5 Unique Things to Do in Auburn, Alabama

Beyond Game Day: Local Favorites, Hidden Gems, and Seasonal Events on the Plains

Auburn is famous for football Saturdays and the roll of toilet paper down Toomer's Corner, but the best unique things to do in Auburn, Alabama, sit a little off the game-day path. This college town packs art, waterfalls, quiet woods, local food, and free festivals into a few square miles. 

We rounded up five favorites that show Auburn's character all year, each with an address and the best time to go. Most of them are free or close to it. At StoreEase, we help students and residents settle into the area, so we like steering newcomers toward the places that make Auburn feel like home.

1. See Free Art at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art

Auburn University runs one of the South's finest free art museums, and plenty of visitors drive right past it. The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art sits at 901 South College Street, a few minutes from downtown. General admission is free, and so are the talks, films, and workshops on their calendar. Inside, you will find a permanent collection of American art alongside rotating exhibitions that change throughout the year. 

The galleries stay peaceful on weekday afternoons, which makes that the best time to wander at your own pace. If you would rather come when the place is buzzing, watch for an evening program, since lectures and gallery events often start around 5:30 in the afternoon. The landscaped grounds outside give you a calm spot to sit before or after a visit, and the museum keeps hands-on activities ready for younger guests. Free parking sits right by the front door.

2. Chase a Waterfall and Miles of Trails at Chewacla State Park

For a waterfall and miles of trails inside the city limits, Chewacla State Park is hard to beat. The 696-acre park at 124 Shell Toomer Parkway centers on a stone dam built in the 1930s, which spills into Chewacla Creek and forms a short waterfall you can walk right up to. Lake Chewacla draws swimmers, paddlers, and anglers through the warm months. Mountain bikers and hikers share around 30 miles of trails built and maintained with the Central Alabama Mountain Pedalers, running from beginner loops to rocky climbs. 

Spring and fall mornings bring the best weather and the thinnest crowds, so aim for a weekday if your schedule allows. A small day-use fee gets you in, and the old stone cabins from the Civilian Conservation Corps era are worth a look even if you are not staying the night. The park also keeps picnic pavilions and a small swimming beach that families claim early on hot weekends. Pack water and sturdy shoes because the rocks near the falls can get slick.

3. Find Quiet in the Woods at Kreher Preserve and Nature Center

Locals treat the Kreher Preserve as their favorite quiet escape, and it stays free every day of the year. Auburn University's Kreher Preserve and Nature Center covers about 120 acres of forest at 2222 North College Street, north of the main campus. Soft trails wind past stands of pine, hardwoods, a pond, and pollinator gardens. A newer welcome center opened in 2023, along with a treehouse, an outdoor amphitheater, and space for the preserve's popular nature programs. 

The gates are open from dawn to dusk, and a cooler morning is the best time to hear birdsong and see wildlife. Families come for the easy paths and seasonal events, such as guided hikes and star parties. Because Auburn University uses the land for teaching and research, you get a real slice of Alabama piedmont ecology rather than a manicured park. Leashed dogs are welcome, so bring your walking buddy along. Admission and parking cost nothing, which makes it an easy stop on a full day.

4. Taste Auburn, From Toomer's Lemonade to Farm-to-Table

You cannot claim to know Auburn until you have tasted a lemonade from Toomer's Drugs. Toomer's Drugs has stood at Toomer's Corner, where College Street meets Magnolia Avenue, since 1896. The fresh-squeezed lemonade is what people line up for, tart and cold and pressed by the glass. That same corner is where fans roll the oak trees with toilet paper after an Auburn win, so a home-game weekend turns the whole spot into a celebration. 

Downtown rounds out the rest of a food day, with local coffee roasters, farm-to-table kitchens, and Southern comfort spots within a short walk. A warm afternoon is the right time for that lemonade, while dinner reservations help on game weekends when the town fills up. Save room for a scoop of ice cream from the old soda fountain counter inside the drugstore, a treat that has outlasted more than a century of Auburn students.

5. Catch a Free Festival Through the Seasons

Some of the best unique things to do in Auburn, Alabama happen only a few nights a year, and they cost nothing to attend. The SummerNight Downtown Art Walk takes over downtown on the first Friday evening in June, running from about 6-10 pm. Local and regional artists set up along the streets, live music plays, shops and restaurants stay open late, and a culinary contest hands out prizes for the most creative bites. Kids get their own crafts and attractions, which keeps the night easy for families. 

Parking fills fast near the center of town, so come early and plan to walk. When the weather turns cold, downtown lights up again for the winter holidays with a tree lighting and family activities. Following the City of Auburn's events calendar is the surest way to catch these free gatherings and grab a good spot.

Store the Extra Stuff That Comes With Auburn Life

All that Auburn energy comes with a storage crunch, and a little planning pays off. Auburn is a college town first, home to tens of thousands of students who move in and out every August and May. Summer break, apartment swaps, and study-abroad terms leave many people needing a safe place to stash furniture, bikes, and boxes for a few months. Residents feel it too, from families between houses to hobbyists and small online sellers who run out of room at home. 

If you are looking for storage in Auburn, our team keeps the process quick with 2 Minute Move-In, so you can rent and reach a unit the same day. Alabama heat and humidity are rough on electronics, photos, and wood furniture, so climate-controlled storage that maintains a steady temperature protects what matters most. Unsure what size you need? Our size guide walks you through it before you commit.

When your Auburn plans call for extra space, we make the next step easy. Browse StoreEase locations in the area, pick the unit that fits your season, and get moved in without the hassle. The town has plenty to see, and your storage should be the part you never have to think about.