Spanning 153.8 miles across Alabama, this trip takes you from Alabaster to Center Point in approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. Because the total travel time is manageable, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to budget roughly $24 for fuel to complete the journey. By navigating primarily via AL 5, AL 25, and US 43, you will experience a straightforward transit through the Southeast. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a reliable connection between these two locations.
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
76.9 miles from Alabaster, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 5
83.8 mi
2h 1m
AL 25
21.2 mi
30m
US 43
16.4 mi
19m
Montevallo Road
9.7 mi
17m
US 84
9.5 mi
10m
Center Point Road
4.8 mi
11m
Main Street
3.5 mi
5m
Cobb Street
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
AL 5
— 83.8 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alabaster, AL and Center Point, AL.
1
Start on this road
97 ft·14 sec·this road
2
Turn left
177 ft·14 sec
3
Turn right onto US 31; AL 119
0.4 mi·35 sec·1st Street South
4
Turn right onto AL 119
9.7 mi·17 min·Montevallo Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on AL 119
0.9 mi·1 min·Ashville Road
6
Continue on AL 119
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
7
Continue on AL 119
0.4 mi·41 sec·Selma Road
8
Turn right onto AL 25
20 mi·28 min·AL 25
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn slight right onto AL 25
1.0 mi·2 min·AL 25
10
Turn left onto AL 25
2.9 mi·4 min·Main Street
11
Turn left onto AL 5; AL 25
21 mi·28 min·AL 5; AL 25
12
Continue on AL 5; AL 183
63 mi·1 hr 32 min·AL 5; AL 183
13
Continue on US 43
16 mi·19 min·US 43
14
Take the exit
177 ft·4 sec
15
Turn straight onto Cobb Street
2.2 mi·3 min·Cobb Street
16
Turn right onto US 84
9.5 mi·10 min·US 84
17
Turn right onto CR 21
4.8 mi·11 min·Center Point Road
18
Turn left onto AL 154
1.0 mi·1 min·AL 154
19
Arrive at destination
0 ft·0 sec·AL 154
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour and 45-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the monotony of the highway sections. Since the route is highly efficient, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving early helps you avoid peak congestion. Given that your fuel costs will hover around $24, ensure your tank is topped off before heading out to avoid unnecessary detours. Keep a close eye on your mileage during the 83.8-mile stretch on AL 5, as this will be your primary window for finding services or rest areas. Taking a breather during that longest segment will keep you refreshed for the final leg into Center Point.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.9 miles from Alabaster, AL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.8 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 34 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.9 miles or 1h 54m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Center Point, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alabaster, 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 Alabaster, AL
This is one driving day of about 153.8 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Alabaster, 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 AL 5 for about 83.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 33.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 31; AL 119 / 1st Street South
Turn right onto US 31; AL 119 / 1st Street South
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|AL 119 / Montevallo Road
Turn right onto AL 119 / Montevallo Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
12 mi into trip|~21m in|AL 25
Turn right onto AL 25
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
33.2 mi into trip|~52m in|AL 25 / Main Street
Turn left onto AL 25 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.23 one way
$46.45 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.50
$51.00
premium
$4.56
$27.61
$55.21
diesel
$5.61
$33.96
$67.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.1
0
$16.15
$7.38
Efficient EV
38.5
0
$13.46
$6.15
EV Truck/SUV
61.5
0
$21.53
$9.84
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Alabaster, AL
Morning
in Alabaster on Sunday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Center Point, AL
Morning
in Center Point on Sunday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Marion, AL
77 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
29 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
3h 45m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is defined by its efficiency, with 86% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time behind the wheel on AL 5, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 83.8 miles. The road’s personality is consistent and functional, designed for steady progress rather than winding exploration. As you transition between the various highway segments, you will notice a predictable rhythm that keeps the drive moving forward at a steady pace. Expect a straightforward experience that prioritizes reaching your destination effectively.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.8 mi on AL 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 5 and AL 25. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Alabaster, AL to Center Point, AL is easy. At 3h 45m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 31; AL 119 / 1st Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AL 119 / Montevallo Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 153.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 83.8 miles on AL 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 31; AL 119 / 1st Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AL 119 / Montevallo Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Center Point, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
