Trip from Mobile, AL to Cherokee, AL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 57m

Distance

349.2 mi

562 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

6h 46m ★

6 AM

6h 57m

8 AM

7h 20m

10 AM

7h 5m

12 PM

7h 3m

3 PM

7h 6m

5 PM

7h 19m

8 PM

6h 50m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Mobile, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Cherokee, AL

Grant Allen

Trip Overview

The drive from Mobile, AL to Cherokee, AL covers 349.2 miles and takes about 6h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 45, US Highway 45 Alternate, US 72 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 214.5 miles on US 45. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.74 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

174.6 miles from Mobile, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 57m. Total distance: 349.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

This is a 6h 57m highway drive covering 349.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. The longest continuous stretch is about 214.5 miles on US 45.

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

There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 45 is the longest continuous segment at about 214.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 349.2 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 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 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.

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

8.7 mi into trip | ~11m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

11.6 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

200.3 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in | US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate

Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupel...

274.7 mi into trip | ~5h 23m in | US 45

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

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 Cherokee, AL, road signs point toward Tupelo and Tishomingo.

Tupelo

200.3 mi in | ~3h 54m | via US 45 ALT

Tishomingo

300.5 mi in | ~5h 53m | via MS 30

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 45	214.5 mi	4h 7m
US Highway 45 Alternate	53 mi	1h 3m
US 72	21.4 mi	24m
Martin Luther King Drive	18.1 mi	20m
MS 364	11.6 mi	15m
Highway 365	8.3 mi	11m
MS 30	7 mi	10m
I 165	4.5 mi	5m

Longest stretch: US 45 — 214.5 mi, about 4h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Saint Louis Street

389 ft · 22 sec · Saint Louis Street

Turn left onto North Royal Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · North Royal Street

Turn right onto Congress Street

260 ft · 11 sec · Congress Street

Take the ramp

411 ft · 12 sec

Merge onto North Water Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · North Water Street

Continue on US 90; US 98 Truck

482 ft · 11 sec · Telegraph Road

Turn straight onto I 165; US 90; US 98 Truck

4.5 mi · 5 min · I 165; US 90; US 98 Truck

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 33 sec

Exit 1B Toward I 65: Montgomery

Merge onto I 65

2.6 mi · 2 min · I 65

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward SR 158: Industrial Parkway

Keep slight left at fork

238 ft · 7 sec

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto AL 158; AL 213

2.5 mi · 4 min · Industrial Parkway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec

Keep slight right at fork

236 ft · 6 sec

Merge onto US 45

68 mi · 1 hr 18 min · US 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 45

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

6.1 mi · 7 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

0.7 mi · 49 sec · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

1.7 mi · 1 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

1.8 mi · 2 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

6.3 mi · 7 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

5.6 mi · 6 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

3.5 mi · 4 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

4.7 mi · 5 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

5.3 mi · 6 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

3.7 mi · 4 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

1.3 mi · 1 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 45

79 mi · 1 hr 30 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · US Highway 45 Alternate

Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on US 45 ALT

18 mi · 20 min · Martin Luther King Drive

Continue on US 45; MS 6

3.3 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King, Junior Drive

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

26 mi · 29 min · US 45

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit onto MS 30

7.0 mi · 10 min · MS 30

Toward MS 30 East: South Booneville, Tishomingo

Turn left onto MS 364

12 mi · 15 min · MS 364

Turn left onto MS 365

8.3 mi · 11 min · Highway 365

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Merge onto US 72

21 mi · 24 min · US 72

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Main Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto 2nd Street

33 ft · 1 sec · 2nd Street

Arrive at destination

2nd Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 174.6 miles from Mobile, AL, or about 3h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 214.5 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 77 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 174.6 miles or 3h 24m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cherokee, 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 349.2 miles and 6h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 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 US 45 for about 214.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 174.6 mi from Mobile, AL · 3h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Meridian, MS

175 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

Waynesboro, MS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Meridian, MS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 174.6 miles from Mobile, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 214.5 miles.

Arriving in Cherokee, AL

The final approach into Cherokee, 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 Cherokee, AL.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.74 one way

$105.47 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 122 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$57.89	$115.79
premium	$4.56	$62.68	$125.35
diesel	$5.61	$77.10	$154.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 122.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	104.8	1	$36.67	$16.76
Efficient EV	87.3	0	$30.55	$13.97
EV Truck/SUV	139.7	1	$48.89	$22.35

Gas CO2

122 kg

EV CO2

41 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Afternoon in Mobile on Thursday

Local time

4:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cherokee, AL

Afternoon in Cherokee on Thursday

Local time

4:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

79°F

Meridian, MS

175 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

34 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

6h 57m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Cherokee, AL covers 349.2 miles and takes about 6h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 45, US Highway 45 Alternate, US 72. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 174.6 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 $52.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.