Origin
Fairfield, AL
Night in Fairfield on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, AL to Birmingham, AL
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
12m
Distance
7.7 mi
12 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 11m
★
6 AM
0h 12m
8 AM
0h 14m
10 AM
0h 13m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 13m
5 PM
0h 14m
8 PM
0h 11m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, AL
Taryn Elliott
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfield, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 7.7 miles and takes about 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, Valley Road, 5th Avenue North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.5 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.16 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
3.8 miles from Fairfield, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Fairfield, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 7.7 miles and takes about 12m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 4.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Avenue E.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 7.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue E): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Avenue E
Turn left onto Avenue E
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 124D
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
19th Street North
Turn right onto 19th Street North
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairfield, AL and Birmingham, AL, road signs point toward 17Th Street North and Downtown.
17Th Street North
5.9 mi in
|
~8m
Downtown
5.9 mi in
|
~8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| Valley Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Avenue I | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Farrell Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Avenue E | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 4.5 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on 52nd Street
165 ft
·
12 sec
·
52nd Street
2
Turn left onto Avenue E
366 ft
·
16 sec
·
Avenue E
3
Continue on Farrell Avenue
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Farrell Avenue
4
Turn right onto Valley Road
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Valley Road
5
Turn slight left onto Avenue I
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Avenue I
6
Turn right
236 ft
·
10 sec
7
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
this road
8
Merge onto I 20; I 59
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 124D
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
19th Street North
12
Turn left 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
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 3.8 miles from Fairfield, AL, or about 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.5 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 7.7 miles or 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3.8 miles or 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9m
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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, AL
This is one driving day of about 7.7 miles and 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fairfield, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 4.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 3.8 mi from Fairfield, AL · 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
4 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 7.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 3.8 miles from Fairfield, 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
$1.16 one way
$2.33 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $1.28 | $2.55 |
| premium | $4.56 | $1.38 | $2.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.70 | $3.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.81 | $0.37 |
| Efficient EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.67 | $0.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Night in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Hoover, AL
4 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
29 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
12m 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 Fairfield, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 7.7 miles and takes about 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, Valley Road, 5th Avenue North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.8 miles from Fairfield, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.16 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 7.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue E): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fairfield, AL and Birmingham, AL, road signs point toward 17Th Street North and Downtown.
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