Reviewed by: Mallory Kimbrell
9 cool things to do in Huntsville that cost less than a tank of gas
Reading time: 6 minutes
As you might have read in our report yesterday, gas prices are nearing historically high levels here in Alabama, and experts say a gallon of gas might even reach as high as $4.60 a gallon this summer.
That means filling up your car carries a pretty hefty tab. The average vehicle’s gas tank is about 15 gallons, and with gas hovering around $4.13 per gallon here in the the Rocket City, that means a typical “fill up” can cost around $65 or more.
So that got us thinking. What are some things to do or buy or experience around town that cost LESS than a tank of gas? We found some pretty cool stuff, actually—and that’s not counting all the cool stuff you can do for free, like a picnic at Big Spring Park, a stroll through one of Huntsville’s greenways or even some free concerts in town.
Cheaper than a tank of gas…
Spend a weekend camping @ Monte Sano for $60
Primitive campsites (that means no electrical outlets) can be reserved at Monte Sano State park for $20 per day. That means you could spend a whole weekend camping out atop Monte Sano Mountain for less than the cost of a full tank of gas!
Does that sound fun? Well check it out.
Annual membership @ Huntsville Museum of Art or Huntsville Botanical Garden for $65
The Huntsville Museum of Art has some absolutely breathtaking works of art on regular display, but the museum also features some fabulous exhibits throughout the year with varying subject matter, focus, media and genre. And you can join the museum (that means free admission for the whole year) for $65.
If plants, flowers, butterflies and trees are your thing, why not join the Huntsville Botanical Garden for a year? An individual membership is just $65. That means if you visited the HBG once a week for a month paying regular admission price ($20), you’d have already paid for a membership anyway.
Flight to Gulf Shores from Huntsville International Airport for $40
At the Huntsville International Airport, you can actually fly one way to Gulf Shores for just $40 on Allegiant Air. Think about it. it would cost you more to drive to Gulf Shores than it would to fly there.
Catch a weekend series @ the Rocket City Trash Pandas for $50
You can purchase a general admission ticket to the Rocket City Trash Pandas games at Toyota Field for just $8. For real. That means you and a friend or family member could catch a whole weekend series for less than $50!
Add to your music collection @ Vertical House Records for $65
One of the best aspects of music is that the joy it brings is truly priceless, and is not fleeting. In essence, once a piece of music fills your soul, you don’t have to “refill it,” like you do your gas tank.
Okay, automobile metaphors aside, you really can get a stack of used records at places like Vertical House Records for less than $65. Used records range from $5 to about $20, so depending on what you get and how long you are willing to spend sifting through old vinyls, filling up on music can be a lot cheaper than filling up your car.
A latte a day for 2 weeks @ Gold Sprint Coffee for $63
We love Gold Sprint Coffee, and they do brew a delicious latte. And at less than $5 per cup, you could literally have a latte every day for two weeks and you would still spend less than what a tank of gas would cost you this weekend.
Treat yourself + 4 friends to a Huntsville City FC game for $50
Watching a Huntsville City FC game is a heck of a good time. The crowd is energetic, the soccer is top notch and the Joe Davis Stadium experience is so much fun. And guess what, a ticket to a home game is just $10. That means for less than what it costs to fill up your car, you (and a handful of your friends) could attend a game!
Grab about a dozen books @ The Bookwyrm for $60
Reading a good book can be incredibly cathartic, and during a time when everything seems to cost an arm and a leg, you’ll be happy to know that if you head to a used book store you can fill up your bookshelf for less than what it costs to fill up your gas tank.
Stores like The Bookwyrn (located at 7914 Memorial Pkwy SW Suite #B5 & #B6, Huntsville, AL 35802) have books for sale for about $5 apiece.
Adopt a dog or cat @ Huntsville Animal Services for $50
Adopting a pet from Huntsville Animal Services can bring years and years of joy to you and your family. And when you consider what an amazing addition a four-legged friend is to your life, it’s pretty astounding to think that you can bring home a loving new family member for less than a tank of gas.
Standard adoption costs are $35 – $50 for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. And, all adoptions include spay or neuter surgery (required by law), rabies vaccination and City license (required by law), and pet I.D. (in case your pet gets lost).
Find out how RIGHT HERE.
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