Origin
Birmingham, AL
Morning in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Clanton, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
53.3 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Clanton, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion through the heart of Alabama, the 53.3-mile trip from Birmingham to Clanton is a straightforward journey. Spanning approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate through the Southeast region using local thoroughfares like 1st Avenue North, 9th Street North, and 3rd Avenue North rather than sticking to major interstates. With a modest fuel budget of around $8, it is an affordable way to get from the city to the surrounding area. Since the route avoids highways entirely, keep in mind that your pace will depend heavily on local traffic and stop-and-go conditions along these city streets.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 47.3 mi | 52m |
| Lay Dam Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| 1st Avenue North | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 24th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 9th Street North | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 47.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Clanton, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn right onto US 11; US 78
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue North
3
Turn right onto US 11; US 78
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
9th Street North
4
Turn right onto US 11; US 78
439 ft
·
8 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
6
Merge onto I 65
47 mi
·
52 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 212
Toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
8
Turn right onto AL 145
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Lay Dam Road
9
Continue on 1st Street
375 ft
·
18 sec
·
1st Street
10
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
11
Turn left onto 5th Street South
384 ft
·
18 sec
·
5th Street South
12
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
323 ft
·
14 sec
·
1st Avenue North
13
Arrive at destination
1st Avenue North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 26.7 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 52.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Navigation decision point
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
49.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 212
Toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
5
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
2nd Avenue North
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.05 one way
$16.10 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.84 | $17.67 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.57 | $19.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Clanton, AL
Morning in Clanton on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
1h 3m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise on this 53.3-mile route. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more involved experience behind the wheel as you navigate city avenues and local connectors. The path lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, meaning you will need to stay focused on frequent turns and local traffic patterns. Transitioning out of Birmingham toward Clanton involves a steady rhythm of street driving that keeps you engaged with the local geography. It is a practical, utilitarian path that favors regional connectivity over the monotony of a high-speed highway commute.
89% 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: 47.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Lay Dam Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 3m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 65): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Birmingham, AL and Clanton, AL, road signs point toward 145: Clanton and Lay Dam.
145: Clanton
49.3 mi in
|
~56m
Lay Dam
49.3 mi in
|
~56m
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.
Arriving in Clanton, AL
Full guide →Clanton is a small town in Metropolitan Alabama near Lay Lake and the Confederate Memorial Park, with close ties to peaches.
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 3m. Total distance: 53.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.3 miles on I 65. 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 1.8 miles (US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 65): 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 Clanton, 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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