Origin
Carbon Hill, AL
Night in Carbon Hill on Tuesday
Local time
10:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carbon Hill, AL to Birmingham, AL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
55.3 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
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.
Carbon Hill, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Carbon Hill to Birmingham, you are in for a straightforward trip across Alabama. Covering 55.8 miles, this drive typically takes about 52 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate using Northeast 1st Avenue, 1st Avenue North, and I-22 East to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of only $8, it is a very budget-friendly transit between these two Southeast locations. Whether you are heading into the city for business or a quick getaway, the route is efficient and keeps your travel time well under an hour.
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
27.7 miles from Carbon Hill, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul. While the journey utilizes I-22 East, the route maintains a 0% highway share according to the data, emphasizing its local road personality. You won't find long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment is 0 miles on Northeast 1st Avenue. Navigating this path requires your full attention as you transition between local roads and the primary arterial route. It is a practical drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel as you move through the heart of the state.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast 1st Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
654 ft
320 ft
Total Climb
494 ft
Total Descent
361 ft
Highest Point
654 ft
~51.4 mi in
Elevation Range
334 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Carbon Hill, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 1h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carbon Hill, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast 1st Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-22 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 17th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 19th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Northeast 1st Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carbon Hill, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on Nauvoo Road
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Nauvoo Road
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Northeast 1st Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 1st Avenue
3
Continue on 1st Avenue North
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
1st Avenue North
4
Take the ramp slight right toward I-22 East, US 78 East: Birmingham
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
I-22 East, US 78 East: Birmingham
5
Merge slight left
44 mi
·
46 min
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 65 South: Birmingham
7
Merge slight left
3.2 mi
·
3 min
8
Take the exit slight left toward 17th Street North, Downtown
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street North, Downtown
9
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
10
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
19th Street North
11
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
5th Avenue North
12
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
24th Street North
13
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, one-day trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 55.8-mile stretch in under an hour without needing to schedule formal stops. Because the route is turn-heavy, keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition from Northeast 1st Avenue onto the main thoroughfares. Budgeting roughly $8 for gas should be sufficient for the round trip, allowing you to focus on the road rather than fuel stops. Plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure you maintain that 52-minute travel time.
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 27.7 miles from Carbon Hill, AL, or about 32m into the drive.
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 55.3 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.7 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 Birmingham, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carbon Hill, 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 Carbon Hill, AL
This is one driving day of about 55.3 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carbon Hill, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.7 mi from Carbon Hill, AL · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 55.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Carbon Hill, 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
$8.35 one way
$16.70 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.17 | $18.34 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.93 | $19.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.21 | $24.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Night in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
10:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Cordova, AL
28 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
35 degrees cooler 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 Carbon Hill, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 55.3 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 Northeast 1st Avenue, 1st Avenue North, I-22 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.7 miles from Carbon Hill, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.35 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.
The drive from Carbon Hill, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 1h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carbon Hill, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carbon Hill, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 320 ft to 654 ft elevation with about 494 ft of total climbing.
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