20 Free & Fun Things to Do in Dothan

Dothan, located in the southeastern corner of Alabama, is known as The Peanut Capital of the World. The area around Dothan supplies approximately one-fourth of the U.S. peanut crop and hosts the annual National Peanut Festival each fall. But Dothan is much more than the nation’s peanut supplier; it is an area rich in culture with a long list of things to do.

The city boasts a sizeable artistic vibe with the George Washington Carver Museum, which proudly relates the African American story and information about African culture and creative works by African American artists.

Besides the Carver Museum, Dothan has various art displays around town, including The Joseph statue at Millennium Park, Peanuts Around Town peanut sculptures, and Wiregrass Festival of Murals building murals in the downtown historic district.

Even though Dothan is an art lover’s paradise, the city offers other fun things like Adventureland Theme Park, Water World, Botanical Gardens, and a wide variety of restaurants, including the restaurant of Bravo Top Chef season 16 winner, Kelsey Barnard Clark.

Keep reading to learn about all the free and fun things to do in Dothan, AL, that will give your next trip a little something extra.

1. George Washington Carver Museum

Credit: Shutterstock

Known as the pulse of culture and creativity, the G.W. Carver Museum is housed in what once was the Greyhound Bus Station located in the heart of downtown Dothan, Alabama.

Converted in 2000, the unforgettable museum focuses on education for all ages, races, and creeds, and the knowledgeable staff provides a rich source of African American history.

Honoring Dr. Carver’s achievements, the museum has exhibits that engage visitors through informative guided tours depicting the fascinating and diverse African American History.

The museum offers a wealth of information on the life and legacy of Dr. Carver, black explorers both past and present, inventors and scientists, and local African American ancestry.

Address: 305 N Foster St

Phone: (334) 712-0933

Hours of Operation: Open Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Cost: Free $5 donation appreciated

2. Wiregrass Murals

The Wiregrass Murals put Dothan on the map as Alabama’s Mural City. Over 20 murals run along St. Andrews Street, decorating the historic downtown buildings and telling the story of the Dothan area’s vibrant history.

The Salute to the Peanut Industry was the first commissioned mural featuring Dr. George Washington Carver, famous for his 300 uses for peanuts. The tour is self-guided, with maps available at the visitor center, and is a fun way for kids to learn about history.

In addition to the murals, the Poplar Head farmers market calls the Wiregrass neighborhood home. You can find a mix of local farmers’ homegrown produce and local artists displaying their crafts at the market.

Address: St. Andrews Street

Phone: (334) 603-2789

Website: https://www.facebook.com/muralsofthewiregrass/

Hours of Operation: 24/7 year around

Cost: Free

3. The United States Army Aviation Museum

Fort Rucker, where the Aviation Museum is housed, boasts an impressive 160 aircraft in its collection, with 50 aircraft on public display at any given time.

The one-of-a-kind collection includes one of the largest displays of military helicopters in the world and details military aviation dating back to the Wright Brothers. Also on show at the museum are exhibits of photo essays and memorabilia that tells the Army Aviation story from the human perspective.

The current exhibitions include the Vietnam Memorial, Super 68 Blackhawk helicopter, Aviation Hall of Fame, aviation history statuary, Bravo Blues 1st of the 9th Calvary photograph exhibit, Miss Clawd IV aircraft, Dustoff When I Have Your Wounded, and The Louisiana Maneuvers.

Fort Rucker is an active military base, and access may be restricted at times because of the Homeland Security Advisory System and the security levels of the Department of Defense.

Because of this, visitors from outside the United States should check with the Fort Rucker Visitor Center for any access restrictions. All visitors aged 16 years and older must have a photo ID for access.

Address: Building 6000 Novosel Street – Fort Rucker Military Base

Phone: (334) 255-1078

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm  |  Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Cost: Free donations appreciated

4. World’s Smallest City Block

Next on the list of downtown sites is a stop at the World’s Smallest City Block.

Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1964, this downtown real estate may be tiny, but it has everything your standard size city block has, including a stop sign, a yield sign, and the street signs.

The Smallest City Block also includes a granite marker marking the area erected by the Camellia Garden Center.

Address: The triangle of Troy, Appleton, and Museum streets

Phone: (229) 308-4121

Hours of Operation: 24/7 year around

Cost: Free

Related Read: 19 Top Treehouse Rentals in Alabama

5. East River Trading

Credit: East River Trading / Facebook

A unique yet traditional dry goods store, East River Trading places its focus on supplying high-quality handmade goods with exceptional value.

East River Trading has a little bit of something for everyone with eclectic, fun, and funky jewelry, candles and incense, and specialized food products. Their handmade skincare line includes lotions, soaps, and other products created from organic, fair-trade sourced ingredients.

Address: 1369 Headland Ave

Phone: (334) 714-3674

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm  |  Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm  |  Sunday Closed

6. Dothan Forever Wild Trails

Credit: Forever Wild at Beaver Creek Trails / Facebook

Dothan has a 10-mile recreation trail called the Dothan Forever Wild Trails for families who enjoy the outdoors. Forever Wild consists of 387 acres of recreational trails and habitat conservation that’s fun and educational.

The trail system has six trail loops with bridges linking them together, making traveling the entire system easy. The trail loops range from .5 miles to over two miles and are for all levels of riders and hikers, from beginners to advanced.

Each boardwalk intersection and trailhead have bike repair stations, while the east and west trailheads offer bike washing stations and men and women’s changing rooms.

If you are a beginner or have young children and want an easy yet fun experience, the Beaver Tail Flats might be the ticket. Beaver Tail features a four-foot-wide dirt path that winds through a pine forest encircling a dirt pump track and open fields.

Regardless of the trail taken, much of the enjoyment comes from the mile-long bridge sections winding through scenic views of Beaver Creek and amazing wetlands.

Address: 3636 Fortner Street across from Crestwood Village housing subdivision

Phone: (334) 242-3484

Hours of Operation: Daily 6:30 am to dusk

Cost: Free

7. Peanuts Around Town

Credit: Dothan Peanuts Around Town / Facebook

Take the Peanuts Around Town tour for something completely different, which combines humor and art. Dothan loves their peanuts and is known as the Peanut Capital of the World.

What better way to celebrate their peanut love than with creatively designed, 4-foot peanuts found around downtown. What started as a restoration project has turned into approximately 50 artistically decorated peanuts.

You will find a Wise Ol’ Nut, Mr. Peanut Head, The Violin Nut, The Elvis Nut, and lots of sponsored nuts like CarMax Peanut, The Home Depot Nut, and the Texas Roadhouse Nut, and more.

Visit Dothan headquarters and pick up a map. It’s free, fun, and a little nutty, and kids and adults alike will love this crazy scavenger hunt.

Address: 3311 Ross Clark Circle for maps

Phone: (334) 794-6622 – Dothan Headquarters

Hours of Operation: 24/7 year around

Cost: Free

Fun Things to Do in Dothan, Alabama

8. Adventureland Theme Park

Credit: Adventureland Theme Park / Facebook

Home of go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages, mini-golf, and a fun-filled arcade, Adventureland Theme Park has been a family entertainment fun destination for twenty years.

The amusement park is small, but it is packed with fun with a giant arcade full of exciting and fun games like Hoops to Skee-Ball, To Tha Net, Quick Drop, Deal or No Deal, Plinko, and Batman Arcade.

Or, if you are more adventurous, cool off with a fun water-filled bumper boat ride, bumper cars, or a round of miniature golf on one of two miniature golf courses.

Adventureland has a snack bar filled with cold drinks and icees, snack food, and ice cream when you get hungry or thirsty. Adventureland Theme Park is well maintained, the staff is friendly and helpful, and it’s a lot of fun.

Address: 3738 West Main Street (Hwy. 84 West)

Phone: (334) 793-9100

Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Friday – Saturday 10:00 am to 11:30 pm  |  Sunday 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Cost: $1 Play Card plus purchase of ride and arcade tokens to play

9. Water World

Credit: Water World Dothan / Facebook

Like any other southern city, summer afternoons in Dothan get hot. What better way to cool off than spending the afternoon at Water World. Tadpole Hole is a summer oasis for toddlers and young children with a fun raintree, floating lily pads, and waterslides.

Adults and older kids and teens can cool off with 3-foot waves crashing down every 10 minutes in the 450,000-gallon Tide Wave Pool. Those wanting a bigger thrill can plummet down The Storm Bowl, a body slide that spins into the eye of a storm or the 4-story high Great White high-velocity slide, or the Twister Slides high-speed slides.

Address: 401 Recreation Road Dothan

Phone: (334) 615-3750

Hours of Operation: Seasonal: Monday – Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm  |  Sundays 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Cost: 50” + tall $16, 37” – 50” tall $14, Under 37” $2, Seniors 65 years and older $2

10. Xtreme Air Trampoline Park

Credit: Xtreme Air Trampoline Park / Facebook

Xtreme Air Trampoline Park is 50,000 square feet of healthy and active fun. The facility consists of jumping fun, zip lines, a 21-foot-tall crane walk, a 3-story playground for kids nine years of age and under, and many other fun things.

Some of the fun things you will find at Xtreme Air Trampoline Park include:

• Battle Beam
• Climbing Elements
• Dodgeball Court
• Fidget Ladder
• Foam Pit
• Kiddie Court
• Main Court
• Ninja Course
• Performance Trampolines
• Trampoline Basketball
• Trampoline Volleyball
• Tumbling Tracks

The Park also offers specially priced packages for groups of ten that include two hours of jumps, Xtreme socks, and drinks. Or, if you are looking for a place to hold a company or special party, or other events, you can rent the entire park for two hours for up to fifty people.

Even adults say this trampoline and inflatable park are so fun that they can’t wait to return.

Address: 144 South Woodburn Drive

Phone: (334) 828-7761

Website: https://xtremeairtrampolinepark.com/

Hours of Operation:

• Monday – Thursday 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Friday 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm
• Saturday 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
• Sunday 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Cost: Based on age

• Ages 6 + $15.99 (1 hour) | $20.99 (2 hours)
• Ages 2-6 $9.99 (1 hour) | $13.99 (2 hours)
• Kids under 2 $5.99 (2 hours)
• All jumpers much purchase jump socks for $2.44 (Reusable on return visits)

11. Dothan Area Botanical Gardens

Credit: Dothan Area Botanical Gardens / Facebook

Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, known as the DABG, is a relatively new attraction established as an organization in July 1991 which became a non-profit in November 1991. The garden consists of 24 different areas joined together by a paved trail, and most of the park’s areas are accessible to disabled visitors.

One of the popular exhibits is the Southern Heirloom Garden, created for preserving past generations’ seeds and plants and features such items as Confederate Jasmine, larkspur, and old varieties of roses. Many specimens come from historic home sites, roadside harvesting, and family garden donations.

Another popular garden is the Demonstration Garden, where master gardeners grow fruit trees, flowers, and vegetable favorites like corn, squash, collards, okra, and turnips.

The garden has a list of days that everyone can enter for free throughout the year. Be sure to check their website for current and future free days.

• Go Public Garden Day
• Mother’s Day
• Armed Forces Day
• Memorial Day
• Father’s Day
• Veteran’s Day

Address: 5130 Headland Ave.

Phone: (334) 793-3224

Hours of Operation: 7 days per week, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm CST, and 9:00 am to 6:00 pm CDT

Cost: Free for members, $5 for non-members

12. Landmark Park

Credit: Landmark Park / Facebook

Landmark Park, where history meets nature. The 135-acre park preserves the area’s natural and cultural heritage and houses a nature trail, wildlife exhibits, and a historic 1890 farm.

The living history farm teaches a living history, including a smokehouse and animals one would expect to find on a farm. Landmark also has a 360-degree observation dome for star gazing at the Digitarium Planetarium.

Visitors can also enjoy a relaxing stroll on the 1/3-mile elevated boardwalk or hike through the woods along the ½ mile dirt path nature trail.

Landmark Park holds special events throughout the year, and memberships are available. Teachers are encouraged to contact the park about field classes for homeschool and classroom students.

Address: 430 Landmark Drive

Phone: (334) 794-3452

Hours of Operation: Monday – Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm  |  Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm

Cost: Age 13 and up $5  |  Ages 3 – 12 $4  |  Park members and children ages two and under are free

13. Escape Dothan

Credit: Escape Dothan / Facebook

If you are a puzzle solver, a live-action video gamer, or an adventure junkie, then Escape Dothan is for you. Sixty minutes of puzzle room adventures are perfect for corporate events, office parties, team building, birthday parties, or anytime you want to get a group together for some puzzle-solving fun.

There are five mind-bending puzzle rooms:

• Time Warp – Crazy colors and strange furnishings in this 1974 room
• Bazaar Battle – Mad dash shopping spree
• Murder at the Mansion – Gather clues to figure out who the killer is with what weapon
• Cactus Jack’s Saloon – Dodging bandits and holding on to the gold
• The Thirteenth Floor –Will you ride the elevator to the unlucky thirteenth floor?

Your room reservation includes the Escape facilities' exclusive use, including a meeting room, accessible bathroom, kitchenette, hostess, and Gamemaster for each puzzle.

Address: 3759 Ross Clark Cir, Suite 1

Phone: (334) 446-7135

Website: https://escapedothan.com/

Hours of Operation: Friday 3:30 pm to 11:30 pm  |  Saturday 10:00 am to 11:45 pm  |  Sunday 11:00 am to 6:30 pm

Cost: $25 per player

14. Dothan Downtown Tours, Courtesy of Adela Haunted Tours

Credit: Dothan Downtown Tours / Facebook

If you love learning the history of new places and local folklore, spend a couple of hours with the Adela Haunted Tours. Your tour guide will take you on a walk-through of downtown Dothan while talking about the town’s historical legends, facts, and a few ghost stories.

Once you reach the end of the walking tour, you will know what influenced the building of Dothan and made it the unique town it is today.

Looking past the fascinating antebellum history and tales of the area’s early settlers, you can find something darker in the city’s history and its paranormal side. With paranormal investigative equipment, visitors will access a haunted location and hear tales from the city’s hidden side.

Address: Poplar Head Park, 271 E Main St (Departure Location)

Phone: (334) 392-8427

Hours of Operation: Visit the website for available tours

Cost: Starts at $25 per adult

15. Axtion Air Jump and Sports

Credit: Axtion Air Jump and Sports / Facebook

Fun for all in 50,000 square feet of Alabama's largest extreme sports and trampoline park. Climb, jump, and play with trampolines and foam pits, slam dunk jump shot, climbing walls, obstacle-filled rope course, a ninja course, dodge ball, and batting cages. If you want something a little different, try Axtion’s ax-throwing with multiple games and interactive throwing targets.

Address: 3525 Ross Clark Circle, Suite 315 – Northside Mall

Phone: (334) 446-5175

Cost: Adults: 1 hour $14.99  |  1.5 hours $17.99  |  2 hours $20.99  |  3 hours 24.99

Children: 1 hour $8.99  |  1.5 hours $9.99  |  2 hours $10.99

Party packages available

16. Wiregrass Museum

Credit: Wiregrass Museum of Art / Facebook

The visual arts museum is housed in downtown Dothan's historic Water and Electric Building, built between 1912 and 1913. The museum offers community events, cutting-edge exhibitions, and educational programs.

Guided tours are available for groups of all sizes and ages. The museum has easy access to parking and is handicap accessible with the main entrance ramp and elevator access to the galleries. The Civic Center, located across the street, offers additional museum parking, or it’s an easy walk from the downtown restaurants and shops.

Inside the museum is a permanent art collection that includes early 20th century to present design arts and fine decorative and American artwork. The permanent collection contains mainly paper works from artists like Josef Albers, Robert Indiana, Victor Vasarely, and Frank Stella prints.

Address: 126 Museum Avenue

Phone: (334) 794-3871

Website: https://www.wiregrassmuseum.org/

Hours of Operation: Wednesday – Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm  |  Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Sunday Closed  |  Monday and Tuesday by Appointment

Cost: Free

Things to do at Night in Dothan, Alabama

17. Folklore Brewing & Meadery

Credit: Folklore Brewing & Meadery / Facebook

Built on an old family farm, Folklore Brewing & Meadery, the first packaging brewery in Dothan since prohibition, is one of Dothan’s brightest gems. The brewery sits in an obscure location in the backwoods of southern Alabama.

The place is nothing fancy, a metal building with a dirt parking lot, but most visitors agree that the establishment is clean, the people friendly, and the beer is fantastic. Many people describe visiting Folklore as having a beer in your friend’s backyard.

Enjoy a pint from a selection of over 14 craft beer varieties and eight different house meads. When you get hungry, there is an adjoining restaurant that offers a good selection of pub food.

Folklore Brewing & Meadery offers live music at the Blue Moon Café and special nights with trivia games and cash prizes.

Address: 153 Mary Lou Lane

Phone: (334) 702-2337

Hours of Operation: Monday – Wednesday 11:00 am to 7:00 pm  |  Thursday 11:00 to 9:00 pm

Friday – Saturday 11:00 am to 11:00 pm  |  Sunday 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Children and dog friendly

18. Uptown Jazz Club

Credit: The Uptown / Facebook

A romantic and fun atmosphere with excellent food and service that is both inviting and welcoming. The Uptown Jazz Club is a laid-back club perfect for a relaxing evening after a long day.

They offer an extensive drink menu by the glass or bottle and a full menu with tasty items to please your palate with dishes like Wine Dipped Wings and Shrimp and Grits.

But the biggest draw of the Uptown Jazz Club is their live jazz artists and events, the perfect spot for a fun night after work or a romantic date night.

Address: 160 South Saint Andrews St.

Phone: (334) 699-1688

Hours of Operation: 7:00 pm to 2:00 am  |  Closed Wednesday

19. The Plant

Credit: The Plant / Facebook

The Plant downtown music and event venue started as a Coco-Cola bottling plant which closed in the 1990s and sat vacant until the Clark family bought it in 2017.

The family repurposed everything possible to keep the feel of the original facility, and today it is a well-known open-concert venue with a standing room only unless otherwise noted for a specific event.

The plant keeps a neat and well-maintained appearance with its open-air setting with string lighting and multiple bars scattered throughout, giving you the feeling of having a concert in your home backyard. Snacks are available at the bars.

Address: 308 North St. Andrews Street

Phone: (334) 673-4318

Hours of Operation: Hours Vary by Event

Admission: Varies by Event

20. Cowboys of Dothan

Credit: Shutterstock

Opened in 1956, Cowboys of Dothan has become one of the top country entertainment venues, with GAC voting it the best honky-tonk in Alabama. Cowboys offers excellent music, a unique atmosphere not found anywhere else, and is large enough to hold 350 partiers.

The venue has four bars, a full kitchen, five pool tables, and a dance floor that holds 100 people. Each night, there is live music with a different live band performing each week and special events like quarter beer, free Texas Hold’em Poker and Pool, 50¢ and $1 drink nights, and free ladies' night.

Address: 4657 South Oats Street

Phone: (334) 793-6937

Hours of Operation: Wednesday – Saturday 7:00 pm to 2:00 am

Cost: $5 to $10 Cover Charge

Get Ready for Fun in Dothan

If you are looking for a fun-filled trip, consider stopping at Dothan, Alabama. This small progressive community has everything you could want in a vacation destination and is located a few short miles from the Georgia and Florida state lines. You will find a community full of charm and friendly Southern hospitality and the amenities and convenience found in the big cities.