Origin
Birmingham, AL
Late night in Birmingham on Wednesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Sylacauga, AL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
47 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Sylacauga, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Sylacauga, AL covers 47 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 280, Red Mountain Expressway, West Fort Williams Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.5 miles on US 280. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.10 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
23.5 miles from Birmingham, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 47 miles, with most of the trip on US 280 and Red Mountain Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 42.5 miles on US 280.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 280 is the longest continuous segment at about 42.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and Red Mountain Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 3rd Avenue North.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 4m 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 0.4 miles (US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
3rd Avenue North
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 31 South, US 280 East
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway
Merge onto US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 280
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
4
46.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
Norton Avenue
Turn left onto Norton Avenue
Navigation decision point
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 Sylacauga, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Zoo Gardens along the way.
Zoo Gardens
2.6 mi in
|
~3m
|
via US 280
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 42.5 mi | 56m |
| Red Mountain Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| West Fort Williams Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Norton Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 24th Street North | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 42.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Sylacauga, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
199 ft
·
3 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 31 South, US 280 East
4
Merge onto US 31; US 280
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Mountain Expressway
5
Take the exit onto US 280
18 mi
·
24 min
·
US 280
Toward US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 280
25 mi
·
31 min
·
US 280
7
Turn left onto West Fort Williams Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Fort Williams Street
8
Turn left onto Norton Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Norton Avenue
9
Turn right
173 ft
·
12 sec
10
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 23.5 miles from Birmingham, AL, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.5 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 47 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.5 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sylacauga, 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 47 miles and 1h 4m.
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 US 280 for about 42.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.5 mi from Birmingham, AL · 32m into the drive
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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sylacauga, AL
The final approach into Sylacauga, 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 Sylacauga, 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
$7.10 one way
$14.20 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.79 | $15.58 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.44 | $16.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.38 | $20.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.58 | $3.01 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Sylacauga, AL
Late night in Sylacauga on Wednesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Columbiana, AL
24 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
28 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 4m 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 Sylacauga, AL covers 47 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 280, Red Mountain Expressway, West Fort Williams Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.5 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 $7.10 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 1h 4m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 0.4 miles (US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Sylacauga, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Zoo Gardens along the way.
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