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Trip from Fairhope, AL to Auburn, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 39m

Distance

226 mi

364 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 27m ★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 48m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 3m
8 PM
3h 32m

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

city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States

Fairhope, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Auburn, AL, AL

Auburn, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fairhope, AL to Auburn, AL covers 226 miles and takes about 3h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Section Street, Homestead Avenue, Old Spanish Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.13 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

113 miles from Fairhope, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 39m. Total distance: 226 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 39m 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 3h 39m drive with frequent turns across 226 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Section Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 39m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairhope, AL to Auburn, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Section Street
Homestead Avenue
Old Spanish Trail
Highway 98
Spanish Fort Boulevard
I-85 North
US 29
AL 147 North

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Section Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairhope, AL and Auburn, AL.

1

Start on Fairhope Avenue

108 ft · 11 sec · Fairhope Avenue
2

Turn left onto North Section Street

1.6 mi · 4 min · North Section Street
3

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Homestead Avenue

30 ft · 1 sec · Homestead Avenue
4

Exit the roundabout onto Homestead Avenue

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Homestead Avenue
5

Turn left onto Old Spanish Trail

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Old Spanish Trail
6

Continue on US Highway 98

7.6 mi · 12 min · US Highway 98
7

Continue on Old Spanish Trail

0.9 mi · 1 min · Old Spanish Trail
8

Turn slight right

312 ft · 7 sec
9

Turn straight onto Spanish Fort Boulevard

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Spanish Fort Boulevard
10

Turn left

20 mi · 28 min
11

Take the ramp right

0.3 mi · 43 sec
12

Merge slight left

139 mi · 2 hr 29 min
13

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

0.3 mi · 39 sec · I-85 North: Atlanta
14

Merge slight left

51 mi · 55 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward US 29: Auburn

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 29: Auburn
16

Keep slight left to continue on AL 147 North: Auburn

220 ft · 11 sec · AL 147 North: Auburn
17

Turn left onto South College Street

4.1 mi · 8 min · South College Street
18

Turn right

292 ft · 21 sec
19

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 113 miles from Fairhope, AL, or about 1h 49m 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 50 miles or 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 113 miles or 1h 49m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, AL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Fairhope, 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 Fairhope, AL

This is one driving day of about 226 miles and 3h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Fairhope, 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 113 mi from Fairhope, AL · 1h 49m into the drive

city in Covington County, Alabama, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Andalusia, AL

113 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

Pennsylvania, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Andalusia, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 113 miles from Fairhope, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Auburn, AL

The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, 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

$34.13 one way

$68.26 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $37.47 $74.94
premium $4.56 $40.56 $81.13
diesel $5.61 $49.90 $99.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 67.8 0 $23.73 $10.85
Efficient EV 56.5 0 $19.78 $9.04
EV Truck/SUV 90.4 1 $31.64 $14.46

Gas CO2

79 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 14, 2026

Origin

Fairhope, AL

Morning in Fairhope on Friday

Local time

11:24 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Auburn, AL

Morning in Auburn on Friday

Local time

11:24 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

20 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 39m 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 Fairhope, AL to Auburn, AL covers 226 miles and takes about 3h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Section Street, Homestead Avenue, Old Spanish Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 113 miles from Fairhope, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 39m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairhope, AL to Auburn, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Fairhope, AL to Auburn, 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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