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Trip from Bessemer, AL to Hoover, AL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

24m

Distance

14.8 mi

24 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 22m ★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

suburb city of Birmingham, located in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Bessemer, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling between Bessemer and Hoover is a straightforward 14.8-mile transit that typically takes about 24 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfect for a single-day excursion and doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate a blend of local routes and freeways, including the John M. Harbert III Freeway, Morgan Road, and Montgomery Highway. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, this is an incredibly budget-friendly drive. Both cities are located within the Southeast region of Alabama, ensuring a consistent climate and environment throughout your journey. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that is ideal for commuters or those looking to move quickly between these two areas.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
John M. Harbert III Freeway 6.6 mi 7m
Morgan Road 3.5 mi 6m
Montgomery Highway 1.4 mi 2m
14th Street North 1 mi 1m
Bessemer Road 0.5 mi 1m
3rd Avenue North 0.4 mi 1m
Braddock Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Whispering Pines Circle 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: John M. Harbert III Freeway — 6.6 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bessemer, AL and Hoover, AL.

1

Start on 3rd Avenue North

0.4 mi · 1 min · 3rd Avenue North
2

Turn left onto AL 150

1.0 mi · 1 min · 14th Street North
3

Continue on AL 150

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bessemer Road
4

Turn right onto Morgan Road

3.5 mi · 6 min · Morgan Road
Use the left lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 459 North: Atlanta, Montgomery Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto I 459

6.6 mi · 7 min · John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 13 Toward US 31: Hoover, Pelham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn left onto US 31

1.4 mi · 2 min · Montgomery Highway
Use the left lane.
9

Turn left onto Braddock Drive

0.2 mi · 53 sec · Braddock Drive
10

Turn right onto Spruce Drive

436 ft · 25 sec · Spruce Drive
11

Turn left onto Whispering Pines Circle

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Whispering Pines Circle
12

Arrive at destination

Whispering Pines Circle

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 12.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | Morgan Road

Turn right onto Morgan Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
5.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the ramp toward I 459 North: Atlanta, Montgomery

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 459 North: Atlanta, Montgomery
5
5.7 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway

Merge onto I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.4 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward US 31: Hoover, Pelham

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 13 Toward US 31: Hoover, Pelham
5
12.9 mi into trip | ~20m in | US 31 / Montgomery Highway

Turn left onto US 31 / Montgomery Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.24 one way

$4.47 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $2.45 $4.91
premium $4.56 $2.66 $5.31
diesel $5.61 $3.27 $6.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$2

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4.4 0 $1.55 $0.71
Efficient EV 3.7 0 $1.30 $0.59
EV Truck/SUV 5.9 0 $2.07 $0.95

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Bessemer, AL

Late night in Bessemer on Tuesday

Local time

3:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hoover, AL

Late night in Hoover on Tuesday

Local time

3:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Sunny

S 10 mph 0% chance 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

28 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

24m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed transit with local surface streets. Roughly 45% of your trip involves highway travel, providing a steady pace before you transition into local road segments. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 6.6 miles on the John M. Harbert III Freeway, which serves as the primary artery for the commute. As you move from the freeway onto Morgan Road and Montgomery Highway, the pace shifts, requiring more attention to local traffic patterns. The route offers a functional mix, ensuring you aren't stuck on a monotonous interstate for the entire duration.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.6 mi on John M. Harbert III Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near Morgan Road.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.8 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (Morgan Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Bessemer, AL and Hoover, AL, road signs point toward Montgomery and Pelham.

Montgomery

5.5 mi in | ~11m

Pelham

12.4 mi in | ~18m

About the Cities

Starting in Bessemer, AL

Full guide →

Bessemer is an industrial city in Metropolitan Alabama, just outside of Birmingham.

Arriving in Hoover, AL

Full guide →

Founded 1850

Hoover is a city in the Birmingham urban area in Metropolitan Alabama, south of central Birmingham. While most nearby attractions in the area are in the city of Birmingham, Hoover is an important shopping/retail area.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 14.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 6.6 miles on John M. Harbert III Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: at 1.9 miles (Morgan Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hoover, 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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