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Trip from Birmingham, AL to Riverside, AL

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

46m

Distance

37.8 mi

61 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 42m ★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Birmingham, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Riverside, AL, AL

Riverside, AL

🇻🇳🇻🇳 Việt Anh Nguyễn 🇻🇳🇻🇳

Trip Overview

The drive from Birmingham, AL to Riverside, AL covers 37.8 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 20, 1st Avenue North, US 78 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.9 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.71 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

18.9 miles from Birmingham, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 46m highway drive covering 37.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and 1st Avenue North. The longest continuous stretch is about 31.9 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 12 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 31.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and 1st Avenue North. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 11 / 1st Avenue North.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.3 miles (US 11 / 1st Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (1st Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 11 / 1st Avenue North

Turn left onto US 11 / 1st Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
4.3 mi into trip | ~6m in | 1st Avenue South

Turn right onto 1st Avenue South

Navigation decision point

6
4.4 mi into trip | ~7m in

At end of road, turn left toward I 20 East: Atlanta

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward I 20 East: Atlanta
5
4.6 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 20

Merge onto I 20

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
36.5 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward US 78, AL 4: Riverside, Pell City

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 78, AL 4: Riverside, Pell City

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 20 31.9 mi 35m
1st Avenue North 3.9 mi 5m
US 78 0.7 mi 1m
Depot Street 0.4 mi 1m
24th Street North 0.3 mi <1m
64th Street North 0.1 mi <1m
1st Avenue South <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 20 — 31.9 mi, about 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 24th Street North

0.3 mi · 46 sec · 24th Street North
2

Turn left onto US 11

3.9 mi · 5 min · 1st Avenue North
Use the left lane.
3

Turn right onto 64th Street North

0.1 mi · 16 sec · 64th Street North
4

Turn right onto 1st Avenue South

283 ft · 6 sec · 1st Avenue South
5

Turn left

146 ft · 5 sec
6

At end of road, turn left

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 20 East: Atlanta
7

Merge onto I 20

32 mi · 35 min · I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 25 sec
Toward US 78, AL 4: Riverside, Pell City Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn left onto US 78

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 78
Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Turn left onto Depot Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Depot Street
11

Turn left

247 ft · 18 sec
12

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 18.9 miles from Birmingham, AL, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.9 miles.

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 37.8 miles or 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18.9 miles or 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, 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 37.8 miles and 46m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 31.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.9 mi from Birmingham, AL · 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hoover, AL

19 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

Oneonta, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hoover, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Riverside, AL

The final approach into Riverside, 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 Riverside, AL.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

National Monument

In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Freedom Riders National Monument

Freedom Riders National Monument

National Monument

In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...

17 mi from route ~43 min detour Free near mile 37.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.71 one way

$11.42 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $6.27 $12.53
premium $4.56 $6.78 $13.57
diesel $5.61 $8.35 $16.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.3 0 $3.97 $1.81
Efficient EV 9.5 0 $3.31 $1.51
EV Truck/SUV 15.1 0 $5.29 $2.42

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Birmingham, AL

Night in Birmingham on Tuesday

Local time

10:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Riverside, AL

Night in Riverside on Tuesday

Local time

10:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Hoover, AL

19 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

30 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

46m 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 Riverside, AL covers 37.8 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, 1st Avenue North, US 78. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.9 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 $5.71 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 37.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.3 miles (US 11 / 1st Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (1st Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
The route from Birmingham, AL to Riverside, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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