Origin
Alexander City, AL
Morning in Alexander City on Saturday
Local time
6:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alexander City, AL to Auburn, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
40.1 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexander City, AL
Eva Hamitaj
Auburn, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Alexander City and Auburn is a straightforward 40.1-mile journey that typically takes about 51 minutes. You will primarily navigate via US 280 before transitioning onto North College Street and Cherokee Road to reach your destination. Because this route is a quick, highway-focused drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is an incredibly economical way to traverse this portion of the Southeast. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a short excursion, the simplicity of the path makes it an easy addition to your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 40.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, as 82% of the route consists of highway travel. The core of your trip is a 33-mile stretch along US 280, which serves as the primary artery connecting these two Alabama cities. You will find that the road maintains a consistent pace, allowing for steady progress throughout the nearly hour-long transit. As you leave the highway and maneuver onto North College Street and Cherokee Road, the character of the drive shifts from open highway to local thoroughfares. This transition marks your final approach, providing a predictable experience behind the wheel from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 280 is the longest continuous segment at about 33 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
790 ft
534 ft
Total Climb
551 ft
Total Descent
552 ft
Highest Point
790 ft
~34.4 mi in
Elevation Range
256 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and North College Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Alexander City, AL to Auburn, AL is easy. At 51m with 82% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Tallapoosa Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.2 miles (AL 22 / Madison Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Tallapoosa Street
Enter roundabout onto Tallapoosa Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AL 22 / Madison Street
Turn right onto AL 22 / Madison Street
Navigation decision point
5
35.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
AL 147 / North College Street
Turn right onto AL 147 / North College Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
36.1 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
AL 147 / North College Street
Enter roundabout onto AL 147 / North College Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 33 mi | 38m |
| North College Street | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Cherokee Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Madison Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Tallapoosa Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Court Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 33 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexander City, AL and Auburn, AL.
1
Start on Court Square
291 ft
·
14 sec
·
Court Square
2
Turn right onto Main Street
244 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Tallapoosa Street
450 ft
·
8 sec
·
Tallapoosa Street
4
Continue on Tallapoosa Street
151 ft
·
4 sec
·
Tallapoosa Street
5
Turn right onto AL 22
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Madison Street
6
Continue on AL 22; AL 63
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cherokee Road
7
Continue on AL 22; AL 63
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cherokee Road
8
Turn left onto US 280
33 mi
·
38 min
·
US 280
9
Turn right onto AL 147
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Street
Use the right lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto AL 147
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
North College Street
11
Continue on AL 147
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North College Street
12
Turn left
291 ft
·
21 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.1 mi from Alexander City, AL · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Alexander City, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Auburn, AL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Auburn, AL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.06 one way
$12.11 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.65 | $13.30 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.20 | $14.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Auburn, AL
Morning in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
6:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph
0% chance
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
8 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
51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alexander City, AL to Auburn, AL covers 40.1 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 280, North College Street, Cherokee Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.1 miles from Alexander City, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.06 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.
The drive from Alexander City, AL to Auburn, AL is easy. At 51m with 82% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Tallapoosa Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.2 miles (AL 22 / Madison Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Alexander City, AL to Auburn, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 534 ft to 790 ft elevation with about 551 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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