Origin
Gadsden, AL
Afternoon in Gadsden on Saturday
Local time
2:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gadsden, AL to Pleasant Grove, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
104.3 mi
168 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gadsden, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Pleasant Grove, AL
Megan Bailey
Trip Overview
The drive from Gadsden, AL to Pleasant Grove, AL covers 104.3 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, I 65, John M. Harbert III Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.6 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.75 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.
Midpoint
52.2 miles from Gadsden, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 44.6 mi | 47m |
| I 65 | 18.2 mi | 19m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| US 31 | 12.9 mi | 18m |
| AL 191 | 4 mi | 5m |
| I 759 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| South 11th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Walnut Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 44.6 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gadsden, AL and Pleasant Grove, AL.
1
Start on South 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto Walnut Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Walnut Street
3
Turn left onto South 11th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South 11th Street
4
Turn left onto Black Creek Parkway
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Black Creek Parkway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I-759 West: Birmingham, Chattanooga
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 759
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 759
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward Birmingham
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 59
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 59
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 137
Toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on I 459
17 mi
·
18 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 65
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 65
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Saginaw, Calera, Montevallo
15
Turn right onto US 31
13 mi
·
18 min
·
US 31
16
Turn right onto AL 191
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
17
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 191
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
AL 191
18
Turn left
23 ft
·
1 sec
19
Arrive at 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.2 miles from Gadsden, AL, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.6 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.2 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasant Grove, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gadsden, 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 Gadsden, AL
This is one driving day of about 104.3 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Gadsden, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 59 for about 44.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.2 miles from Gadsden, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 67.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I-759 West: Birmingham, Chattanooga
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-759 West: Birmingham, Chattanooga
7
5.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Birmingham
8
50.1 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 137
Toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
8
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
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.
Exit 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
7
67.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.75 one way
$31.50 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $17.29 | $34.58 |
| premium | $4.56 | $18.72 | $37.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.03 | $46.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.95 | $5.01 |
| Efficient EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.13 | $4.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.60 | $6.68 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Pleasant Grove, AL
Afternoon in Pleasant Grove on Saturday
Local time
2:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
S 5 mph
0% chance
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
6 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
2h 3m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 61.2
View on nps.gov
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 10.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
104.3 mi in 2h 3m, mostly highway — 44.6 mi of that is on I 59.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.6 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 104.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gadsden, AL and Pleasant Grove, AL, road signs point toward Montgomery, Calera and Montevallo.
Montgomery
50.1 mi in
|
~57m
Calera
86.9 mi in
|
~1h 38m
Montevallo
86.9 mi in
|
~1h 38m
About the Cities
Starting in Gadsden, AL
Full guide →Gadsden is a city in the Appalachian foothills of Alabama.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 104.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.6 miles on I 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Pleasant Grove, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pleasant Grove, AL before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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