The drive from Foley, AL to Alabaster, AL covers 243.4 miles and takes about 4h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, McKenzie Street, Bay Minette Bypass for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 199.9 miles on I 65.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.76 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.7 miles from Foley, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 243.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 4h 40m highway drive covering 243.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and McKenzie Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 199.9 miles on I 65.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 199.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and McKenzie Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AL 59 / McKenzie Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 40m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AL 59 / McKenzie Street): Navigation decision point; at 42 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 241.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 59 / McKenzie Street
Turn right onto AL 59 / McKenzie Street
Navigation decision point
3
42 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
241.9 mi into trip|~4h 37m in
Take the exit toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
3
242.2 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|US 31 / 1st Street South
Turn slight left onto US 31 / 1st Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
243.4 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
199.9 mi
3h 35m
McKenzie Street
32.2 mi
45m
Bay Minette Bypass
5.3 mi
9m
Rabun Road
4.2 mi
6m
1st Street South
1.2 mi
1m
East Laurel Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 199.9 mi, about 3h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Foley, AL and Alabaster, AL.
1
Start on US 98
67 ft·5 sec·East Laurel Avenue
2
Turn right onto AL 59
32 mi·45 min·McKenzie Street
3
Continue on US 31; AL 59
5.3 mi·9 min·Bay Minette Bypass
4
Continue on AL 287
4.2 mi·6 min·Rabun Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 65
200 mi·3 hr 35 min·I 65
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, SaginawUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn slight left onto US 31
1.2 mi·1 min·1st Street South
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left
177 ft·18 sec
10
Turn right
97 ft·7 sec
11
Arrive at 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 121.7 miles from Foley, AL, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.9 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 54 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.7 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alabaster, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Foley, 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 Foley, AL
This is one driving day of about 243.4 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Foley, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 199.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.7 mi from Foley, AL
· 2h 28m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 243.4
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73
0
$25.56
$11.68
Efficient EV
60.9
0
$21.30
$9.74
EV Truck/SUV
97.4
1
$34.08
$15.58
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Foley, AL
Morning
in Foley on Friday
Local time
10:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alabaster, AL
Morning
in Alabaster on Friday
Local time
10:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Monroeville, AL
122 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
23 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
4h 40m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Foley, AL to Alabaster, AL covers 243.4 miles and takes about 4h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, McKenzie Street, Bay Minette Bypass. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 121.7 miles from Foley, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.76 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 40m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AL 59 / McKenzie Street): Navigation decision point; at 42 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 241.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Foley, AL to Alabaster, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
