Rather than wake up super early and drive down we have opted to go the day before and get a hotel. Does anyone know of any decent and not to pricey hotels in that area?

Mobile is not a city blessed with good hotels. When we stayed there in 2005 for a cruise, we were at the Best Western Battleship Inn which is next to the USS Alabama. This was a lousy hotel - at least on our visit. We were attacked by bed bugs and had to contend with lousy service and food at the "convenient" restaurant in front of the hotel. Frankly I'd suggest staying north of the city at some hotel off of I-65 and making the run to the ship on the following morning.

thanks for the tip dave I can always count on you