Origin
Birmingham, AL
Morning in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Brent, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Brent, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Trip Overview
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Brent, AL covers 53.4 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, State Route 5, US 11 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.06 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 53.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and State Route 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 27 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 27 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and State Route 5. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Avenue North.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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 lanes.
8
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
29 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 11; AL 5
Take the exit onto US 11; AL 5 toward US 11 South, AL 5 South: West Blocton, Centreville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 97
Toward US 11 South, AL 5 South: West Blocton, C...
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 Brent, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Centreville along the way.
Centreville
29 mi in
|
~33m
|
via US 11; AL 5
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 27 mi | 29m |
| State Route 5 | 18.9 mi | 26m |
| US 11 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| University Way | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I 65 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 27 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Brent, 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
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 65
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Merge onto I 20; I 59
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 11; AL 5
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 11; AL 5
Exit 97
Toward US 11 South, AL 5 South: West Blocton, Centreville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 11; AL 5
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
US 11; AL 5
9
Turn left onto AL 5
19 mi
·
26 min
·
State Route 5
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto CR 58
301 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Way
11
Continue on CR 58
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
University Way
12
Turn sharp right onto AL 25
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
13
Turn right
54 ft
·
9 sec
14
Turn left
169 ft
·
12 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.7 mi from Birmingham, AL · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Brent, AL
The final approach into Brent, 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
$8.06 one way
$16.13 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.58 | $19.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.79 | $23.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Brent, AL
Morning in Brent on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Woodstock, AL
27 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 10m 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 Brent, AL covers 53.4 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, State Route 5, US 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.7 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 $8.06 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Brent, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Centreville along the way.
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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