Origin
Clanton, AL
Afternoon in Clanton on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clanton, AL to Birmingham, AL
Drive Time
52m
Distance
54.5 mi
88 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 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clanton, AL
Elizabeth Celestino
Birmingham, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling from Clanton to Birmingham covers 54.5 miles and typically takes about 52 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip within the Southeast, it is perfectly suited for a quick day trip rather than an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $7 on fuel for the journey. The route relies on local navigation, utilizing 6th Street North, 2nd Avenue North, and 1st Street rather than major interstates. It is an efficient path for those looking to move between these two Alabama locations without the congestion often associated with highway travel.
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
27.2 miles from Clanton, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive is defined by a turn-heavy local profile, providing a stark contrast to a standard interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain entirely on navigating local roads rather than high-speed traffic. You will find no long, monotonous stretches here, as the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on 6th Street North. Expect an active experience behind the wheel where the scenery changes frequently as you transition through the local street grid. It is an engaging, hands-on route that requires your full attention to manage the turns.
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.
6th Street North 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. 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 Clanton, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 52m 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 Clanton, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 2nd Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lay Dam Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 11 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Avenue North | 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:
6th Street North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clanton, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on 1st Avenue North
33 ft
·
6 sec
·
1st Avenue North
2
Turn right onto 6th Street North
384 ft
·
21 sec
·
6th Street North
3
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
4
Turn left onto 1st Street
374 ft
·
19 sec
·
1st Street
5
Continue on Lay Dam Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Lay Dam Road
6
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
7
Merge slight left
47 mi
·
52 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 11: 3rd Avenue North
9
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Avenue North
10
Turn left onto 19th Street North
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
19th Street North
11
Turn right 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
Given the short 52-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time. You should budget around $7 for fuel, which makes this an economical trip to plan on short notice. Since there are 0 scheduled stops provided in the data, feel free to pull over whenever you need a break, as the local nature of the route allows for easy adjustments to your pace. Keep in mind that because you are relying on roads like 2nd Avenue North and 1st Street, your travel time may fluctuate based on local traffic signals. Planning your departure to avoid peak local commuting hours will help ensure you maintain the estimated 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 27.2 miles from Clanton, AL, or about 26m 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 54.5 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.2 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
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 Clanton, 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 Clanton, AL
This is one driving day of about 54.5 miles and 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clanton, 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 27.2 mi from Clanton, AL · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 54.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Clanton, 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
$8.33 one way
$16.66 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $9.14 | $18.28 |
| premium | $4.61 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.11 | $24.22 |
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: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
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
Afternoon in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Columbiana, AL
27 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
1 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
52m 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 Clanton, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 54.5 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 6th Street North, 2nd Avenue North, 1st Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.2 miles from Clanton, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.33 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 Clanton, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 52m 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 Clanton, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Clanton, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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