Origin
Alabaster, AL
Late night in Alabaster on Sunday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alabaster, AL to Fultondale, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
30.2 mi
49 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alabaster, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Fultondale, AL
Tomás Asurmendi
Trip Overview
Alabaster, AL to Fultondale, AL is 30.2 miles and takes about 38m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive entirely within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its brief distance and highway focus, it's ideal for a quick transit or a segment of a larger journey. You'll primarily be on the interstate, so expect a consistent pace for most of the trip. This route is best suited for those looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 25.6 mi | 30m |
| 1st Street South | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Decatur Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Whaley Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 25.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alabaster, AL and Fultondale, 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
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 65
26 mi
·
30 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 265B
Toward US 31: Fultondale
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 31: Fultondale
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 31 North: Fultondale
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto US 31
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Decatur Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto Whaley Road
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Whaley Road
11
Arrive at destination
Whaley Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.3 — 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
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-65 North: Birmingham
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
7
27.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 31: Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265B
Toward US 31: Fultondale
7
28.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 31: Fultondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 31: Fultondale
7
28.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 31 North: Fultondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 31 North: Fultondale
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.56 one way
$9.12 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $5.01 | $10.01 |
| premium | $4.56 | $5.42 | $10.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.67 | $13.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Fultondale, AL
Late night in Fultondale on Sunday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
38m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 85% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 65. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 25.6 miles on I 65, offering a consistent, high-speed experience for a significant portion of the trip. As you approach your destination, you'll transition from the interstate to local roads, including 1st Street South and Decatur Highway. This shift means the road character will change from open highway cruising to more localized traffic and potentially slower speeds. Expect a smooth ride for the majority of your travel time.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.6 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and 1st Street South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 30.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 30.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.6 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fultondale, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fultondale, AL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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