Origin
Montgomery, AL
Afternoon in Montgomery on Saturday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montgomery, AL to Riverside, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
140.2 mi
226 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverside, AL
🇻🇳🇻🇳 Việt Anh Nguyễn 🇻🇳🇻🇳
Trip Overview
The drive from Montgomery, AL to Riverside, AL covers 140.2 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, AL 75, John M. Harbert III Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.2 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
70.1 miles from Montgomery, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 78.2 mi | 1h 24m |
| AL 75 | 28.7 mi | 42m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 17.1 mi | 18m |
| CR 26 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Sweeny Hollow Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| I 59 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Chalkville Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Center Point Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 78.2 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montgomery, AL and Riverside, AL.
1
Start on South Union Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Union Street
2
Turn left onto East South Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East South Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
4
Merge onto I 85
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 85
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
6
Merge onto I 65; US 82
78 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 65; US 82
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 250
Toward I 459: Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 459 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 459
17 mi
·
18 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 33B
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
this road
Exit 33A
Toward I-59 North: Gadsden
12
Merge onto I 59
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 59
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 141
Toward Trussville, Pinson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn slight left
128 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 141
Toward Trussville, Pinson
15
Turn left onto CR 10
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Chalkville Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on Sweeny Hollow Road
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Sweeny Hollow Road
17
Turn right onto AL 75
169 ft
·
3 sec
·
Center Point Parkway
18
Continue on AL 75
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Point Road
19
Turn right onto AL 75
11 mi
·
15 min
·
AL 75
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on AL 75
18 mi
·
26 min
·
AL 75
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto CR 26
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
CR 26
22
Arrive at destination
CR 26
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.1 miles from Montgomery, AL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.2 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 31 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.1 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Montgomery, 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 Montgomery, AL
This is one driving day of about 140.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Montgomery, 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 I 65 for about 78.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.1 miles from Montgomery, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 101.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East South Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
79.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 459: Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250
Toward I 459: Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa
8
79.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 459 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 459 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
8
97.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33B
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
8
101.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward Trussville, Pinson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 141
Toward Trussville, Pinson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.17 one way
$42.35 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $23.24 | $46.49 |
| premium | $4.56 | $25.16 | $50.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.95 | $61.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.72 | $6.73 |
| Efficient EV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.27 | $5.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.1 | 0 | $19.63 | $8.97 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Riverside, AL
Afternoon in Riverside on Saturday
Local time
3:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 87
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
140.2 mi in 2h 52m, mostly highway — 78.2 mi of that is on I 65.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.2 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and AL 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East South Street.
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 15 significant decision points across 140.2 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 0.1 miles (East South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Montgomery, AL and Riverside, AL, road signs point toward Gadsden, Tuscaloosa, Trussville and Pinson.
Gadsden
79.7 mi in
|
~1h 27m
Tuscaloosa
79.7 mi in
|
~1h 27m
Trussville
101.2 mi in
|
~1h 51m
Pinson
101.2 mi in
|
~1h 51m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 140.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.2 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Riverside, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Riverside, AL before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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