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Trip from Jemison, AL to Birmingham, AL

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

Drive Time

53m

Distance

43 mi

69 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m

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

Downtown Jemison, AL, AL

Jemison, AL

Benjamin Dominguez

city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Birmingham, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Jemison to Birmingham is a quick, straightforward journey covering 43 miles in approximately 53 minutes. Because of the manageable distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion. You will primarily utilize I-65, US 31, and 3rd Avenue North to navigate between these two Southeast locations. With fuel costs estimated at just $7, it is an incredibly budget-friendly drive. You do not need to worry about overnight logistics, as the route is efficient enough to complete in under an hour. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this path offers a direct connection between the two Alabama points.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 43 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route consisting of major roadways. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel on I-65, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 28.1 miles. The experience is consistent and fast-paced, designed for getting you to your destination with minimal fuss. Expect a straightforward transition from the quieter stretches near Jemison to the more developed infrastructure as you approach Birmingham. It is a functional drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding, technical backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 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 28.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

717 ft 474 ft

Total Climb

265 ft

Total Descent

373 ft

Highest Point

717 ft

Elevation Range

242 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 31. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 31.

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 53m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 31): Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 31

Turn left onto US 31

Navigation decision point

5
13.4 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
41.5 mi into trip | ~51m in

Take the exit toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 260B Toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
5
41.7 mi into trip | ~51m in | US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North

Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
4
42.5 mi into trip | ~52m in | 5th Avenue North

Turn right onto 5th Avenue North

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 28.1 mi 31m
US 31 13.1 mi 18m
3rd Avenue North 0.7 mi 1m
5th Avenue North 0.5 mi <1m
Church Street 0.1 mi <1m
19th Street North 0.1 mi <1m
24th Street North <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 28.1 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jemison, AL and Birmingham, AL.

1

Start on AL 191

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Church Street
2

Turn left onto US 31

13 mi · 18 min · US 31
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
4

Merge onto I 65

28 mi · 31 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 260B Toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
6

Turn right onto US 11; US 78

0.7 mi · 1 min · 3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Turn left onto 19th Street North

0.1 mi · 17 sec · 19th Street North
8

Turn right onto 5th Avenue North

0.5 mi · 50 sec · 5th Avenue North
9

Turn right onto 24th Street North

46 ft · 1 sec · 24th Street North
10

Arrive at destination

24th Street North

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.5 mi from Jemison, AL · 28m into the drive

suburb city of Birmingham, located in Shelby County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alabaster, AL

22 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

Homewood, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alabaster, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Jemison, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Birmingham, AL

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Birmingham, AL if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.49 one way

$12.99 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $7.13 $14.26
premium $4.56 $7.72 $15.44
diesel $5.61 $9.49 $18.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.9 0 $4.52 $2.06
Efficient EV 10.8 0 $3.76 $1.72
EV Truck/SUV 17.2 0 $6.02 $2.75

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Jemison, AL

Morning in Jemison on Friday

Local time

10:27 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Birmingham, AL

Morning in Birmingham on Friday

Local time

10:27 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

28 degrees cooler at arrival

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

Road read

53m 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 Jemison, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 43 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 65, US 31, 3rd Avenue North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 21.5 miles from Jemison, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.49 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.

This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 31): Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

The route from Jemison, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 474 ft to 717 ft elevation with about 265 ft of total climbing.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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