Origin
Smiths Station, AL
Afternoon in Smiths Station on Friday
Local time
4:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
8.2 mi
13 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smiths Station, AL
Jan Wright
Phenix City, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 8.2-mile drive from Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL takes approximately 13 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward trip that's easily manageable as a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily focused on highway driving, with about 69% of the journey on highways. You can expect a minimal fuel cost of around $1 for this short hop. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick transit between two points in the Southeast region of Alabama.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 8.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 13-minute journey. Over two-thirds of the drive, specifically 69%, will be on main roads like US 280 and Opelika Road. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 5.7 miles on US 280, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the route does transition through local roads like 13th Street as you approach Phenix City, so be prepared for a slight change in scenery and traffic patterns.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 280 is the longest continuous segment at about 5.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and Opelika Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 280; US 431.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL is easy. At 13m with 69% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 280; US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (Crawford Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 280; US 431
Turn right onto US 280; US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
6.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Crawford Road
At end of road, turn left onto Crawford Road
Navigation decision point
3
8.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Broad Street
Turn left onto Broad Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Opelika Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 13th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Crawford Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 14th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| County Road 298 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 12th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 243 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 5.7 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smiths Station, AL and Phenix City, AL.
1
Start on County Road 243
104 ft
·
4 sec
·
County Road 243
2
Continue on CR 298
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
County Road 298
3
Turn right onto US 280; US 431
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
US 280; US 431
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 280; US 431
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 280; US 431
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto Opelika Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Opelika Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Crawford Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Crawford Road
7
Continue on 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
14th Street
8
Turn straight onto 12th Avenue
269 ft
·
7 sec
·
12th Avenue
9
Continue on 13th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
13th Street
10
Turn left onto Broad Street
8 ft
·
0 sec
·
Broad Street
11
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.24 one way
$2.48 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $1.36 | $2.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $1.47 | $2.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.86 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.72 | $0.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.52 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Phenix City, AL
Evening in Phenix City on Friday
Local time
5:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
13m 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 Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL covers 8.2 miles and takes about 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 280, Opelika Road, 13th 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 4.1 miles from Smiths Station, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.24 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.
The drive from Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL is easy. At 13m with 69% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 280; US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (Crawford Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Phenix City, AL
More from Smiths Station, AL
More trips to Phenix City, AL
Explore more options from Smiths Station, AL or browse trips ending in Phenix City, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.