Getting Around Montgomery
Montgomery is a mid-sized Southern city where the private car remains the most convenient way to get around, but visitors without a vehicle still have workable options. Public transit is provided by the Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS), which operates both the bus and trolley system in the city.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Montgomery has no metro, light rail, or tram network for visitors to use. The trolley service mentioned in connection with the city is operated by MATS as part of its transit system rather than as a separate rail line, so plan your movements around buses, trolleys, taxis, and ride-hailing instead of any form of rail transit.
Buses and Public Transport
MATS is the local transit authority and runs the city's bus and trolley routes. For a visitor, this is the main public-transport option within Montgomery. Because the network is bus-based, routes tend to be oriented around getting residents to and from key parts of town rather than serving as a quick sightseeing loop, so it is worth checking schedules in advance and allowing extra time for your journey.
For longer-distance travel into and out of Montgomery, intercity buses also serve the city:
- Greyhound — 495 Molton St; open daily from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM; toll-free line +1 800 231-2222.
- Megabus — also at 495 Molton St, at the Intermodal Transit Facility, with service from Atlanta, Mobile, and New Orleans.
Both operators use the same Molton Street address, which makes the intercity bus stop a single, easy-to-remember point for arrivals and departures.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material does not describe a specific taxi or ride-hailing regime in Montgomery. As in most U.S. cities of its size, visitors should expect to arrange taxis by phone or app and to use ride-hailing apps where available; because the city is car-oriented, these on-demand options are often the most practical way to cover longer cross-town trips when you are not driving yourself.
Walkability
Montgomery is a sprawling, car-oriented city, and the source material does not present walking as a primary way to cover the whole city. Walking is best treated as a way to explore a specific area once you have arrived there by car, bus, or taxi, rather than as a means of getting between distant parts of town.
Getting In from the Airport
Montgomery Airport (airport code MGM) is located at 4445 Selma Hwy and can be reached by phone at +1 334 281-5040. It is a small airport served by American Eagle and Delta Connection:
- American Eagle — flights to Charlotte, Dallas, and Washington.
- Delta Connection — flights to Atlanta.
Because the airport is small and the airline options are limited, it is often worth comparing fares through larger nearby hubs. The source notes that flying through Atlanta (about two hours away by car) or Birmingham (about an hour and a half away by car) can save money. If you do this, you will need ground transport — a rental car, taxi, or ride-hailing — for the final leg into Montgomery, since the source material does not describe a dedicated airport rail or shuttle connection.
Arriving by Car
If you are driving, two major interstate highways serve Montgomery:
- I-85 — connects Montgomery with Atlanta, Georgia.
- I-65 — connects Montgomery with Birmingham to the north and Mobile to the south.
Given the city's car-oriented layout and the lack of rail transit, arriving by car gives you the most flexibility for getting around once you are in Montgomery.