Origin
Mountain Brook, AL
Afternoon in Mountain Brook on Saturday
Local time
12:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mountain Brook, AL to Alabaster, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
23.4 mi
38 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mountain Brook, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Alabaster, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Mountain Brook to Alabaster is 23.4 miles and takes about 31 minutes via I 65 and US 280, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes major highways, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. Expect a quick trip focused on covering ground rather than extensive sightseeing. Given its brevity, it's ideal for a day trip or as a segment of a longer itinerary.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 23.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 78% of the journey on interstates and freeways. You'll spend most of your time on I 65 and US 280, including a substantial 10.9-mile stretch on I 65 without interruption. The experience is characterized by consistent speeds and the typical flow of highway traffic. While not particularly winding or slow, the shift between these main arteries provides the main variation in the driving experience.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 10.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
778 ft
417 ft
Total Climb
373 ft
Total Descent
660 ft
Highest Point
778 ft
~3.3 mi in
Elevation Range
361 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 280. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in near I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 23.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
6.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway
Merge onto I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
10 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
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 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
7
10.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
5
22.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
5
23.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mountain Brook, AL and Alabaster, AL, road signs point toward Montgomery and Saginaw.
Montgomery
10 mi in
|
~14m
Saginaw
22.1 mi in
|
~28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 10.9 mi | 11m |
| US 280 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 3.6 mi | 3m |
| Montevallo Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| 1st Street South | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Hollywood Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 10.9 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mountain Brook, AL and Alabaster, AL.
1
Start on Montevallo Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Montevallo Road
2
Continue on Hollywood Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
4
Merge onto US 280
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
US 280
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 459 South
6
Merge onto I 459
3.6 mi
·
3 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 65
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 65
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
11
Turn right onto US 31
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
12
Turn left
177 ft
·
18 sec
13
Turn right
97 ft
·
7 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.53 one way
$7.07 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $3.88 | $7.76 |
| premium | $4.56 | $4.20 | $8.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.17 | $10.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.05 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Alabaster, AL
Afternoon in Alabaster on Saturday
Local time
12:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
17 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
31m 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 Mountain Brook, AL to Alabaster, AL covers 23.4 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, US 280, John M. Harbert III Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.7 miles from Mountain Brook, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.53 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 short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 23.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Mountain Brook, AL and Alabaster, AL, road signs point toward Montgomery and Saginaw.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 417 ft to 778 ft elevation with about 373 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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