Origin
Opelika, AL
Morning in Opelika on Saturday
Local time
10:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Opelika, AL to Jacksonville, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
104.1 mi
168 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Opelika, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Jacksonville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Opelika, AL to Jacksonville, AL covers 104.1 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Old Lafayette Parkway, US 431, McClellan Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.6 miles on Old Lafayette Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.72 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.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Opelika, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 104.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 25m highway drive covering 104.1 miles, with most of the trip on Old Lafayette Parkway and US 431. The longest continuous stretch is about 77.6 miles on Old Lafayette Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Old Lafayette Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 77.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Old Lafayette Parkway and US 431. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Railroad Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 104.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (South Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 431 / Lafayette Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 83.9 miles (US 431): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Railroad Avenue
Turn right onto South Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 431 / Lafayette Parkway
Turn left onto US 431 / Lafayette Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
83.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
US 431
Take the exit onto US 431 toward I 20 West, US 431 North: Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 20 West, US 431 North: Birmingham
7
87.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
US 431
Take the exit onto US 431 toward US 431 North: Oxford, Anniston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 431 North: Oxford, Anniston
8
87.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
US 431
Keep slight right at fork onto US 431 toward US 431 North: Oxford, Anniston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 431 North: Oxford, Anniston
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Opelika, AL to Jacksonville, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Anniston along the way.
Anniston
87.4 mi in
|
~2h 2m
|
via US 431
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Old Lafayette Parkway | 77.6 mi | 1h 47m |
| US 431 | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| McClellan Boulevard | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Lafayette Parkway | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Veterans Memorial Parkway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Pelham Road South | 4 mi | 5m |
| Samford Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Railroad Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Old Lafayette Parkway
— 77.6 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Opelika, AL and Jacksonville, AL.
1
Start on South 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
South 9th Street
2
Turn right onto South Railroad Avenue
427 ft
·
18 sec
·
South Railroad Avenue
3
Continue on South Railroad Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Railroad Avenue
4
Turn straight onto Samford Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Samford Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 431
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Lafayette Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 431
78 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
Old Lafayette Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 431
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 431
Toward I 20 West, US 431 North: Birmingham
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 431
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 431
Toward US 431 North: Oxford, Anniston
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 431
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 431
Toward US 431 North: Oxford, Anniston
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on US 431
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Henry Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 431
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Veterans Memorial Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
13
Turn slight right
198 ft
·
5 sec
14
Merge onto AL 21
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
McClellan Boulevard
15
Continue on AL 21
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Pelham Road South
16
Turn left onto AL 21
228 ft
·
6 sec
·
Public Square West
17
Arrive at destination
AL 21
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.1 miles from Opelika, AL, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.6 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 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 1h 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 1h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Opelika, 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 Opelika, AL
This is one driving day of about 104.1 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Opelika, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Old Lafayette Parkway for about 77.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.1 mi from Opelika, AL · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.1 miles from Opelika, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Old Lafayette Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.6 miles.
Arriving in Jacksonville, AL
The final approach into Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, 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
$15.72 one way
$31.44 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $17.26 | $34.52 |
| premium | $4.56 | $18.68 | $37.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.98 | $45.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.93 | $5.00 |
| Efficient EV | 26 | 0 | $9.11 | $4.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.57 | $6.66 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Jacksonville, AL
Morning in Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
10:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Roanoke, AL
52 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
1 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
2h 25m 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 Opelika, AL to Jacksonville, AL covers 104.1 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Old Lafayette Parkway, US 431, McClellan Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.1 miles from Opelika, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.72 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 104.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (South Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 431 / Lafayette Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 83.9 miles (US 431): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Opelika, AL to Jacksonville, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Anniston along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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