Origin
Clay, AL
Morning in Clay on Saturday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clay, AL to Birmingham, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
21.2 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clay, AL
3B
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clay, AL to Birmingham, AL is 21.2 miles and takes about 29m via I 59, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a highway-focused drive for the most part, making it a quick and straightforward journey. It's an easy day trip or a simple hop to get you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 21.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 67% of the journey taking place on interstates like I 59. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 11.2 miles on I 59, offering a consistent pace. The drive includes segments on Deerfoot Parkway and 1st Avenue North, which may offer a slight change in scenery or traffic patterns as you approach Birmingham. Overall, anticipate a straightforward driving experience with minimal complex road changes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and 1st Avenue North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Deerfoot Parkway.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Deerfoot Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Deerfoot Parkway
Turn left onto Deerfoot Parkway
Navigation decision point
3
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
15 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
8
15.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
4
20.9 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
24th Street North
Turn right onto 24th Street North
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 11.2 mi | 11m |
| 1st Avenue North | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Deerfoot Parkway | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Old Springville Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 11.2 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clay, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on Old Springville Road
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Old Springville Road
2
Turn left onto Deerfoot Parkway
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Deerfoot Parkway
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
4
Merge onto I 59
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 59
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 132
Toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
326 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 11
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
1st Avenue North
8
Turn right onto 24th Street North
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
24th Street North
9
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.20 one way
$6.40 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $3.51 | $7.03 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.81 | $7.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Morning in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
29m 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 Clay, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 21.2 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, 1st Avenue North, Deerfoot 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 10.6 miles from Clay, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.20 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 29m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Deerfoot Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Clay, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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