The drive from Mobile, AL to Brighton, AL covers 223.5 miles and takes about 4h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Route 5, US 43, I 65 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.4 miles on State Route 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.7 miles from Mobile, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 223.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 50m highway drive covering 223.5 miles, with most of the trip on State Route 5 and US 43. The longest continuous stretch is about 97.4 miles on State Route 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Route 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 97.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 5 and US 43. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 223.5 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 65: Montgomery
5
14.9 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
5
15 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 430: Creola
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward 430: Creola
5
15.6 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 430: Creola
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward 430: Creola
5
184.5 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|AL 5 / State Route 5
Enter roundabout onto AL 5 / State Route 5
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mobile, AL and Brighton, AL, road signs point toward 430: Satsuma, Creola and 430: Creola.
430: Satsuma
14.9 mi in|~17m
Creola
14.9 mi in|~17m
430: Creola
15 mi in|~18m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 5
97.4 mi
2h 19m
US 43
82.3 mi
1h 34m
I 65
9.2 mi
10m
I 165
4.5 mi
5m
Jefferson Davis Highway
4.3 mi
6m
Broad Street
3.8 mi
5m
AL 5
3 mi
4m
Huntsville Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
State Route 5
— 97.4 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mobile, AL and Brighton, AL.
1
Start on Saint Louis Street
389 ft·22 sec·Saint Louis Street
2
Turn left onto North Royal Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·North Royal Street
3
Turn right onto Congress Street
260 ft·11 sec·Congress Street
4
Take the ramp
411 ft·12 sec
5
Merge onto North Water Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·North Water Street
6
Continue on US 90; US 98 Truck
482 ft·11 sec·Telegraph Road
7
Turn straight onto I 165; US 90; US 98 Truck
4.5 mi·5 min·I 165; US 90; US 98 Truck
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Exit 1BToward I 65: Montgomery
9
Merge onto I 65
9.2 mi·10 min·I 65
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward 430: Creola
12
Keep slight left at fork
124 ft·3 sec
Toward 430: Creola
13
Merge onto US 43
82 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 43
14
Turn straight onto AL 5
7.5 mi·11 min·State Route 5
15
Continue on AL 5
3.8 mi·5 min·Broad Street
16
Continue on AL 5
21 mi·31 min·State Route 5
17
Continue on AL 5
4.3 mi·6 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 5
50 mi·1 hr 10 min·State Route 5
19
Enter roundabout onto AL 5
115 ft·4 sec·State Route 5
20
Continue on AL 5
19 mi·26 min·State Route 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn slight right onto AL 5
3.0 mi·4 min·AL 5
22
Take the ramp
16 mi·17 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 113Toward 18th Avenue
24
Turn right onto 18th Avenue
365 ft·15 sec·18th Avenue
25
Turn left onto Jaybird Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Jaybird Road
26
Turn right onto Huntsville Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Huntsville Avenue
27
Turn left onto Hill Street
297 ft·15 sec·Hill Street
28
Turn right onto Cedar Street
146 ft·6 sec·Cedar Street
29
Arrive at destination
Cedar Street
Trip Plan
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 111.7 miles from Mobile, AL, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.4 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.7 miles or 2h 14m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brighton, 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 223.5 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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.
The longest stretch is on State Route 5 for about 97.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111.7 mi from Mobile, AL
· 2h 14m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
9 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 223.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.1
0
$23.47
$10.73
Efficient EV
55.9
0
$19.56
$8.94
EV Truck/SUV
89.4
1
$31.29
$14.30
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Mobile, AL
Morning
in Mobile on Saturday
Local time
10:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brighton, AL
Morning
in Brighton on Saturday
Local time
10:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Thomasville, AL
112 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
31 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
4h 50m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Brighton, AL covers 223.5 miles and takes about 4h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 5, US 43, I 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.7 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 $33.75 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 223.5 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Mobile, AL and Brighton, AL, road signs point toward 430: Satsuma, Creola and 430: Creola.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
