Auburn (Alabama)

By plane

Most people traveling to Auburn fly into either Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, GA or Birmingham International Airport (BHM) in Birmingham, AL, both of which are about 120 miles away.
The nearest commercial airports are Columbus Metropolitan Airport (CSG) in Columbus, GA or Montgomery Dannelly Field (MGM) in Montgomery, AL. Both are about 50 miles from Auburn.

• Robert G. Pitts Auburn-Opelika AirportHas no service from major air carriers. There is one FBO located on the premises (Auburn University Aviation Services).

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

• GreyhoundProvides service to the Auburn area.

• BreakShuttlePrivate service geared for students transiting during recesses, though is open to the public. Provides service to and from Atlanta, Nashville, and Tampa, among other cities.

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 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.
Be aware that 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

  phone: +1 334 444-4444
  Provides personal transportation services geared towards Auburn University and the surrounding area.

• Twin City Taxi

  phone: +1 334 246-0416
  Service provided to Auburn-Opelika area. Airport shuttles available.

By transit

• Lee-Russell Public Transit

  phone: +1 334 749-9092
  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

  phone: +1 334 826-0227
  address: 806 Opelika Road

• Auburn UniversityThe scenic campus is home to 23,000 students and features buildings in the Greek Revival through the Modern styles.

• Donald E. Davis Arboretum

  phone: +1 334 844-5770
  address: 249 Sciences Center Classroom
  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.
• Eagle's Nest, located 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 StadiumThe 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

  phone: +1 334-844-1484
  address: 901 S College St
  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.

• Lovelace Athletic Museum

  phone: +1 334-844-4750
  address: 250 Beard-Eaves Court
  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.

• 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.
• Have a beer at the War Eagle Supper Club, routinely voted one of the country's best college bars.
• 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 ForestIs located just West of Auburn and contains the 8.5 mile long Bartram National Recreation Trail which is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and bird watching.

• Chewacla State ParkIs 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. Among them:

• Robert Trent Jones Grand NationalIs 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.

• Auburn Links at Mill CreekFeatures large TifDwarf Bermuda grass greens and rolling fairways along Parkerson's Mill Creek. Green fees are from $18 to $39.

• Indian Pines features 6,213 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. Green fees from $25 to $30.

• Anders BookstoreLocated on Magnolia Avenue near College Street. Auburn University souvenirs and supplies.

• Auburn University BookstoreLocated in Haley Center on the Auburn University campus. Auburn University souvenirs and supplies.

• J&M BookstoreLocated on College Street between Magnolia Avenue and Thach Avenue. Auburn University souvenirs and supplies.

• Tiger RagsLocated on Gay Street between Magnolia Avenue and Thach Avenue, Auburn University souvenirs and the unofficial official gameday and victory T-shirts.

• Big Blue Bookstore

  address: 1655 South College St.
  Auburn University souvenir, books, and tailgating equipment

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

• Amsterdam Café

  address: 410 South Gay Street

• Ariccia Italian Trattoria & Bar

  phone: +1 334 821-8200
  A pricey but excellent Italian restaurant that is a great place to take a date.

• Brick Oven Pizza Co.

  phone: +1 334 745-0223
  address: 2520 Enterprise Drive
  A gourmet pizza restaurant with pizzas and pasta. Eat outside if you can.

• Cheeburger CheeburgerBurger joint located on College Street in downtown Auburn.

• China Palace

  address: 2450 Martin Luther King Drive
  Serves an "Asian fusion" including Chinese, Thai, and even a sushi bar that is very reasonably priced and deliciously fresh!

• Hamilton's on Magnolia

  phone: +1 334 887-2677
  address: 174 East Magnolia Avenue

• Laredo Mexican Grill

  phone: +1 334 246-4101
  address: 1832 Opelika Road
  A good Mexican place. Wednesday night is Margerita Night.

• Little Italy Pizzeria

  phone: +1 334 821-6161
  address: 129 East Magnolia Avenue
  Great pizza at a great price. Stagnooooooo!

• Mellow Mushroom Pizza

  phone: +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

  phone: +1 334 821-0185
  address: 500 West Magnolia Avenue
  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

  phone: +1 334 821-3118
  address: 1151 Opelika Road
  A local casual dining restaurant with good hamburgers, salads, wings, and sandwiches.

• Tenda Chick

  phone: +1 334 821-8543
  Excellent all-around chicken restaurant but famous locally for its chicken fingers.

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

• War Eagle Supper ClubAn Auburn classic. Once ranked by Playboy among the best college bars in the country, Supper Club is a different kind of place. It draws all crowds and all ages, and is unrivaled for great live music. The beer is cheap, and the bar is dirty. Supper Club is a "private" bar, so you'll have to wait in line for a membership card on your first visit. However, that membership gives you the ability to drink until 4AM, so often the crowd shows up around 2AM, when the downtown bars shut down. 21

• Bourbon StreetA touch of the French quarter in downtown Auburn. Bourbon Street Bar is a great place to have a beer following a football game. Popular with students and especially with out-of-town visitors from opposing schools. Bourbon also has great live music, recently having Mama's Love, Mimosa, Two Fresh, and Boombox among others. 21+

• 17-16A 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+

• QuixotesA cool bar, with an awesome setup and great drink specials. Down college near the Brand X pizza and across from Mikata. 19+

Budget

• Econo Lodge

  phone: +1 334 826-8900
  address: 2145 South College Street

• Home-Towne Suites of Auburn

  phone: +1 334 826-1123
  address: 1188 Commerce Drive

• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Auburn

  phone: +1 334 826-1444
  address: 2174 South College Street

• Stay Lodge

  phone: +1 334 521-9100
  address: 1654 S College St

• Quality Inn

  phone: +1 334 821-6699
  address: 2283 South College Street

Mid-range

• Auburn's Gameday Center

  phone: +1 334 826-8870
  address: 129 North Donahue Drive
  Very close to Jordan-Hare.

• Clarion Inn & Suites University Center

  phone: +1 334 821-7001
  address: 1577 South College Street

• Crenshaw Guest House

  phone: +1 334 821-1131
  address: 371 North College Street
  Traditional bed & breakfast. Two-night minimum.

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Auburn Opelika

  phone: +1-334-742-2590
  address: 2257 Interstate Drive

• Hampton Inn Auburn

  phone: +1 334 821-4111
  address: 2430 South College Street

• Holiday Inn Express Auburn

  phone: +1 334 502-1090
  address: 2013 South College Street

• Sleep Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 334 501-7171
  address: 135 Spirit Drive

• University Inn Auburn

  phone: +1 334 821-4632
  address: 129 North College Street
  Two-night minimum and higher rates on football weekends.

• Quality Inn University Area

  phone: +1 334 502-5020
  address: 1212 Mall Parkway

Splurge

• Fountainview Mansion

  phone: +1 334 466-2120
  address: 3291 Mill Creek Road
  Luxury mansion. Two-night minimum on football weekends.

• Hilton Garden Inn Auburn/Opelika

  phone: +1 334 502-3500
  address: 255 Hilton Garden Drive

• The Hotel at Auburn University

  phone: +1 800-228-2876
  address: 241 South College Street
  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

  phone: +1 334-821-2646
  address: 205 South Gay Street
  Once a former women's dormitory that went under a recent renovation and now features a rooftop bar, wrap around porch, and 40 guest rooms and suites.