Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Civil Rights Movement trail between Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, US

The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail is a 54-mile (87 km) driving route in Alabama, marked by brown-and-white route signs such as the shield-shaped "Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail" sign with three red stars. It begins at Mount Zion AME Zion Church in Marion, passes the Selma interpretive center and the Edmund Pettus Bridge, then follows U.S. Route 80 through White Hall to the state capital in Montgomery.

The trail marks the famous 1965 march when activists walked from Selma to Montgomery demanding voting rights for Black Americans, encountering resistance at Edmund Pettus Bridge. These events ultimately led to new federal laws, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The trail connects important sites from the African American civil rights movement, where visitors today find monuments, memorials, and museums telling the story of the voting rights struggle. These locations serve as reminders of the people who fought for equality here.

Visitors can obtain maps and information at the Selma Interpretive Center, located at the foot of Edmund Pettus Bridge, where daily resources are available. The trail is well-marked, and visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring water and sun protection depending on the season and weather.

The trail incorporates multiple sites where demonstrators camped during their five-day journey, including land supported by sympathetic local African American residents. These stopping points tell stories of local solidarity and reveal how ordinary people helped sustain the movement from place to place.