Origin
Brook Highland, AL
Late night in Brook Highland on Wednesday
Local time
12:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brook Highland, AL to Birmingham, AL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
21m
Distance
12.4 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brook Highland, AL
Michał Robak
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Brook Highland, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 12.4 miles and takes about 21m 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, Brook Highland Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.8 miles on US 280. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.87 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
6.2 miles from Brook Highland, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 21m highway drive covering 12.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 280 and Red Mountain Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 7.8 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 13 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 7.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and Red Mountain Expressway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near US 280.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.4 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 9.3 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
9.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 280
Take the exit onto US 280 toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
6
11.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward US 11 North: 1st Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 11 North: 1st Avenue North
8
11.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 11 South
5
11.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 11 / 1st Avenue North
Turn left onto US 11 / 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
12.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
24th Street North
Turn right onto 24th Street North
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| Red Mountain Expressway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Brook Highland Parkway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Kinross Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 24th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Brook Highland Trace | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Brook Highland Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 7.8 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brook Highland, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on this road
92 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on Kinross Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Kinross Drive
3
Turn right onto Brook Highland Trace
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Brook Highland Trace
4
At end of road, turn left onto Brook Highland Drive
516 ft
·
28 sec
·
Brook Highland Drive
5
Turn right onto Brook Highland Parkway
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Brook Highland Parkway
6
Turn right onto US 280
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
US 280
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 280
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 280
Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
8
Merge onto US 31; US 280
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Red Mountain Expressway
9
Take the exit
484 ft
·
11 sec
Toward US 11 North: 1st Avenue North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
274 ft
·
12 sec
Toward US 11 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 11
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Avenue North
12
Turn right onto 24th Street North
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
24th Street North
13
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
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 6.2 miles from Brook Highland, AL, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.8 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 12.4 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.2 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brook Highland, 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 Brook Highland, AL
This is one driving day of about 12.4 miles and 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brook Highland, 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 7.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.2 mi from Brook Highland, AL · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 12.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.2 miles from Brook Highland, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Birmingham, AL
The final approach into Birmingham, 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 Birmingham, 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
$1.87 one way
$3.75 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.06 | $4.11 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.23 | $4.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.74 | $5.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.60 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.09 | $0.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.79 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Birmingham, AL
Late night in Birmingham on Wednesday
Local time
12:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Hoover, AL
6 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
21m 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 Brook Highland, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 12.4 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 280, Red Mountain Expressway, Brook Highland Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.2 miles from Brook Highland, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.87 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 12.4 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 9.3 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Brook Highland, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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