Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
169.6 mi
273 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from Elba, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 169.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Claxton Avenue, Neil Grantham Drive, Neal Grantham Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.8 miles from Elba, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 169.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Claxton Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Neil Grantham Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Neal Grantham Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AL 167 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| McGehee Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Carter Hill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Zelda Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ann Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Elba, AL and Birmingham, AL.
Start on Simmons Street
Turn left onto Claxton Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Neil Grantham Drive
Continue on Neal Grantham Drive
At the end of the road, turn right onto AL 167 South: Enterprise
Keep slight left to continue on AL 167 South: Enterprise
Turn slight left
Turn left
Continue straight
Continue straight
Continue straight
Continue straight
Continue straight
Continue on McGehee Road
Turn right onto Carter Hill Road
Continue on Zelda Road
Turn right onto Ann Street
Turn left onto Ann Street South
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I-65 North: Birmingham
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
Turn left onto 19th Street North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 24th Street North
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.8 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, AL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Elba, 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 Elba, AL
This is one driving day of about 169.6 miles and 2h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.8 mi from Elba, AL · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.8 miles from Elba, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$23.04 one way
$46.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $25.71 | $51.41 |
| premium | $4.15 | $27.71 | $55.42 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $25.04 | $50.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.9 | 0 | $17.81 | $8.14 |
| Efficient EV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.84 | $6.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.74 | $10.85 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Elba on Saturday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
85°F
Dadeville, AL
85 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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