Origin
Birmingham, AL
Night in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
10:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
118.4 mi
191 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 14m
★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Bear Creek, AL
Yuanpang Wa
Trip Overview
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL covers 118.4 miles and takes about 2h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on University of North Alabama Highway, I 65, Wheeler Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.4 miles on University of North Alabama Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.88 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
59.2 miles from Birmingham, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL covers 118.4 miles and takes about 2h 24m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
University of North Alabama Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 55.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Avenue North.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 24m 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: at 0.1 miles (6th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese 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.
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.
6
51.1 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 310
Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
5
106.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
114.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
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 Moulton along the way.
Moulton
51.1 mi in
|
~57m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University of North Alabama Highway | 55.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| I 65 | 49.7 mi | 54m |
| Wheeler Highway | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| Underwood Mountain Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Frankfort Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| 6th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Section Line Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
University of North Alabama Highway
— 55.4 mi, about 1h 6m
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
50 mi
·
54 min
·
I 65
Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 310
Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
6
Turn left onto AL 157
200 ft
·
3 sec
·
Section Line Road
7
Continue on AL 157
55 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
University of North Alabama Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left
143 ft
·
4 sec
10
At end of road, turn right
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
11
Turn left onto Frankfort Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Frankfort Road
12
Turn slight left onto CR 51
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Underwood Mountain Road
13
Turn left
80 ft
·
3 sec
14
Arrive at destination
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 59.2 miles from Birmingham, AL, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.2 miles or 1h 7m 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 52m
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 118.4 miles and 2h 24m.
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 University of North Alabama Highway for about 55.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.2 mi from Birmingham, AL · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.2 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.88 one way
$35.76 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $19.63 | $39.26 |
| premium | $4.56 | $21.25 | $42.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.14 | $52.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.43 | $5.68 |
| Efficient EV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.36 | $4.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.58 | $7.58 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Bear Creek, AL
Night in Bear Creek on Tuesday
Local time
10:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
2 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
2h 24m 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 118.4 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are University of North Alabama Highway, I 65, Wheeler Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.2 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 $17.88 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 2h 24m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (6th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Bear Creek, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.
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