Origin
Scottsboro, AL
Afternoon in Scottsboro on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsboro, AL to Birmingham, AL
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 19m
Distance
119.2 mi
192 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsboro, AL
Kelly
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Scottsboro, AL to Birmingham, AL covers 119.2 miles and takes about 2h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, Veterans Drive, West Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 85.8 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.00 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
59.6 miles from Scottsboro, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 19m highway drive covering 119.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and Veterans Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 85.8 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 14 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 85.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and Veterans Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Broad Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 19m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AL 35 / East Willow Street): Navigation decision point; at 27 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Broad Street
Turn left onto South Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AL 35 / East Willow Street
Turn right onto AL 35 / East Willow Street
Navigation decision point
4
27 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
113 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
8
113.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 85.8 mi | 1h 31m |
| Veterans Drive | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| West Main Street | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| 1st Avenue North | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Love Road | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| East Willow Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 24th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 85.8 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsboro, AL and Birmingham, 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
86 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
I 59
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 132
Toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
326 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 11
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
1st Avenue North
13
Turn right onto 24th Street North
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
24th Street North
14
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
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 59.6 miles from Scottsboro, AL, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.8 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.6 miles or 1h 12m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, 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 119.2 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Scottsboro, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 59 for about 85.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.6 mi from Scottsboro, AL · 1h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.6 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 85.8 miles.
Arriving in Birmingham, AL
The final approach into Birmingham, 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 Birmingham, 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
$18.00 one way
$36.00 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $19.76 | $39.52 |
| premium | $4.56 | $21.39 | $42.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.32 | $52.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.8 | 0 | $12.52 | $5.72 |
| Efficient EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.43 | $4.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.7 | 0 | $16.69 | $7.63 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Birmingham, AL
Afternoon in Birmingham on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
27 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
2h 19m 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 Birmingham, AL covers 119.2 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, Veterans Drive, West Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.6 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 $18.00 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 straightforward 2h 19m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AL 35 / East Willow Street): Navigation decision point; at 27 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Scottsboro, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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