Origin
Chelsea, AL
Morning in Chelsea on Monday
Local time
10:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chelsea, AL to Mobile, AL
Drive Time
5h 6m
Distance
356.9 mi
574 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 53m
★
6 AM
5h 7m
8 AM
5h 34m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 14m
3 PM
5h 18m
5 PM
5h 33m
8 PM
4h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chelsea, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Mobile, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Chelsea, AL to Mobile, AL covers 356.9 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Drake Avenue Southwest, Patton Road Southwest, Jordan Lane Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
178.4 miles from Chelsea, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 6m drive with frequent turns across 356.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Drake Avenue Southwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 6m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chelsea, AL to Mobile, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Drake Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Patton Road Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jordan Lane Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 22 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Montgomery | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 165 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Drake Avenue Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chelsea, AL and Mobile, AL.
1
Start on Triana Boulevard Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Triana Boulevard Southwest
2
Turn left onto Drake Avenue Southwest
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Drake Avenue Southwest
3
Turn slight right
174 ft
·
8 sec
4
Turn slight right onto Patton Road Southwest
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Patton Road Southwest
5
Continue on Jordan Lane Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jordan Lane Southwest
6
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
7
Merge slight left
16 mi
·
17 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65 South: Birmingham
10
Merge slight left
74 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 22 West: Memphis
13
Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Montgomery
14
Merge slight left
254 mi
·
4 hr 37 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 165: Mobile
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 165: Mobile
16
Continue straight
4.7 mi
·
5 min
17
Turn right onto Saint Joseph Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Joseph Street
18
Turn right onto Saint Louis Street
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
Saint Louis Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 178.4 miles from Chelsea, AL, or about 2h 33m 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 80 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.4 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mobile, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chelsea, 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 Chelsea, AL
This is one driving day of about 356.9 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chelsea, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 178.4 mi from Chelsea, AL · 2h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
178 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 178.4 miles from Chelsea, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mobile, AL
The final approach into Mobile, 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 Mobile, 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
$54.56 one way
$109.12 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
125 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $59.84 | $119.69 |
| premium | $4.61 | $64.78 | $129.55 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $79.29 | $158.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107.1 | 1 | $37.47 | $17.13 |
| Efficient EV | 89.2 | 1 | $31.23 | $14.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142.8 | 1 | $49.97 | $22.84 |
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Mobile, AL
Morning in Mobile on Monday
Local time
10:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Columbiana, AL
178 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
3 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
5h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chelsea, AL to Mobile, AL covers 356.9 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Drake Avenue Southwest, Patton Road Southwest, Jordan Lane Southwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 178.4 miles from Chelsea, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 6m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chelsea, AL to Mobile, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chelsea, AL to Mobile, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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