Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 2m
Distance
218.6 mi
352 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prichard, AL
Ludovic Delot
Auburn, AL
Wikimedia Commons
This 218.6-mile journey from Prichard, AL, to Auburn, AL, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in about 4 hours and 2 minutes. With 97% of the trip on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $33, so you can budget accordingly. This route stays within the Southeast region, primarily traversing Alabama on major interstates before reaching your destination. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
109.3 miles from Prichard, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 218.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a predominately highway experience on this route, with 97% of your miles covered on major roads like I-65 and I-85. This means you'll encounter consistent speeds and relatively few traffic disruptions for most of the drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 160.9 miles on I-65, so be prepared for extended periods of driving on this interstate before needing to navigate onto South College Street near Auburn. The profile is clearly highway-focused, suggesting a predictable and efficient driving experience.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 85. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
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 218.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 163 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 163.3 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward I-85 North: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward AL 147 North: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 29 / South College Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 160.9 mi | 2h 53m |
| I 85 | 51 mi | 55m |
| South College Street | 4.1 mi | 8m |
| I 165 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Wilson Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Azan Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Prichard, AL and Auburn, AL.
Start on East Azan Street
Turn left onto North Wilson Avenue
Turn right
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 165
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Merge onto I 85
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto US 29
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour duration, this trip is best tackled as a single-day excursion. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a comfortable arrival. You'll have one primary stretch of 160.9 miles on I-65, so plan for a mid-drive break before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you get closer to Auburn, though the estimated $33 fuel cost indicates it's not an overly expensive trip. Flexibility is key on a drive this length, so feel free to adjust your timing as needed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 48 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.3 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, AL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Prichard, 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 Prichard, AL
This is one driving day of about 218.6 miles and 4h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109.3 mi from Prichard, AL · 1h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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.
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 109.3 miles from Prichard, 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 160.9 miles.
The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, 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.
Regular Gas
$33.01 one way
$66.03 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $36.24 | $72.48 |
| premium | $4.56 | $39.24 | $78.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.26 | $96.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.95 | $10.49 |
| Efficient EV | 54.7 | 0 | $19.13 | $8.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.4 | 1 | $30.60 | $13.99 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Prichard on Friday
Local time
10:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Auburn on Friday
Local time
10:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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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