Origin
Birmingham, AL
Afternoon in Birmingham on Monday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Elba, AL
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
168.6 mi
271 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Elba, AL covers 168.6 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Avenue North, 9th Street North, 3rd Avenue North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.77 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.3 miles from Birmingham, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 33m drive with frequent turns across 168.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Avenue North is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Elba, AL is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Birmingham, AL to Elba, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 9th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-85 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 85 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ann Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Zelda Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
1st Avenue North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Elba, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue North
3
Turn right onto 9th Street North
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
9th Street North
4
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
440 ft
·
8 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
5
Take the ramp right toward I 65 South: Montgomery
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 65 South: Montgomery
6
Merge slight left
88 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I-85 North: Atlanta
394 ft
·
10 sec
·
I-85 North: Atlanta
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Atlanta
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 85 North: Atlanta
9
Continue straight
2.7 mi
·
3 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward Ann Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Ann Street
11
Turn right onto Ann Street
436 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ann Street
12
Keep slight left to continue on Zelda Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Zelda Road
13
Continue on Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Carter Hill Road
14
Turn left onto McGehee Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
McGehee Road
15
Continue on Troy Highway
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Troy Highway
16
Continue straight
7.7 mi
·
9 min
17
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
18
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
1 min
19
Take the exit straight
348 ft
·
10 sec
20
Turn slight right onto Elba Highway
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Elba Highway
21
Turn right onto Elba Highway
20 mi
·
34 min
·
Elba Highway
22
Continue on North Troy Road
364 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Troy Road
23
Continue on Neil Grantham Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Neil Grantham Drive
24
Turn straight onto Claxton Avenue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Claxton Avenue
25
Turn right onto Simmons Street
236 ft
·
10 sec
·
Simmons Street
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.3 miles from Birmingham, AL, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.3 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elba, 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 168.6 miles and 3h 33m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.3 mi from Birmingham, AL · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 84.3 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elba, AL
The final approach into Elba, 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 Elba, 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
$25.77 one way
$51.55 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $28.27 | $56.54 |
| premium | $4.61 | $30.60 | $61.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.46 | $74.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.70 | $8.09 |
| Efficient EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.75 | $6.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.60 | $10.79 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Elba, AL
Afternoon in Elba on Monday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°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
1 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
3h 33m 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 Elba, AL covers 168.6 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Avenue North, 9th Street North, 3rd Avenue North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.3 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 $25.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Elba, AL is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Birmingham, AL to Elba, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Birmingham, AL to Elba, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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