Origin
Scottsboro, AL
Afternoon in Scottsboro on Thursday
Local time
12:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsboro, AL to Alabaster, AL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 40m
Distance
139 mi
224 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 30m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 2m
10 AM
2h 48m
12 PM
2h 46m
3 PM
2h 49m
5 PM
3h 1m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsboro, AL
Kelly
Alabaster, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Scottsboro, AL to Alabaster, AL covers 139 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, John M. Harbert III Freeway, Veterans Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.9 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.99 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
69.5 miles from Scottsboro, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 139 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 40m highway drive covering 139 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 80.9 miles on I 59.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 80.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 108.1 miles in.
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 139 miles you will encounter 12 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 108.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
108.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 137
Toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
8
125.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m 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
125.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m 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
137.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m 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
139 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m 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.
On the drive from Scottsboro, AL to Alabaster, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Montgomery along the way.
Montgomery
108.1 mi in
|
~2h 4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 80.9 mi | 1h 26m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Veterans Drive | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| I 65 | 10.9 mi | 11m |
| West Main Street | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Love Road | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| 1st Street South | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Willow Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 80.9 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsboro, AL and Alabaster, AL.
1
Start on this road
98 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South Broad Street
408 ft
·
19 sec
·
South Broad Street
3
Turn right onto AL 35
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Willow Street
4
Turn right onto AL 35; AL 279
299 ft
·
8 sec
·
Bynum Street
5
Continue on AL 35; AL 279
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Veterans Drive
6
Continue on AL 35
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
West Main Street
7
Continue on AL 35
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Love Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
9
Merge onto I 59
81 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
I 59
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 137
Toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on I 459
17 mi
·
18 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 65
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 65
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
16
Turn right onto US 31
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
17
Turn left
177 ft
·
18 sec
18
Turn right
97 ft
·
7 sec
19
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.5 miles from Scottsboro, AL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.9 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.5 miles or 1h 23m 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 11m
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 Scottsboro, 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 Scottsboro, AL
This is one driving day of about 139 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Scottsboro, 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 59 for about 80.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.5 mi from Scottsboro, AL · 1h 23m into the drive
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 69.5 miles from Scottsboro, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.9 miles.
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
$20.99 one way
$41.98 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $23.04 | $46.09 |
| premium | $4.56 | $24.95 | $49.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.69 | $61.38 |
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: 48.6 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 | 41.7 | 0 | $14.59 | $6.67 |
| Efficient EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.16 | $5.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.46 | $8.90 |
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
Alabaster, AL
Afternoon in Alabaster on Thursday
Local time
12:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
3 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 40m 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 Scottsboro, AL to Alabaster, AL covers 139 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, John M. Harbert III Freeway, Veterans Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.5 miles from Scottsboro, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.99 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 139 miles you will encounter 12 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 108.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Scottsboro, AL to Alabaster, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Montgomery along the way.
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