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Trip from Birmingham, AL to Montevallo, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

49m

Distance

34.9 mi

56 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 45m ★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Birmingham, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Montevallo, AL, AL

Montevallo, AL

Magda Ehlers

Trip Overview

This short, 34.9-mile drive from Birmingham, AL to Montevallo, AL takes approximately 49 minutes and is best tackled as a single-day trip. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $5, it's an economical journey through the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes Interstate 65 before transitioning to local roads like Montevallo Road and 1st Avenue North. Given its brevity, this drive offers a straightforward commute rather than an extensive exploration, making it ideal for a quick transfer between these two Alabama locations without needing an overnight stop.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 34.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with about 60% of the journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 20.9 miles on I 65, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. As you leave the interstate, the drive transitions to more local roads, including Montevallo Road and 1st Avenue North, which will likely involve lower speeds and more frequent turns. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of the interstate and the character of smaller town approaches.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.9 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 1.8 miles in near US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North

Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North

Navigation decision point

5
1.9 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 65 South: Montgomery

Navigation decision point

Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
5
2 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
22.9 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
6
23.8 mi into trip | ~29m in | AL 119 / Montevallo Road

Turn left onto AL 119 / Montevallo Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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 Montevallo, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Saginaw along the way.

Saginaw

22.9 mi in | ~27m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 20.9 mi 23m
Montevallo Road 9.7 mi 17m
1st Avenue North 1.4 mi 2m
Ashville Road 0.9 mi 1m
1st Street South 0.7 mi 1m
Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
24th Street North 0.3 mi <1m
9th Street North 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 20.9 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Montevallo, AL.

1

Start on 24th Street North

0.3 mi · 42 sec · 24th Street North
2

Turn right onto US 11; US 78

1.4 mi · 2 min · 1st Avenue North
3

Turn right onto US 11; US 78

0.1 mi · 16 sec · 9th Street North
4

Turn right onto US 11; US 78

439 ft · 8 sec · 3rd Avenue North
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
6

Merge onto I 65

21 mi · 23 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
8

Turn right onto US 31

0.7 mi · 1 min · 1st Street South
9

Turn left onto AL 119

9.7 mi · 17 min · Montevallo Road
Use the left lane.
10

Continue on AL 119

0.9 mi · 1 min · Ashville Road
11

Continue on AL 119

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Main Street
12

Turn right onto Middle Street

362 ft · 15 sec · Middle Street
13

Turn left onto Valley Street

188 ft · 8 sec · Valley Street
14

Arrive at destination

Valley Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17.5 mi from Birmingham, AL · 21m into the drive

suburb city of Birmingham, located in Shelby County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alabaster, AL

17 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

Calera, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Helena, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Montevallo, AL

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Montevallo, AL if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.27 one way

$10.54 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $5.79 $11.57
premium $4.56 $6.26 $12.53
diesel $5.61 $7.71 $15.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.5 0 $3.66 $1.68
Efficient EV 8.7 0 $3.05 $1.40
EV Truck/SUV 14 0 $4.89 $2.23

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Birmingham, AL

Late night in Birmingham on Saturday

Local time

12:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Montevallo, AL

Late night in Montevallo on Saturday

Local time

12:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

29 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

49m 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 Montevallo, AL covers 34.9 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 65, Montevallo Road, 1st Avenue North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 17.5 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 $5.27 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 49m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Montevallo, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Saginaw 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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