The Best Hotels to Book Near Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa

This hotel by the Black Warrior River is the ideal place for waterside relaxation. Flop on the cushioned rattan couches at the rooftop bar – aptly named the Lookout – as you absorb the view. Feeling active? Grab one of the hotel bikes and cycle along the Riverwalk towards the University of Alabama. Once you’re suitably worn out, rest up on the velvet couch or comfy bed in your light-filled suite.

Surrounded by the downtown restaurants and a short stroll from the Bama Theatre, Capitol Park, Tuscaloosa Amphitheater and the Riverwalk, this modern hotel is ideal if you want to explore the other side of the city – and it’s still just 1.2mi (1.9km) from the college stadium. It has a gym, restaurant, business center and store, so you might find yourself spending more time in the hotel than you anticipated. Throw in the rooftop bar, where you can enjoy sundowners with city views, and you might never leave.

A stone’s throw from the Riverwalk, this hotel in downtown Tuscaloosa exudes positivity, with warm colors splashed throughout. The suites are kitted with everything a family could need: kitchenettes, refrigerators, microwaves and baby cribs. Settle in for a movie in front of your 42in LCD TV or make the most of the gym, indoor pool and business center. Enjoy grilling out? You’ll love the outdoor barbecue area with rustic brickwork.

From the crimson frontage to the framed UA flags lining the walls, this aparthotel near Tuscaloosa Amphitheater is made for Bama fans. If the comfy beds coax you to sleep through the free breakfast, you can always whip something up in your suite’s kitchen. Counter the lazy start to your day with a stint in the fitness center and large outdoor pool, before rewarding yourself with a Bama Sandwich – smoked chicken, Alabama white barbecue sauce, pickles, Swiss cheese, bacon and coleslaw – at the rooftop restaurant and bar.

Looking for fancy hotels in Tuscaloosa near the Riverwalk? This four-star stay is for you. Chandeliers and arched windows create a luxury feel as soon as you enter – a sense that continues in the suites, some of which feature kitchenettes. Make time for a swim in the indoor pool before heading to the complimentary drinks reception to mingle with fellow guests on the patio. If you’re too energized to sleep, you’ll appreciate the 24-hour gym.

Escape the university hubbub at this hotel in Northport – a suburb across the river from downtown and 4mi (6km) from Bryant-Denny Stadium. While you’re in this neck of the woods, don’t miss quintessential Alabama cuisine at Mr Bill’s Southern Diner, a six-minute walk from the hotel. Return to nap off your meal on a lounger by the outdoor pool.