Origin
Pell City, AL
Evening in Pell City on Sunday
Local time
5:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pell City, AL to Alabaster, AL
Drive Time
58m
Distance
50.4 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pell City, AL
Kelly
Alabaster, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Trip Overview
The drive from Pell City, AL to Alabaster, AL covers 50.4 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, John M. Harbert III Freeway, I 65 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.2 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.70 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.2 miles from Pell City, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 58m highway drive covering 50.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.2 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 231 / Martin Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 50.4 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 0.4 miles (US 231 / Martin Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 231 / Martin Street
Turn left onto US 231 / Martin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
23.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
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 136
Toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
8
23.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 459 South: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 459 South: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
8
37 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
37.2 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
Towns Along This Route
Between Pell City, AL and Alabaster, AL, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Montgomery.
Tuscaloosa
23.1 mi in
|
~26m
Gadsden
23.1 mi in
|
~26m
Montgomery
37 mi in
|
~41m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 21.2 mi | 22m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 12.8 mi | 13m |
| I 65 | 10.9 mi | 11m |
| Martin Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street South | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Comer Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cogswell Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 21.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pell City, AL and Alabaster, AL.
1
Start on US 78
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Cogswell Avenue
2
Turn left onto Comer Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Comer Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 231
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Street
Use the none lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 20
21 mi
·
22 min
·
I 20
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 136
Toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 459 South: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
Use the none lane.
8
Merge onto I 459
13 mi
·
13 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 65
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 65
Use the none lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
13
Turn right onto US 31
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left
177 ft
·
18 sec
15
Turn right
97 ft
·
7 sec
16
Arrive at destination
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 25.2 miles from Pell City, AL, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.2 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 50.4 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.2 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alabaster, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pell City, 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 Pell City, AL
This is one driving day of about 50.4 miles and 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pell City, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 21.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.2 mi from Pell City, AL · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 50.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Pell City, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alabaster, AL
The final approach into Alabaster, 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 Alabaster, 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
$7.70 one way
$15.41 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $8.45 | $16.90 |
| premium | $4.61 | $9.15 | $18.29 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.20 | $22.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Alabaster, AL
Evening in Alabaster on Sunday
Local time
5:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
84°F
Hoover, AL
25 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
24 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
58m 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 Pell City, AL to Alabaster, AL covers 50.4 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, John M. Harbert III Freeway, 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 25.2 miles from Pell City, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.70 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 demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 50.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 231 / Martin Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Pell City, AL and Alabaster, AL, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Montgomery.
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