Spanning 110.4 miles, the drive from Anniston to Montgomery is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 19 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $17 on fuel, making this a cost-effective excursion through the Southeast. The route primarily utilizes AL 21, transitioning through Quintard Avenue and Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive to reach your destination. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this highway-focused drive offers a reliable connection between these two Alabama cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.2 miles from Anniston, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 21
99.1 mi
1h 56m
Quintard Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
2.4 mi
4m
Upper Wetumpka Road
1.9 mi
3m
Quintard Drive
1.4 mi
2m
Federal Drive
0.8 mi
1m
South Decatur Street
0.8 mi
1m
North Decatur Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AL 21
— 99.1 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anniston, AL and Montgomery, AL.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi·45 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Gurnee Avenue
0.2 mi·42 sec·Gurnee Avenue
3
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·West 10th Street
4
Turn right onto AL 21
2.5 mi·4 min·Quintard Avenue
5
Continue on AL 21
1.4 mi·2 min·Quintard Drive
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on AL 21
392 ft·8 sec·AL 21
7
Continue on AL 21
1.3 mi·1 min·AL 21
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on AL 21
98 mi·1 hr 54 min·AL 21
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
2.4 mi·4 min·Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on Federal Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Federal Drive
11
Turn slight right
208 ft·9 sec
12
Turn slight right onto Crestview Street
439 ft·17 sec·Crestview Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto Upper Wetumpka Road
1.9 mi·3 min·Upper Wetumpka Road
14
Continue on Columbus Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·Columbus Street
15
Turn left onto North Decatur Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·North Decatur Street
16
Continue on South Decatur Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Decatur Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn left onto Winnie Street
440 ft·24 sec·Winnie Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
187 ft·3 sec·South Union Street
19
Arrive at destination
South Union Street
Trip Plan
Since the entire trip is just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure you maintain a smooth pace, especially when navigating the transition onto Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you should plan your own breaks for fuel or rest based on your personal comfort. Keep in mind that since the longest stretch is nearly 100 miles on AL 21, you should make sure your tank is sufficiently filled before leaving Anniston to avoid unnecessary stops. Taking advantage of the short distance allows you to arrive in Montgomery with plenty of daylight left for your plans.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.2 miles from Anniston, AL, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.1 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 24 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.2 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montgomery, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anniston, 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 Anniston, AL
This is one driving day of about 110.4 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Anniston, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on AL 21 for about 99.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 110.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Gurnee Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Gurnee Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|West 10th Street
Turn left onto West 10th Street
Navigation decision point
5
107 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|Upper Wetumpka Road
At end of road, turn left onto Upper Wetumpka Road
Navigation decision point
5
109.2 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|North Decatur Street
Turn left onto North Decatur Street
Navigation decision point
6
110.4 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|South Union Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.67 one way
$33.35 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.30
$36.61
premium
$4.56
$19.82
$39.63
diesel
$5.61
$24.37
$48.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.1
0
$11.59
$5.30
Efficient EV
27.6
0
$9.66
$4.42
EV Truck/SUV
44.2
0
$15.46
$7.07
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 20, 2026
Origin
Anniston, AL
Late night
in Anniston on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Montgomery, AL
Late night
in Montgomery on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
15 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
2h 19m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a consistent experience behind the wheel, as this route is heavily highway-focused with 90% of the travel occurring on main roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on AL 21, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 99.1 miles. This makes the drive feel focused and efficient rather than technical or winding. While you will navigate local transitions like Quintard Avenue near the start and Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive as you approach Montgomery, the overall personality of the road is steady and predictable. It is a practical path that prioritizes speed and directness over complex turns.
90% 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: 99.1 mi on AL 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 21 and Quintard Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Gurnee Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Anniston, AL to Montgomery, AL is easy. At 2h 19m with 90% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gurnee Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (West 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 107 miles (Upper Wetumpka Road): Navigation decision point.
Anniston is a town of 22,000 people (2018) on the slope of the Blue Mountain in Alabama. It has several historic sites from the civil rights campaign of the 1960s.
Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, in the River Heritage region of the state. Montgomery has also been recognized nationally for its downtown revitalization and new urbanism projects.
The longest stretch is about 99.1 miles on AL 21. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Gurnee Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (West 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 107 miles (Upper Wetumpka Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montgomery, AL before heading back.
