Origin
Guntersville, AL
Evening in Guntersville on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Guntersville, AL to Birmingham, AL
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
88.4 mi
142 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Guntersville, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Birmingham, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Guntersville to Birmingham, you are looking at a manageable 88.4-mile trek through the heart of Alabama. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will navigate using a combination of local roads, Tallapoosa Street, and I-20 West to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $12, the trip is quite economical for a quick getaway. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, the transition between them is straightforward and familiar. Whether you are heading to the city for business or leisure, this route provides a direct connection without the need for an overnight stay.
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
44.2 miles from Guntersville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
This journey is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will find that the road demands your full attention, as it lacks long, uninterrupted stretches of highway travel. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more engaging, hands-on driving experience through the local landscape. Navigation will keep you busy as you transition through various road types, including Tallapoosa Street. Expect a consistent pace as you wind your way through the Southeast, keeping your eyes on the road rather than settling into a cruise-control mindset.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
the route 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Guntersville, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 1h 37m 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 Guntersville, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tallapoosa Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 20 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 31 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Carraway Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 6th Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 24th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
the route
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Guntersville, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on Gunter Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Gunter Avenue
2
Continue straight
27 mi
·
46 min
3
Turn left
3.0 mi
·
4 min
4
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
197 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
6
Exit the roundabout
34 mi
·
49 min
7
Continue on Tallapoosa Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Tallapoosa Street
8
Take the ramp slight right toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
9
Merge slight left
1.6 mi
·
2 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
11
Keep slight right to continue on Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
12
Keep slight left
220 ft
·
7 sec
13
Continue on 6th Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
6th Avenue North
14
Turn left onto 24th Street North
522 ft
·
14 sec
·
24th Street North
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility when it comes to your departure time. You can easily complete the 88.4-mile drive in under two hours, meaning there is no pressure to rush or schedule formal rest stops. Be mindful that because the route is turn-heavy, you may want to ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent maneuvering before you leave Guntersville. Budgeting about $12 for fuel should cover your needs, but keeping a little extra set aside is always a smart habit for local travel. Focus on navigating the turns on Tallapoosa Street carefully, as the lack of long highway stretches makes this a more technical drive than a standard interstate commute.
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 44.2 miles from Guntersville, AL, or about 48m 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 48m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Guntersville, 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 Guntersville, AL
This is one driving day of about 88.4 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Guntersville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.2 mi from Guntersville, AL · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.2 miles from Guntersville, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Birmingham, AL
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.51 one way
$27.03 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $14.82 | $29.65 |
| premium | $4.61 | $16.04 | $32.09 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.64 | $39.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
| Efficient EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.38 | $5.66 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Birmingham, AL
Evening in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Hayden, AL
44 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
2 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
1h 37m 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 Guntersville, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 88.4 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are the route, Tallapoosa Street, I 20 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.2 miles from Guntersville, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.51 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.
The drive from Guntersville, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 1h 37m 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 Guntersville, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Guntersville, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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