Traveling from Andalusia to Birmingham covers 179.3 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 22 minutes to complete. Because this journey is well under four hours, it serves as an efficient one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via AL 55, Mobile Road, and I-65 to move from the Southeast region of Alabama into the state's urban center. Budgeting about $27 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward route offers a reliable connection between the two points.
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
89.7 miles from Andalusia, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
145.2 mi
2h 38m
AL 55
17.9 mi
20m
Mobile Road
9.3 mi
11m
River Falls Street
4.7 mi
8m
3rd Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
Church Street
0.3 mi
<1m
19th Street North
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 145.2 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Andalusia, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on Court Square
188 ft·5 sec·Court Square
2
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi·30 sec·Church Street
3
Turn right onto River Falls Street
0.4 mi·1 min·River Falls Street
4
Continue on River Falls Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·River Falls Road
5
Continue on River Falls Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·River Falls Street
6
Continue on US 29; AL 55
0.1 mi·20 sec·River Falls Street
7
Continue on US 84; AL 55
3.8 mi·6 min·River Falls Street
8
Turn right onto AL 55
18 mi·20 min·AL 55
9
Continue on US 31; AL 55
9.3 mi·11 min·Mobile Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 65
145 mi·2 hr 38 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 260BToward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
13
Turn right onto US 11; US 78
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto 19th Street North
0.1 mi·17 sec·19th Street North
15
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
16
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
17
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
Since the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though leaving early can help you avoid potential congestion on I-65. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, especially given the lengthy 145.2-mile interstate segment that makes up the bulk of your travel. Ensure your fuel tank is topped off before merging onto the interstate to keep your $27 budget on track. Because this is a single-day drive, you won't need to stress over complex logistics, but staying alert during the long highway stretch is essential. If you find yourself tiring during the final push, use that scheduled stop to grab a beverage and reset before entering the Birmingham metro area.
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 89.7 miles from Andalusia, AL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.2 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 39 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.7 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
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 Andalusia, 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 Andalusia, AL
This is one driving day of about 179.3 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Andalusia, 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 I 65 for about 145.2 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 0.3 and 178 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|River Falls Street
Turn right onto River Falls Street
Navigation decision point
5
32.4 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
32.7 mi into trip|~41m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
177.8 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
5
178 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.08 one way
$54.16 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$29.73
$59.45
premium
$4.56
$32.18
$64.36
diesel
$5.61
$39.59
$79.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.8
0
$18.83
$8.61
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.69
$7.17
EV Truck/SUV
71.7
0
$25.10
$11.48
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Andalusia, AL
Night
in Andalusia on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Night
in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
11:37 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
4 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 22m 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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 179.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 91% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. The drive is defined by a significant 145.2-mile stretch on I-65, which allows for consistent cruising once you clear the initial local roads. You will transition from the quieter stretches near Andalusia onto the busier, multi-lane interstate system as you head toward Birmingham. While the route is largely functional and direct, the shift from regional roads to the primary interstate artery provides a clear change in pace. Prepare for an uninterrupted drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding, technical scenery.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.2 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and AL 55. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near River Falls Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (River Falls Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Andalusia is a town of 8,800 people (2020) in the River Heritage portion of Alabama. This county seat in the southern fringe of the state was settled by white people back in 1841.
The longest stretch is about 145.2 miles on I 65. 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: at 0.3 miles (River Falls Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Birmingham, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
