Drive Time
21m
Distance
13.7 mi
22 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Photo: muaz semih güven
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Chalkville, AL covers 13.7 miles and takes about 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, Messer Airport Highway, Old Springville Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.2 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.09 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
6.8 miles from Birmingham, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Chalkville, AL covers 13.7 miles and takes about 21m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue North.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 13.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Roebuck Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto AL 75 / Roebuck Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Chalkville, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Atlanta along the way.
Atlanta
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Messer Airport Highway | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Old Springville Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Springville Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Parkway East | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Roebuck Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 20 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Chalkville, AL.
Start on 24th Street North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Keep slight left at fork onto 5th Avenue North
Continue on Messer Airport Highway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
Take the exit
Turn left onto AL 75
Continue on AL 75
Turn right onto Springville Road
Continue on Old Springville Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 13.7 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.8 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chalkville, AL than in the middle of the route.
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 13.7 miles and 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.8 mi from Birmingham, AL · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
7 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.
A short stop after about 13.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 6.8 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Chalkville, 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 Chalkville, AL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.09 one way
$4.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $2.30 | $4.59 |
| premium | $4.61 | $2.49 | $4.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.04 | $6.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.44 | $0.66 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.20 | $0.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Night in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Night in Chalkville on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
62°F
Alabaster, AL
7 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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