Auburn to Smoke Rise is 137.6 miles and takes about 3 hours 2 minutes via US 280, US 231, and I 65, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster roads. Consider this trip if you're looking for a straightforward drive with minimal time spent on slower, surface streets, making it ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
68.8 miles from Auburn, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 280
59 mi
1h 10m
US 231
42.8 mi
57m
I 65
21.9 mi
24m
North College Street
4.8 mi
7m
Red Mountain Expressway
2.9 mi
3m
Carraway Boulevard
1.5 mi
3m
Smoke Rise Trail
1.4 mi
5m
Crosshill Lane
0.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 59 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, AL and Smoke Rise, AL.
1
Start on this road
291 ft·24 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto North College Street
4.0 mi·6 min·North College Street
3
Enter roundabout onto AL 147
79 ft·1 sec·North College Street
4
Continue on AL 147
0.7 mi·1 min·North College Street
5
Take the ramp onto AL 147
165 ft·3 sec·North College Street
6
Continue on US 280; AL 147
14 mi·15 min·US 280; AL 147
7
Continue on US 280; AL 50
6.4 mi·7 min·US 280; AL 50
8
Continue on US 280; AL 49
13 mi·15 min·US 280; AL 49
9
Continue on US 280; AL 22
26 mi·30 min·US 280; AL 22
10
Continue on US 231; US 280
43 mi·57 min·US 231; US 280
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 280
0.4 mi·29 sec·US 280
Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
12
Merge onto US 31; US 280
2.9 mi·3 min·Red Mountain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 31
1.5 mi·3 min·Carraway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto AL 378
0.6 mi·1 min·Finley Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto 19th Street North
49 ft·1 sec·19th Street North
16
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 65 North
17
Merge onto I 65
22 mi·24 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 284Toward US 31 South, AL 3 South, AL 160 East: Hayden, Corner
19
Enter roundabout onto US 31
65 ft·2 sec·US 31
20
Continue on US 31
254 ft·6 sec·US 31
21
Enter roundabout onto AL 160
262 ft·6 sec·AL 160
22
Continue on AL 160
0.2 mi·25 sec·AL 160
23
Turn left onto Smoke Rise Trail
0.9 mi·3 min·Smoke Rise Trail
24
Continue on Smoke Rise Trail
0.4 mi·1 min·Smoke Rise Trail
25
Turn right onto Scenic Trail
0.2 mi·44 sec·Scenic Trail
26
Turn right onto Ridge Trail
0.1 mi·34 sec·Ridge Trail
27
Continue on Ridge Trail
0.1 mi·26 sec·Ridge Trail
28
Turn left onto Crosshill Trail
0.6 mi·2 min·Crosshill Trail
29
Turn left onto Crosshill Lane
0.9 mi·3 min·Crosshill Lane
30
Turn right
157 ft·11 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, departing Auburn in the morning allows ample time to reach Smoke Rise before evening. With only one recommended stop and 92% highway driving, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Plan to refuel before you leave Auburn or be aware that the longest stretch without a major road change is 59 miles on US 280, so monitor your fuel levels. The $21 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking local prices is always a good idea.
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 68.8 miles from Auburn, AL, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 24m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smoke Rise, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, 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 Auburn, AL
This is one driving day of about 137.6 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Auburn, 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 59 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 134 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North College Street
At end of road, turn right onto North College Street
Navigation decision point
5
106.2 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|US 280
Take the exit onto US 280 toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
6
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 31 South, AL 3 South, AL 160 East: Hayden, Corner
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 284
Toward US 31 South, AL 3 South, AL 160 East: Ha...
6
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|US 31
Enter roundabout onto US 31
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
134 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|AL 160
Enter roundabout onto AL 160
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.78 one way
$41.56 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.81
$45.62
premium
$4.56
$24.70
$49.40
diesel
$5.61
$30.38
$60.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.60
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.04
$5.50
EV Truck/SUV
55
0
$19.26
$8.81
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Auburn, AL
Late night
in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
3:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Smoke Rise, AL
Late night
in Smoke Rise on Tuesday
Local time
3:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Vincent, AL
69 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
22 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 2m 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
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 109.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 92% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience a long stretch of 59 miles on US 280 before transitioning to other main roads. Expect to encounter a high concentration of exits and merges as you navigate these faster-paced segments. The final portion will involve shifting from highway speeds to potentially slower, local roads as you approach your destination.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and US 231. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North College Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 2m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North College Street): Navigation decision point; at 106.2 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 59 miles on US 280. 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 0.1 miles (North College Street): Navigation decision point; at 106.2 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Smoke Rise, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
