Origin
Alabaster, AL
Late night in Alabaster on Saturday
Local time
5:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alabaster, AL to Montgomery, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
69.7 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alabaster, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Alabaster to Montgomery is 69.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 18 minutes via I-65 and I-85, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, predominantly highway journey, making it ideal for a quick trip or an addition to a longer itinerary. Given its short duration and focus on major roads, you'll find it efficient for getting from point A to point B without significant detours.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 69.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I-65, experiencing a continuous stretch of 66.7 miles on this highway. The transition to I-85 is brief, maintaining the high-speed, direct nature of the journey. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal variation in road type, designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 66.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and 1st Street South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 68.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 68.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
68.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward I-85 North: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 171
Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
6
68.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
6
68.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward Court Street, Union Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward Court Street, Union Street
6
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
South Union Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 66.7 mi | 1h 12m |
| 1st Street South | 1 mi | 1m |
| I 85 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Arba Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Decatur Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Winnie Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Union Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 66.7 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alabaster, AL and Montgomery, AL.
1
Start on this road
97 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
177 ft
·
14 sec
3
Turn right onto US 31; AL 119
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I-65 South: Montgomery
5
Merge onto I 65
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 65
6
Take the exit
393 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 171
Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
8
Continue on I 85
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 85
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 1
Toward Court Street, Union Street
10
Continue on Arba Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arba Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto South Decatur Street
462 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Decatur Street
12
Turn left onto Winnie Street
440 ft
·
24 sec
·
Winnie Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
187 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Union Street
14
Arrive at destination
South Union Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.8 mi from Alabaster, AL · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.8 miles from Alabaster, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.7 miles.
Arriving in Montgomery, AL
The final approach into Montgomery, AL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.53 one way
$21.05 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.56 | $23.11 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.51 | $25.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.39 | $30.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.76 | $4.46 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Montgomery, AL
Late night in Montgomery on Saturday
Local time
5:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 18m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alabaster, AL to Montgomery, AL covers 69.7 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, 1st Street South, I 85. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.8 miles from Alabaster, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 18m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 68.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 68.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Alabaster, AL to Montgomery, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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