Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
61.3 mi
99 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Goodwater, AL covers 61.3 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 280, Goodwater Highway, County Road 511 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.5 miles on US 280. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.26 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 42.5 mi | 56m |
| Goodwater Highway | 8.8 mi | 15m |
| County Road 511 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Red Mountain Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Sylacauga Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| West Fort Williams Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Broadway Avenue | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Goodwater, AL.
Start on 24th Street North
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 31; US 280
Take the exit onto US 280
Take the exit onto US 280
Turn left onto West Fort Williams Street
Turn right onto AL 21
Continue on AL 21
Turn left
Turn straight onto CR 511
Continue on County Road 511
Continue on Sylacauga Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 47.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 280 toward US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto AL 21 / South Broadway Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.26 one way
$18.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.16 | $20.33 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.00 | $22.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.53 | $27.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
1:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Goodwater on Saturday
Local time
1:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
79°F
Vincent, AL
31 mi in
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
61.3 mi in 1h 28m, mostly highway — 42.5 mi of that is on US 280.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and Goodwater Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 3rd Avenue North.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 28m drive. You will face about 8 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 (3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 61.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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