Origin
Birmingham, AL
Afternoon in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
2:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Riverside, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
47.6 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, AL
🇻🇳🇻🇳 Việt Anh Nguyễn 🇻🇳🇻🇳
Trip Overview
This straightforward 47.6-mile drive from Birmingham to Riverside, Alabama, can be completed in about 1 hour and 13 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll be spending 94% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing AL 75 and Pinson Valley Parkway. With a fuel cost estimated at just $7, this is an economical option for a short journey within Alabama. The route is focused on efficient travel rather than scenic detours, offering a practical way to get from point A to point B.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| AL 75 | 28.7 mi | 42m |
| Pinson Valley Parkway | 10.4 mi | 16m |
| CR 26 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| I 20 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Vanderbilt Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| AL 151 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Tallapoosa Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
AL 75
— 28.7 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Riverside, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
46 ft
·
3 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
188 ft
·
3 sec
·
5th Avenue North
3
Keep slight right at fork onto 5th Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
5th Avenue North
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 20, I 59: Gadsden, Atlanta, Tuscaloosa
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 20; I 59
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 20; I 59
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 128
Toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward AL 79
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto AL 79
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Tallapoosa Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on AL 79
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Vanderbilt Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on AL 79
10 mi
·
16 min
·
Pinson Valley Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto AL 151
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
AL 151
13
Continue on AL 75
11 mi
·
15 min
·
AL 75
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on AL 75
18 mi
·
26 min
·
AL 75
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto CR 26
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
CR 26
16
Arrive at destination
CR 26
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 2.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
5th Avenue North
Keep slight right at fork onto 5th Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
7
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 128
Toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AL 79
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward AL 79
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.19 one way
$14.38 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.89 | $15.78 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.54 | $17.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Riverside, AL
Afternoon in Riverside on Saturday
Local time
2:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Springville, AL
24 mi in
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
27 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
1h 13m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 47.6-mile trip. You'll be on AL 75 and Pinson Valley Parkway for most of the journey, with only a small portion on local roads like CR 26. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.7 miles on AL 75. This route prioritizes speed and directness, so the road character remains consistent for much of the drive, offering a predictable experience behind the wheel.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.7 mi on AL 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 75 and Pinson Valley Parkway. 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.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.6 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: near the start (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (5th Avenue North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 47.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.7 miles on AL 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Riverside, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (5th Avenue North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Riverside, AL before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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