Origin
Birmingham, AL
Afternoon in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
12:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Carbon Hill, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
55.9 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Carbon Hill, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick getaway from Birmingham to Carbon Hill, this 55.9-mile trip is an efficient choice that takes roughly 1 hour and 5 minutes. Since the entire journey fits easily into a single day, you can comfortably complete the drive there and back without needing an overnight stay. Your estimated fuel cost for the trip is approximately $9, making this an affordable excursion within Alabama. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, specifically I-65, I-22, and AL-118. Because this route is entirely contained within the Southeast region, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout your travel. It is a straightforward, no-nonsense path that serves as a practical connection between these two cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 22 | 41.8 mi | 44m |
| AL 118 | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| I 65 | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| 6th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Northeast 1st Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Nauvoo Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 41.8 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Carbon Hill, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
523 ft
·
19 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Avenue North
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 65 North
4
Merge onto I 65
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I 65
Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 265A
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 22
42 mi
·
44 min
·
I 22
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Use the right lane.
9
At end of road, turn left onto AL 118
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
AL 118
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on AL 118
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
AL 118
11
Continue on AL 118
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Northeast 1st Avenue
12
Turn right onto Nauvoo Road
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Nauvoo Road
13
Arrive at destination
Nauvoo Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.9 miles from Birmingham, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 48.7 — 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
|
6th Avenue North
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.
7
5.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265A
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
6
48.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
48.7 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
AL 118
At end of road, turn left onto AL 118
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.44 one way
$16.88 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.27 | $18.54 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.03 | $20.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Carbon Hill, AL
Afternoon in Carbon Hill on Sunday
Local time
12:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Cordova, AL
28 mi in
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
29 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
1h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by high-speed efficiency, as about 93% of the journey consists of highway driving. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-22, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 41.8 miles. The road maintains a consistent, highway-focused character that prioritizes speed over local winding roads. While the transition from the Birmingham metropolitan area onto the interstate is brisk, the drive settles into a predictable rhythm once you hit the main highway segments. You should be prepared for a focused, interstate-heavy experience that is designed for getting you to your destination as directly as possible.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.8 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and AL 118. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Avenue North.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 55.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (6th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
609 ft
339 ft
Total Climb
220 ft
Total Descent
354 ft
Highest Point
609 ft
Elevation Range
270 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Birmingham, AL
Full guide →Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama, and its cultural and economic nucleus. While it's best remembered as the site of protest, bombings, and other racial tumult during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, visitors to the Birmingham of today will find a pleasant green city of ridges, valleys, attractive views, and friendly, hospitable people.
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 1h 5m. Total distance: 55.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.8 miles on I 22. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Carbon Hill, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (6th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carbon Hill, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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