Trip from Mobile, AL to Birmingham, AL

Drive Time

3h 41m

Distance

258.7 mi

416 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 29m ★

6 AM

3h 41m

8 AM

4h 7m

10 AM

3h 50m

12 PM

3h 48m

3 PM

3h 52m

5 PM

4h 5m

8 PM

3h 34m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Traveling from Mobile to Birmingham covers 258.7 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 41 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best approached as a full-day commitment. You should budget approximately $35 for fuel to complete the journey. While both cities are located within the Southeast, the route requires navigating local corridors like North Royal Street, Congress Street, and North Water Street. Since the highway share is 0%, you won’t be dealing with high-speed interstate travel, making this a practical trip for those who prefer local roads. It is manageable as a single-day excursion, though you should plan for at least one stop to break up the drive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

129.4 miles from Mobile, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a hands-on experience behind the wheel, as this 258.7-mile route consists entirely of turn-heavy local roads. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating through city streets and local thoroughfares rather than cruising on an open expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on North Royal Street, meaning you will encounter frequent turns and shifting traffic patterns throughout the journey. This is not a monotonous grind; instead, the drive demands your full attention as you transition between local road segments. Prepare for a dynamic pace that keeps you engaged as you navigate the specific turns required to reach Birmingham.

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.

North Royal Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mobile, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Royal Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Congress Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Water Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Telegraph Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 65	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 11	Unavailable	Refreshing
3rd Avenue North	Unavailable	Refreshing
19th Street North	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: North Royal Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Saint Louis Street

390 ft · 23 sec · Saint Louis Street

2

Turn left onto North Royal Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · North Royal Street

3

Turn right onto Congress Street

259 ft · 10 sec · Congress Street

4

Take the ramp left

410 ft · 11 sec

5

Merge slight right onto North Water Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · North Water Street

6

Continue on Telegraph Road

482 ft · 12 sec · Telegraph Road

7

Turn straight

4.5 mi · 5 min

8

Keep slight right to continue on I 65: Montgomery

0.5 mi · 34 sec · I 65: Montgomery

9

Merge slight left

250 mi · 4 hr 30 min

10

Take the exit slight right toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North

0.2 mi · 21 sec · US 11: 3rd Avenue North

11

Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North

0.7 mi · 1 min · 3rd Avenue North

12

Turn left onto 19th Street North

0.1 mi · 17 sec · 19th Street North

13

Turn right onto 5th Avenue North

0.5 mi · 51 sec · 5th Avenue North

14

Turn right onto 24th Street North

46 ft · 1 sec · 24th Street North

15

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 3-hour and 41-minute trip, plan your departure for a time when local traffic is lightest to avoid getting bogged down on city streets. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert and keep your navigation tools handy for the frequent transitions between North Royal, Congress, and North Water Streets. Since you have 258.7 miles ahead of you, factor in at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $35 fuel budget in mind. Because this is a local road drive, the lack of highway miles provides the flexibility to adjust your pace as needed. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your turn-by-turn directions before leaving, as the reliance on local streets makes missing a turn more likely than on a standard interstate path.

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 129.4 miles from Mobile, AL, or about 1h 50m 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 8m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 129.4 miles or 1h 50m 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 1m

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 Mobile, 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 Mobile, AL

This is one driving day of about 258.7 miles and 3h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mobile, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.4 mi from Mobile, AL · 1h 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dadeville, AL

129 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

Andalusia, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dadeville, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.4 miles from Mobile, 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

$39.55 one way

$79.10 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.26	$43.38	$86.76
premium	$4.61	$46.95	$93.91
diesel	$5.64	$57.47	$114.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	77.6	0	$27.16	$12.42
Efficient EV	64.7	0	$22.64	$10.35
EV Truck/SUV	103.5	1	$36.22	$16.56

Gas CO2

91 kg

EV CO2

30 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Mobile, AL

Afternoon in Mobile on Sunday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Birmingham, AL

Afternoon in Birmingham on Sunday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

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

4 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

3h 41m 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 Mobile, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 258.7 miles and takes about 3h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Royal Street, Congress Street, North Water Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 129.4 miles from Mobile, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.55 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mobile, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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