Origin
Birmingham, AL
Night in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Centre, 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 39m
Distance
85.2 mi
137 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Centre, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Birmingham to Centre, you are looking at a manageable 85.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a quick day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to complete comfortably. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the round trip, making it a very budget-friendly escape within Alabama. By utilizing a mix of city streets like 5th Avenue North and Messer Airport Highway before connecting to I-20 East, you will transition efficiently through the Southeast region. This route offers a straightforward connection between the two cities, providing a practical solution for travelers who value efficiency and simplicity over long-haul road tripping.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Birmingham, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 51.7 mi | 55m |
| Ewing Avenue | 20.3 mi | 23m |
| I 759 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| Messer Airport Highway | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| South Albert Rains Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Rainbow Drive | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 51.7 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Centre, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
46 ft
·
3 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
188 ft
·
3 sec
·
5th Avenue North
3
Keep slight left at fork onto 5th Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
5th Avenue North
4
Continue on Messer Airport Highway
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Messer Airport Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 20; I 59
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 20; I 59
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
52 mi
·
55 min
·
I 59
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 182
Toward I 759: Gadsden
9
Continue on I 759
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 759
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 4B
Toward US 411 North
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto US 411
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
Rainbow Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on US 411
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Albert Rains Boulevard
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 411
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Ewing Avenue
14
Continue on US 411 Business
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
15
Turn left onto AL 283
30 ft
·
0 sec
·
Cedar Bluff Road
16
Arrive at destination
AL 283
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Aim to leave Birmingham during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the local roads that make up the majority of your 85.2-mile transit. With no planned stops required for a drive of this duration, you can easily complete the trip in one go, though keeping a small buffer in your budget for the estimated $13 fuel cost is always wise. Pay close attention to the turn-heavy nature of the route, as navigation will require your full focus compared to a standard interstate drive. A helpful tip is to map out your specific turns through the local streets ahead of time, as the lack of highway travel means you will be relying on local signage and navigation more than highway exit markers.
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 42.6 miles from Birmingham, AL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.7 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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 48m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centre, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Birmingham, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Birmingham, AL
This is one driving day of about 85.2 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Birmingham, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 59 for about 51.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.6 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 60.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
7
3.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
5
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 759: Gadsden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 182
Toward I 759: Gadsden
7
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 411 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4B
Toward US 411 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.87 one way
$25.73 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $14.13 | $28.25 |
| premium | $4.56 | $15.29 | $30.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.81 | $37.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.95 | $4.09 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.93 | $5.45 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Centre, AL
Night in Centre on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Ashville, AL
43 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
6 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
1h 39m 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
View on nps.gov
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 58.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 85.2-mile path. While your route incorporates I-20 East, the drive is defined more by its local navigation than by high-speed highway stretches. Because the highway share is 0%, you will spend the majority of your time maneuvering through local traffic and navigating turns rather than maintaining a constant speed on a freeway. The character of the road changes as you transition from the urban density of Birmingham into the more localized roads leading to Centre. You should be prepared to stay alert behind the wheel, as the lack of long, uninterrupted highway stretches means you will be actively driving for the duration of the 1 hour and 39-minute trip.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.7 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and Ewing Avenue. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th 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 85.2 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: near the start (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 85.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.7 miles on I 59. 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 Centre, 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: near the start (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders 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 Centre, 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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