Everything you need to know for a fun Hartselle day trip

A customer places and order at the counter of Warehouse Coffee in downtown Hartselle, Alabama. — Get your caffeine fix at Warehouse Coffee in downtown Hartselle. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Just 35 miles southwest of Huntsville along Interstate 65, Hartselle is a small town packed with homegrown businesses, an interesting history and one of the cutest downtowns anywhere.

Here’s a bit of its backstory and our picks for what to do, see, shop and eat for a great day trip to Hartselle.

Hartselle’s history + railroad roots

The side of a brick former passenger depot that now houses Freight House Restaurant in downtown Hartselle, Alabama. — Hartselle’s circa-1915 train loading depot now draws folks for lunch and dinner at The Freight House restaurant. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Hartselle began as a railroad stop in 1870, having sprouted up next to the South and North Alabama Railroad. When the land proved too steep for the trains, folks picked up and moved half a mile south to where the tracks ran more easily.

Here’s a quick summary of what happened next:

Two local leaders bought land on either side of the tracks and began developing the town, which had many shops, saloons and stables.
Originally named Hartsell after George Hartsell, a North Carolina native who settled there in the 1830s, the town received its state charter in 1875.
In 1901, a big fire wiped out the east side, and another blaze in 1916 took out the west side, too.
That second fire didn’t stop the town. Hartselle rebuilt, that time with brick.

You can still see many of those early buildings downtown, which earned a listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Shop + snack through historic downtown Hartselle

👆 Check out our slideshow of cute shops in downtown Hartselle. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Downtown Hartselle is the place to start and where you’ll likely want to spend most of your time. Park once and stroll! Local shops and eats line the walkable blocks.

Even if the weather isn’t great, awnings stretch over the sidewalks, giving you shade if it’s hot out and a cover if it rains. Here’s where to go:

🛍 Shops to stop in:

Whinny Wisdom Country Store & Gift Shop: Hay there, horse folks, this one’s for you!
Zoey’s Downtown: Fun gifts + home decor
Forever Kate: Stylish + affordable boutique apparel (think Entro, Easel, Umgee)
The Beehive Bathhouse: Handmade soaps, bath products + more
El Marie’s Antiques: 11,000+ square feet of treasure hunting

👆 Take a peek at a handful of downtown Hartselle restaurants in our slideshow. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

🍽 Where to eat or grab a treat:

Freight House: Southern meals in a former train loading depot
Main Street Bakery Cafe: Make time for a “walk-in tea party” tiered tray of treats
Pizza Ed: One reviewer said the deep dish restored their faith in food!
Eatin’ in the Attic: Home-style cooking in an eclectic, cozy space
Oh Darling Sugar Cookie Co.: Colorful custom printed + piped cookies, perfect for gifting
Warehouse Coffee: A local favorite for lattes + many sweet + savory treats

📆 Mark your calendars for these big downtown events:

Depot Days: Always the third week of September, concluding on Saturday with an all-day family-friendly festival.
Second Saturday Cruise-Ins: From April through October, head to Railroad Street on second Saturdays to see classic cars, socialize + shop.

Beyond downtown Hartselle

Cars pause at a red light in historic downtown Hartselle, Alabama. — After exploring downtown Hartselle, drive to Highway 31 to explore more. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast)

Once you’ve done downtown, branch out a bit to these spots just a short drive away.

🍴More to eat:

Old Havana Cafe: Cuban flavors + Southern flair
Dari Delite: Classic ice cream stand with scrumptious chicken tenders
Julia’s Grill: Huge portions of delicious Mexican food
Fuqua’s Southern Soul Food: Sunday dinner all week long
OH! Bryan’s Family Steak House: Traditional family steakhouse + comfort food

🛍 More to browse + shop:

Bella Vintage Antique Mall: 28,000 square feet of antiques + retro finds
Hannah’s Garden Center: A colorful expanse of land full of plants, seasonal decor + whimsy
Ivie’s Unique Outdoors: Native plants, Amish furniture, statuaries + more
Reeves Farm: Known for their peaches, you’ll also find early summer strawberries + much more

Save time to play

The John Mark Stallings, S.N.A.P. Playground in Hartselle, Alabama, an all accessible playground that can be enjoyed by children of all abilities. — S.N.A.P. Playground for all abilities is open year round and features a splash pad during the summer. (Moonshot Recreation)

We’d be remiss not to send you to Sparkman Park while in Hartselle. Bring a cooler, pack a picnic or just let the kids run wild for a while. This is the town’s main park, and its many features include:

👟 Lighted walking trails + sports fields
🛝 The John Mark Stallings S.N.A.P. Playground (Special Needs Accessible Playground) + splashpad
🌭 5 picnic pavilions
🥏 18-hole disc golf course
🎣 Stocked fishing pond
🏊‍♀️ Hartselle Aquatic Center (open summers)

Ready to gas up and head down to this charming Morgan County community? Let us know when you go and what you enjoy most.

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