Huntsville's Orbit buses run 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays for a $1 fare. Downtown meters are enforced 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Airport: 256-772-9395.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Huntsville’s Orbit, Huntsville Transit maps, public parking, bicycling and roadwork pages, and Huntsville International Airport.

Huntsville is a driving city built around a few big roads: Interstate 565 east to west, Memorial Parkway (U.S. 231/431) north to south and U.S. 72, with Research Park Boulevard (State Route 255) linking Cummings Research Park and Redstone Arsenal. The city runs its own buses, Orbit, and Huntsville International Airport handles air travel.

Who to call

  • Huntsville Transit (Orbit): 256-427-6811; tickets at the Huntsville Transit Center, 521 Pratt Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
  • Parking office: 256-427-6800, 500B Church St.
  • Huntsville International Airport: 256-772-9395, 1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd.
  • Road problems: Public Works, 256-883-3944, or Huntsville Connect

Main roads

  • Memorial Parkway (U.S. 231/431) is the city’s north-south spine. With the new Mastin Lake Road overpass, drivers can travel it for more than 10 miles through the heart of the city with no traffic signals, the mayor said on Oct. 16. Work on the underpass continues to late November.
  • Interstate 565 links Huntsville with I-65 to the west; ALDOT is widening it through Madison.
  • Research Park Boulevard (State Route 255) serves Cummings Research Park and Redstone Arsenal Gate 9; the Northern Bypass, also Route 255, is planned to extend east to U.S. 72.
  • Martin Road links I-565 and the airport area to Redstone Arsenal; its widening is due to finish in late 2026.

Current work and closures are on our road construction and closures page. For interstates and state routes, check ALDOT’s ALGO Traffic.

Buses: Orbit

Orbit runs Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Access Paratransit runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Every bus has a bike rack.

Route Name
1 Brahan Spring
2 Patton
3 Holmes, UAH
4 University Drive
5 Byrd Spring
6 Jones Valley
7 Meridian, Alabama A&M University
8 Blue Spring
91 and 92 Oakwood (formerly 9A and 9B)
10 Pulaski Pike
56 Bailey Cove
UAH Campus route

Route maps are on the Huntsville Transit page, and the rider guide explains how to ride. Fares: $1 one way; 50 cents for seniors 65 and older, riders with disabilities, Medicare or Medicaid cardholders, students with ID and children 6 and under; children under 32 inches ride free with a paying adult. A book of 20 tickets is $18 and a monthly pass is $30; transfers are free. Pay with the Token Transit app or at the Transit Center.

The airport

Huntsville International Airport (HSV), 1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd., is served by rideshare apps, taxis, rental cars and hotel shuttles, the airport says. Parking is limited during construction, and the airport asks travelers to arrive early; check parking and ground transportation before you go.

Downtown parking

What Rule or rate
Meters 50 cents an hour, enforced Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; not on city holidays
City garages 50 cents an hour, $4 maximum; first 30 minutes free
Monthly garage permit $56
Event parking $5, cash or card
Pay by phone Passport Parking app
Handicap space violations $50, $100, then $500

See the city’s downtown parking map and the map of parking around City Hall. For big downtown events the city sometimes waives fees: on July 4, 2026, all city garages and street spaces were free.

Biking and walking

The city’s Bikeway Plan, approved in 2006, lays out 39 routes and about 160 miles of bikeways; see the interactive bike route map. Greenways and trails are in our parks and trails guide.

What this means for you

  • Downtown on a weekend? Street meters are enforced only on weekdays.
  • Riding Orbit? Download Token Transit and keep $1 handy.
  • Flying out of HSV? Leave extra time for construction parking.

More guides: moving to Huntsville and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Does Huntsville have public transportation?

Yes. The city’s Orbit buses run Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 12 routes plus a UAH campus route. A one-way fare is $1, with free transfers.

Is downtown Huntsville parking free on weekends?

Downtown parking meters are enforced Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and not on city holidays. City garages charge 50 cents an hour, up to $4, with the first 30 minutes free.

Where is Huntsville International Airport?

At 1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd. Call 256-772-9395. The airport says it is served by rideshare apps, taxis and hotel shuttles, and asks travelers to arrive early during construction.

How do I pay for parking in downtown Huntsville?

At the meter or garage, or with the Passport Parking app on your phone. Event parking in city garages and lots is $5, cash or card.