This 198.5-mile drive from Aliceville, AL to Auburn, AL is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 31 minutes. You'll primarily be on local roads, navigating through the Southeast region of Alabama. With a fuel cost estimated around $30, it's an affordable excursion. The route is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaging drive than a straightforward highway journey. This route is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to experience the local character without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
102 miles from Aliceville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 280
84.1 mi
1h 42m
I 20
34.2 mi
36m
John M. Harbert III Freeway
19.1 mi
20m
US 82
18 mi
22m
Tuscaloosa Street
13.3 mi
18m
United States Highway 280
12.6 mi
17m
Carrollton Road
10 mi
14m
North College Street
4.7 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 84.1 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aliceville, AL and Auburn, AL.
1
Start on Mobile Road
0.1 mi·16 sec·Mobile Road
2
Continue on 3rd Avenue Northeast
0.4 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue Northeast
3
At end of road, turn left onto AL 17
10 mi·14 min·Carrollton Road
4
Enter roundabout onto AL 17; AL 86
191 ft·7 sec·Tuscaloosa Street
5
Continue on AL 17; AL 86
13 mi·18 min·Tuscaloosa Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 82
18 mi·22 min·US 82
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Main Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Avenue
8
Turn left onto 5th Street
364 ft·12 sec·5th Street
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
10
Merge onto US 43; AL 69
1.1 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.3 mi·24 sec·I 359; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 359; US 11; AL 69
1.7 mi·1 min·I 359; US 11; AL 69
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto I 20; I 59
34 mi·36 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 106Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, AtlantaUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on I 459
19 mi·20 min·John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 19Toward US 280: Mountain Brook, ChildersburgUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 280 East: ChildersburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto US 280
13 mi·17 min·United States Highway 280
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto US 280
84 mi·1 hr 42 min·US 280
22
Turn right onto AL 147
0.7 mi·1 min·North College Street
Use the right lane.
23
Enter roundabout onto AL 147
77 ft·1 sec·North College Street
24
Continue on AL 147
4.0 mi·6 min·North College Street
25
Turn left
291 ft·21 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 31 minute duration, departing in the morning will allow ample time to reach Auburn without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop and a turn-heavy profile, plan your breaks strategically to coincide with any towns you pass through. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $30 and the route consists entirely of local roads. A good tip for this drive is to familiarize yourself with the sequence of main roads—3rd Avenue Northeast, Carrollton Road, and Tuscaloosa Street—before you set off to anticipate the numerous turns.
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 102 miles from Aliceville, AL, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.1 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 45 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102 miles or 2h 5m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Aliceville, 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 Aliceville, AL
This is one driving day of about 203.9 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Aliceville, 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 US 280 for about 84.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.6 and 101.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.6 mi into trip|~15m in|AL 17; AL 86 / Tuscaloosa Street
Enter roundabout onto AL 17; AL 86 / Tuscaloosa Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
23.9 mi into trip|~34m in|US 82
At end of road, turn right onto US 82
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
82.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106
Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
8
101.7 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 280: Mountain Brook, Childersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19
Toward US 280: Mountain Brook, Childersburg
7
101.9 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 280 East: Childersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 280 East: Childersburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.79 one way
$61.59 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.80
$67.61
premium
$4.56
$36.60
$73.20
diesel
$5.61
$45.02
$90.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.2
0
$21.41
$9.79
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.84
$8.16
EV Truck/SUV
81.6
1
$28.55
$13.05
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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
Aliceville, AL
Afternoon
in Aliceville on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Auburn, AL
Afternoon
in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
25 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
4h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 98.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway miles contributing to the journey. Your path will largely follow 3rd Avenue Northeast and Carrollton Road, interspersed with segments on Tuscaloosa Street. The absence of long highway stretches means you'll be consistently engaged with navigation and the local landscape. While there's no single longest uninterrupted stretch to note, the frequent changes in direction are the defining characteristic of this drive. This makes for a more intimate experience of the area as you move from one community to the next.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.1 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and I 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in near AL 17; AL 86 / Tuscaloosa Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 203.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles (AL 17; AL 86 / Tuscaloosa Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 23.9 miles (US 82): Lane positioning matters here; at 82.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aliceville, AL and Auburn, AL, road signs point toward Atlanta and Childersburg.
Auburn is in the River Heritage region of Alabama, and home to Auburn University in downtown Auburn. During the university's home football games, the town fills up with thousands of alumni and college football fans for a weekend of tailgating.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 203.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.1 miles on US 280. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Auburn, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles (AL 17; AL 86 / Tuscaloosa Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 23.9 miles (US 82): Lane positioning matters here; at 82.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Auburn, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
