Alabama Road Trip

[SMU Law Ag]

Hey, tide fans. I have a few quick questions I wanted to post to the board. A friend and I have decided to take advantage of out last year of law school and are planning to take a road trip to try and catch two SEC games in the same day. (September 11 Miss St. v. Aurburn 11 am and then Alabama Ole Miss 8pm). We will be driving in from Texas and would like to find somewhere in Tuscaloosa to stay. We have checked the internet but have not been able to find any hotels. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find a place to stay?

Will we have trouble due to traffic making from Starkville to Tuscaloosa on gameday?

Also, what is the "scouping" situation at Alabama games. Will we be able to get some decent tickets at a decent price at the game?

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to seeing tide roll live and in person!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I reserved at the Comfort Inn off McFarland...

about two weeks ago and they still had some rooms for the Ole Miss game, but they, like nearly all the others, want a two-night stay. Other than that, it's luck of the draw. You might end up staying as far away as Birmingham (60 miles).

 

[TiderinVA]

As far as tickets go, there are several ways to go

You can try the ticket swap board here on Tidefans and get tickets often at face value or you can try the day of the game outside the stadium and usually pay either face value or maybe a little more. The closer you get to kickoff, the better the price. However, you run the risk of no ticket the closer to kickoff. Regardless, checkout the Quad before the game and wander around campus and if time permits (and it's still open) check out the Bryant Museum. Even if you're not an Alabama fan, it's pretty interesting.

Good luck and enjoy yourself. RTR!

 

[SMU Law Ag]

Thanks

I really appreciate the responses . . . keep them coming. Any other suggestion of sights and sounds to take in while we are in Tuscaloosa? Where does everyone go post game?

 

[TideHead]

You won't have any trouble getting from Starkville to Tuscaloosa. It's 88 miles. Traffic is usually a little bad coming out of Starkville, but with the games spread out that far, you'll be fine.

As for hotels, if you can't find anything in Tuscaloosa, your best bet is to look in Bessemer at Exit 108 off I-59. That's about 40 miles up the road, but it's a good area with several good hotels.

 

[DiamondDust]

I really appreciate the responses . . . keep them coming. Any other suggestion of sights and sounds to take in while we are in Tuscaloosa? Where does everyone go post game?

Bar wise, I suggest going to "The Houndstooth". Many people on this board will agree it's one of the best bars in town. It's right down the road(like less than a mile) from the stadium. It's in a part of Tuscaloosa, just off campus, called "The Strip". More bars and some restaurants are about a mile further down the road once you get into downtown Tuscaloosa.

Like a previous poster said, be sure to check out the Bryant Museum. If you want some good ribs, be sure to check out Dreamland, which is a Tuscaloosa landmark. It will be packed on gameday, but you might be able to squeeze in a visit.

I'm guessing SMU is for Southern Methodist?

 

[TideHead]

Hey, I just noticed that tickets for Ole Miss will go onsale this Saturday morning. Follow this link: http://rolltide.com/Football/10793.asp

These will be the worst seats in the stadium. If you want to try to get better seats, you should have no problem getting them outside the stadium for face or maybe a little more than face.

 

[SMU Law Ag]

Thanks

Yes, SMU does stand for Southern Methodist University. I am in law school there. Which is part of the reason I am willing to drive 8 to 10 hours for a good football game. The death penalty is still realing its effects in Dallas.

Hopefully the traffic will allow us to get to Tuscaloosa in time to get some of those ribs. We will definetely hit up the strip after the game. With one night in Bama we are gonna have to live it up!

Is there any chance to get a hotel back west of Tuscaloosa? That would make the next days drive all that easier. Thanks again!

 

[BamaLaw]

Enjoy law school while you can...the real world awaits! If you wanted to stay somewhere west of Tuscaloosa, you might want to try Meridian, MS. It is on I-20/59 about 80 miles west of Tuscaloosa. It would be a bit of a drive after an 8:00 P.M. game and a couple hours of partying; however, it would give you a pretty good jump on your trip back to Dallas on Sunday. I'm sure there are a couple of hotels at interstate exits between Tuscaloosa and Meridian; however, I'm not sure what and where. Another possibility might be to stay in Columbus, MS. It is on Highway 82 between Starkville and Tuscaloosa.

 

[FAYETTE4BAMA]

Try Columbus, MS

It'll be backtracking, but MSU having an early game should make them a "commute crowd" for the day and leave rooms available.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Here are some links that may help with accommodations in Tuscaloosa or elsewhere in Alabama.

The University of Alabama Visitors Guide

Alabama Wonder Full Online Vacation Guide

Tuscaloosa Accommodations

 

[TexasBama]

SMU, going down I-20 towards Dallas from T-town, the first town you'll run into that has a hotel is probably Livingston; then, Meridian. Meridian is near the size of Tyler, so there will be a few choices there.

Try Expedia.com. Decent pricing. Tuscaloosa is sold out.

 

[bamabill44]

Single game ticket question

I posted this on the ticket swap
board, but got no reply. Hope some
one on this board can give me an
answer:

When I order single game tickets on
line, will I be able to select the
section my seats are located in. Or
do I have to take the section they
assign me. I would rather my seats
be in the upper deck than the
endszone. Thanks

 

[rizolltizide]

Also, what is the "scouping" situation at Alabama games.

We don't allow duck hunting inside the stadium. :eek2:
:biggrin: :biggrin:

 

[Storm Surge]

Birmingham is another possibility

You can try the Hoover area which is about 10 miles farther east of Bessemer which was earlier mentioned. It will add an hour to your drive back but you'll definitely have plenty of hotels to choose from in a very nice suburb of Bham. The Riverchase Galleria, a gigantic mall, is right off the interstate there. That's probably out of the question though if you're looking to bed down soon after the game. The traffic from Ttown to Bham is horrible after the game.

I'd try really hard to find something around Tuscaloosa if I was you. That way you can hit the town after the game. Go to all the hotel chains you can think of and see if they have Tuscaloosa locations. If so, call their toll free numbers and check availability. You should be able to find something somewhere. Microtel Inn, Country Inn and Suites, Holiday Inn, Best Western, Hampton Inn, Days Inn, etc. etc.

P.S. I'd suggest going to eat at The Cypress Inn instead of Dreamland. Dreamland is good but not as good as Cypress Inn IMO. Go downtown or on the Strip to find the best bars at night.

 

[Stephen323]

Places like Cypress Inn can be found in Dallas. Places like Dreamland can not.

 

[Capstone46]

Blackened Steak sandwich on the Quad

Make sure you go to Kickoff on the Quad before the game for the pre game activities. Get one of the blackened steak sandwiches before the game. It is the greatest sandwich ever.

 

[bamabake]

If you do get to Hoover hit up the Golden Rule...on hwy 31 no of the Galleria.
Good BBQ there too. Roll down the windows , you will smell it...