticket office can be reached at 251-432-0261.
Photography and Drones
The ship, grounds, and bay-facing areas provide many opportunities for personal photographs. Wide views are often easier to capture from the grounds because the battleship is 680 feet long.
The park’s published drone policy prohibits drone operation over park property without advance approval. Contact the park before arranging a drone flight, commercial production, organized portrait session, or other special shoot.
Educational Opportunities at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
The park provides hands-on learning for school groups, homeschool groups, youth organizations, and families. Its programs connect history with engineering, science, technology, mathematics, civic lessons, and military service.
Students can explore crew quarters, gun turrets, sick bay, the galley, the brig, an engine room, historic aircraft, the USS Drum, and memorial areas. Classroom activities may also be available for qualifying groups when reserved in advance.
School and certified homeschool groups of 10 or more students may qualify for discounted admission. Reservations, payment deadlines, chaperone rules, classroom availability, and school-year policies can change, so group leaders should review the official education information before booking.
Events and Programs at the Park
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park hosts events throughout the year, including Living History Crew drills, Veterans Day ceremonies, concerts, and other museum programs.
Living history events add demonstrations and conversations with reenactors wearing World War II-era uniforms. Programs may include shipboard routines, weapons briefings, equipment interpretation, and stories based on original crew members.
Check the official events calendar for the exact date, time, admission requirements, parking arrangements, and location inside the park. Special-event parking prices and operating procedures may differ from normal daily admission.
Dining, Picnics, and Shopping
Stevie’s Kitchen USS Alabama is listed as the park’s dining option. An official park program page currently lists daily hours of 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but the main restaurant page does not publish hours. Confirm availability before relying on the restaurant for a full meal.
The park’s recreational area has covered picnic tables, benches, and small grills. General-use tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and general reservations are not accepted. School groups that plan to use picnic tables are asked to request a lunch time in advance through the education program.
Note: The park’s fishing pier has been closed for construction since May 2026 and is unavailable until further notice.
The gift shop carries books, souvenirs, model ships, apparel, and military-history merchandise. Browse after touring the battleship and submarine so you do not have to carry purchases through narrow spaces.
Nearby Attractions and Accommodations
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park sits beside Mobile Bay and close to Interstate 10. If you have only half a day, focus on the park and a nearby meal. For a full day, combine it with downtown Mobile attractions such as the History Museum of Mobile, Colonial Fort Condé, GulfQuest National Maritime Museum, or a walk around the downtown historic district.
The official Visit Mobile attractions guide can help you compare museums and other stops.
Downtown Mobile hotels work well when you want restaurants, museums, and evening activities nearby. Hotels east of Mobile Bay may be more convenient when the park is one stop on a longer Gulf Coast or Interstate 10 road trip.
How Can You Support USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park?
You can support the park by purchasing admission, donating, becoming a member, shopping in the gift shop, attending events, or volunteering. These activities help preserve the USS Alabama, USS Drum, aircraft, vehicles, artifacts, and memorial spaces.
The volunteer program includes visitor-facing and restoration-related opportunities. People with experience in education, public speaking, military history, events, maintenance, or restoration can contact the park about current needs.
Donation and membership information is available through the official USS Alabama Foundation support page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park?
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is a military history park and memorial in Mobile, Alabama. It contains the USS Alabama battleship, USS Drum submarine, Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion, tanks, artillery, aircraft, vehicles, and military memorials.
How long should you spend at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park?
Allow at least 2.5 hours for a focused visit. Plan 3 to 4 hours if you want to explore the battleship, submarine, aircraft pavilion, outdoor exhibits, memorials, gift shop, and dining area without rushing.
What are the current operating hours?
The park is listed as open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4:00 p.m. It is closed on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, it closes at 2:00 p.m., with the final ticket sold at 1:00 p.m.
How much does USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park cost?
Listed admission is $18 for ages 12–55, $15 for ages 55+, $6 for ages 6–11, and free for children 5 and younger. Discounts are listed for veterans and AAA members, while qualifying active-duty U.S. military personnel receive free admission with proper ID. Parking costs extra.
Is USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park wheelchair accessible?
The USS Alabama’s main deck and its restrooms are identified as accessible. Many other ship routes contain steps, ladders, and narrow passageways. Contact the park before visiting to confirm which areas will work for your mobility needs.
Are guided tours available?
Most visits are self-guided, and printed tour guides are available at check-in. Special programs and living history events may provide additional interpretation on selected dates.
Can you take a stroller onto the battleship or submarine?
A stroller may be useful on parts of the grounds, but it cannot follow many battleship or submarine routes because of ladders, hatches, steps, and narrow passageways. Families should plan how they will carry or supervise younger children before boarding.
Can visitors bring food and drinks?
The park has a recreational picnic area with covered tables and small grills. General-use tables are first come, first served. School groups should request a picnic-table time through the education program, and visitors should check current rules before carrying food into exhibit areas.
Are photography and drones allowed?
Visitors can find many useful photography viewpoints around the ship and grounds. Drone operation over park property is prohibited without advance approval. Contact the park before planning commercial photography, an organized shoot, or any drone flight.
Can RVs and oversized vehicles park at the park?
The park has space for motor coaches, travel trailers, RVs, and other oversized vehicles. The listed oversized-vehicle fee is $30 and includes one adult admission. Overnight parking is not allowed.
Sources
- USS Alabama Admissions — current hours, admission rates, discounts, payment methods, parking fees, and holiday schedule
- USS Alabama Park Complete History — preservation campaign, schoolchildren’s fundraising, decommissioning, and the 1965 opening
- National Park Service National Historic Landmarks List — landmark status of the USS Alabama and USS Drum
- USS Drum Submarine — submarine history, public opening, crew, and landmark information
- USS Alabama Education and Aircraft Pavilion — accessible main deck, open decks, school tours, aircraft, and pavilion exhibits
- Recreational Area and Drone Policy — picnic facilities, fishing-pier closure, and drone restrictions
