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Trip from Coosada, AL to Birmingham, AL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

85.5 mi

138 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 34m ★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Coosada, AL, AL

Coosada, AL

Matias

city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Birmingham, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 85.5-mile drive from Coosada, AL to Birmingham, AL is a straightforward trip, estimated to take just about 1 hour and 41 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it's an economical journey through the Southeast. The route predominantly follows major highways, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B. You'll spend most of your time on I-65, offering a consistent pace for your travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

42.8 miles from Coosada, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for 92% of this journey. The majority of your travel will be on I-65, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 78 miles. While primarily interstate, the initial and final segments involve local roads like Coosada Road and County Road 10, offering a brief change of pace before merging onto the main highway. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 78 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Coosada Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in near AL 14.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Coosada, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 1h 41m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (AL 14): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
5 mi into trip | ~12m in | AL 14

Turn left onto AL 14

Navigation decision point

5
6 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
84 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in

Take the exit toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 260B Toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
5
84.2 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North

Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
4
85 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | 5th Avenue North

Turn right onto 5th Avenue North

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 78 mi 1h 24m
Coosada Road 2.3 mi 5m
County Road 10 1.6 mi 3m
AL 14 0.8 mi 1m
3rd Avenue North 0.7 mi 1m
Grandview Road 0.5 mi 1m
5th Avenue North 0.5 mi <1m
County Road 8 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 78 mi, about 1h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Coosada, AL and Birmingham, AL.

1

Start on Coosada Road

2.3 mi · 5 min · Coosada Road
2

Continue on Edgewood Road

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Edgewood Road
3

Turn slight right onto Grandview Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Grandview Road
4

Continue on County Road 10

1.6 mi · 3 min · County Road 10
5

Continue on County Road 8

0.3 mi · 43 sec · County Road 8
6

Turn left onto AL 14

0.8 mi · 1 min · AL 14
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
8

Merge onto I 65

78 mi · 1 hr 24 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 260B Toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
10

Turn right onto US 11; US 78

0.7 mi · 1 min · 3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Turn left onto 19th Street North

0.1 mi · 17 sec · 19th Street North
12

Turn right onto 5th Avenue North

0.5 mi · 50 sec · 5th Avenue North
13

Turn right onto 24th Street North

46 ft · 1 sec · 24th Street North
14

Arrive at destination

24th Street North

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 1 hour and 41-minute duration, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Leaving in the morning will help you avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach Birmingham. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, keeping in mind the longest stretch without a change in road type is 78 miles on I-65. It's wise to fill up your tank before leaving Coosada to ensure a smooth journey.

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 42.8 miles from Coosada, AL, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78 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 19 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42.8 miles or 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 26m

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 Coosada, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Coosada, AL

This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Coosada, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 78 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.8 mi from Coosada, AL · 53m into the drive

city in Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Calera, AL

43 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

Enterprise, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Calera, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.8 miles from Coosada, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78 miles.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

National Monument

In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free near mile 85.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.91 one way

$25.83 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $14.17 $28.35
premium $4.56 $15.35 $30.69
diesel $5.61 $18.88 $37.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.7 0 $8.98 $4.10
Efficient EV 21.4 0 $7.48 $3.42
EV Truck/SUV 34.2 0 $11.97 $5.47

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Coosada, AL

Morning in Coosada on Thursday

Local time

10:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Birmingham, AL

Morning in Birmingham on Thursday

Local time

10:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

31 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 41m 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 Coosada, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Coosada Road, County Road 10. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.8 miles from Coosada, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.91 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 Coosada, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 1h 41m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles (AL 14): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Coosada, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

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