Skip to main content

Trip from Fairfield, AL to Phenix City, AL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 52m

Distance

172.9 mi

278 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 41m ★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 46m

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

city and county seat of Russell County, Alabama, United States

Phenix City, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fairfield, AL to Phenix City, AL covers 172.9 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Loango Road, Ealum Mill Road, County Road 107 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.11 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

86.5 miles from Fairfield, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 172.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 172.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Loango Road 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Fairfield, AL to Phenix City, AL is easy. At 2h 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 Fairfield, AL to Phenix City, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Loango Road
Ealum Mill Road
County Road 107
County Road 82
Mobile Road
I-85 North
US 280
Columbus Parkway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Loango Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, AL and Phenix City, AL.

1

Start on Judge Smith Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · Judge Smith Road
2

Turn right onto Loango Road

8.5 mi · 20 min · Loango Road
3

Continue on Ealum Mill Road

2.3 mi · 5 min · Ealum Mill Road
4

At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road 107

203 ft · 11 sec · County Road 107
5

Turn right onto County Road 82

0.3 mi · 54 sec · County Road 82
6

Turn sharp left

12 mi · 14 min
7

Continue on Mobile Road

9.3 mi · 11 min · Mobile Road
8

Take the ramp right

0.3 mi · 36 sec
9

Merge slight left

57 mi · 1 hr 1 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward I-85 North: Atlanta

0.3 mi · 39 sec · I-85 North: Atlanta
11

Merge slight left

62 mi · 1 hr 7 min
12

Take the exit slight right toward US 280, US 431: Opelika, Phenix City

0.2 mi · 29 sec · US 280, US 431: Opelika, Phenix City
13

Keep slight right

262 ft · 6 sec
14

Merge slight left onto Columbus Parkway

21 mi · 24 min · Columbus Parkway
15

Continue straight

1.5 mi · 2 min
16

Turn left onto Opelika Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Opelika Road
17

At the end of the road, turn left onto Crawford Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Crawford Road
18

Continue on 14th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · 14th Street
19

Turn straight onto 12th Avenue

269 ft · 8 sec · 12th Avenue
20

Continue on 13th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · 13th Street
21

Turn left onto Broad Street

7 ft · Broad Street
22

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.5 miles from Fairfield, AL, or about 1h 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 38 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 86.5 miles or 1h 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 2h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phenix City, 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 172.9 miles and 2h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Fairfield, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 86.5 mi from Fairfield, AL · 1h 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montgomery, AL

86 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

Andalusia, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Montgomery, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86.5 miles from Fairfield, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Phenix City, AL

The final approach into Phenix City, 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 Phenix City, 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

$26.11 one way

$52.22 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $28.66 $57.33
premium $4.56 $31.03 $62.07
diesel $5.61 $38.17 $76.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.9 0 $18.15 $8.30
Efficient EV 43.2 0 $15.13 $6.92
EV Truck/SUV 69.2 0 $24.21 $11.07

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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

Fairfield, AL

Afternoon in Fairfield on Thursday

Local time

12:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Phenix City, AL

Afternoon in Phenix City on Thursday

Local time

1:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

3 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

2h 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 Fairfield, AL to Phenix City, AL covers 172.9 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Loango Road, Ealum Mill Road, County Road 107. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.5 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 $26.11 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Fairfield, AL to Phenix City, AL is easy. At 2h 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 Fairfield, AL to Phenix City, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fairfield, AL to Phenix City, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Fairfield, AL or browse trips ending in Phenix City, AL.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.

Explore maps for Fairfield, AL or Phenix City, AL on MapSof.net.