Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
81.6 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from Guin, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 81.6 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 22, 7th Street, I 65 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.3 miles on I 22. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.47 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
40.8 miles from Guin, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
This is a 1h 33m highway drive covering 81.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 22 and 7th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 69.3 miles on I 22.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
861 ft
Total Descent
697 ft
Highest Point
682 ft
~6.8 mi in
Elevation Range
360 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and 7th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 81.6 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 6.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.6 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I-22 East, US 78 East: Jasper
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 22 | 69.3 mi | 1h 14m |
| 7th Street | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| I 65 | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 44 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| AL 44 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 43 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Guin, AL and Birmingham, AL.
Start on US 43; AL 118; AL 171
Continue on AL 44
At end of road, turn left onto AL 44; AL 253
Keep slight right at fork onto AL 44
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Turn right onto 19th Street North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 24th Street North
Arrive at destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 47m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, AL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Guin, 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 Guin, AL
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.8 mi from Guin, AL · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 40.8 miles from Guin, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 22 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.3 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$12.47 one way
$24.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $13.68 | $27.36 |
| premium | $4.61 | $14.81 | $29.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.13 | $36.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.57 | $3.92 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.14 | $3.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.42 | $5.22 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Guin on Saturday
Local time
6:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
6:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
86°F
Cordova, AL
41 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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