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Trip from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 50m

Distance

89.5 mi

144 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

15 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 42m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Birmingham, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL covers 89.5 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 22, AL 13, I 65 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.6 miles on I 22. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.52 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

44.8 miles from Birmingham, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 1h 50m highway drive covering 89.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 22 and AL 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 55.6 miles on I 22.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 22 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and AL 13. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Avenue North.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL is easy. At 1h 50m with 97% 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 (6th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 6th Avenue North

Turn left onto 6th Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
4
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 65 North

Navigation decision point

Toward I 65 North
5
1.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.
7
5.3 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 22 West: Memphis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 265A Toward I 22 West: Memphis
6
62.1 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward 13: Natural Bridge, Eldridge

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 39 Toward 13: Natural Bridge, Eldridge

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Eldridge along the way.

Eldridge

62.1 mi in | ~1h 9m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 22 55.6 mi 59m
AL 13 26.6 mi 39m
I 65 3.8 mi 5m
6th Avenue North 1.2 mi 2m
US 278 0.5 mi <1m
24th Street North <0.1 mi <1m
Grover Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 22 — 55.6 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Bear Creek, AL.

1

Start on 24th Street North

523 ft · 19 sec · 24th Street North
2

Turn left onto 6th Avenue North

1.2 mi · 2 min · 6th Avenue North
Use the straight / left lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 65 North
4

Merge onto I 65

3.8 mi · 5 min · I 65
Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 1 min
Exit 265A Toward I 22 West: Memphis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 22

56 mi · 59 min · I 22
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 39 Toward 13: Natural Bridge, Eldridge
8

Turn right onto AL 13

9.9 mi · 14 min · AL 13
9

Continue on US 278; AL 13

0.5 mi · 43 sec · US 278; AL 13
10

Continue on AL 13

17 mi · 25 min · AL 13
11

Turn left onto Grover Avenue

42 ft · 1 sec · Grover Avenue
12

Arrive at destination

Grover Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.8 miles from Birmingham, AL, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.6 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 44.8 miles or 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bear Creek, AL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Birmingham, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Birmingham, AL

This is one driving day of about 89.5 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Birmingham, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 55.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 44.8 mi from Birmingham, AL · 50m into the drive

Downtown Double Springs, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Double Springs, AL

45 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

Double Springs, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cordova, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44.8 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bear Creek, AL

The final approach into Bear Creek, AL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bear Creek, AL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

National Monument

In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.52 one way

$27.03 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $14.84 $29.68
premium $4.56 $16.06 $32.13
diesel $5.61 $19.76 $39.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

15 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

1st Avenue South - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

28 DCFC

Lane Parke Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Mountain Brook, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Uptown Entertainment District - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Santos Coffee - Tesla Supercharger

Gardendale, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target Homewood #T2796

Homewood, AL

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

Flying J Travel Center 602

Birmingham, AL

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

Stivers Ford of Birmingham

Birmingham, AL

RED_E

4 DCFC

Alabama Power - Corporate Headquarters

Birmingham, AL

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 Tesla: 4 eVgo Network: 2 RED_E: 1 Blink Network: 1 FLO: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.8 0 $9.40 $4.30
Efficient EV 22.4 0 $7.83 $3.58
EV Truck/SUV 35.8 0 $12.53 $5.73

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Birmingham, AL

Night in Birmingham on Tuesday

Local time

9:11 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bear Creek, AL

Night in Bear Creek on Tuesday

Local time

9:11 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

3 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 50m 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 Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL covers 89.5 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 22, AL 13, I 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.8 miles from Birmingham, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.52 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 Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL is easy. At 1h 50m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (6th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Eldridge along the way.

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