Origin
Birmingham, AL
Late night in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Chalkville, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
13.7 mi
22 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Chalkville, AL
Tara Winstead
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward trip within the Southeast, the 13.7-mile journey from Birmingham to Chalkville is an ideal choice. This drive typically takes about 21 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $2 on fuel for the entire excursion, keeping your travel costs minimal. The route utilizes a combination of I-59, Messer Airport Highway, and Old Springville Road to navigate through Alabama. Because the commute is so short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to head out whenever it is most convenient for you.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Messer Airport Highway | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Old Springville Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Springville Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Parkway East | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Roebuck Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 20 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 4.2 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Chalkville, 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
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 59
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 134
Toward Roebuck Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto AL 75
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Roebuck Parkway
10
Continue on AL 75
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Parkway East
11
Turn right onto Springville Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Springville Road
12
Continue on Old Springville Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Old Springville Road
13
Arrive at destination
Old Springville Road Northeast
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 7.7 — 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
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
5th Avenue North
Keep slight left at fork onto 5th Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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
5
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
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
7
7.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward Roebuck Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 134
Toward Roebuck Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.07 one way
$4.14 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.27 | $4.54 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.46 | $4.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.02 | $6.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.44 | $0.66 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.20 | $0.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
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.
Destination
Chalkville, AL
Late night in Chalkville on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
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
1 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
21m 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?
This is a mixed drive that transitions quickly from major infrastructure to local surface streets. You will spend about 44% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 4.2 miles on I-59. As you move away from the interstate, the character of the road shifts significantly, requiring you to adjust to the flow of Messer Airport Highway and Old Springville Road. While the interstate segments provide a faster pace, the local roads demand more focus as you navigate toward your destination. Expect a functional drive that balances efficient transit with the practical realities of regional Alabama road networks.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.2 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue North.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 13.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (5th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; near the start (5th Avenue North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Chalkville, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Atlanta along the way.
Atlanta
3.1 mi in
|
~5m
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 21m. Total distance: 13.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). 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 4.2 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 Chalkville, 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; near the start (5th Avenue North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chalkville, 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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