Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
21.2 mi
34 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Clay, AL
3B
Birmingham, AL to Clay, AL is 21.2 miles and takes about 28 minutes via I 59, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Alabama, making it an easy, same-day trip. Expect a largely highway-focused experience as you navigate the Southeast region. Given the minimal distance and time commitment, this route is ideal for a quick commute or a brief excursion without needing overnight planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 13.7 mi | 14m |
| Deerfoot Parkway | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Messer Airport Highway | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Old Springville Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 20 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Clay, AL.
Start on 24th Street North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Keep slight left at fork onto 5th Avenue North
Continue on Messer Airport Highway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
Take the exit
Turn right onto Deerfoot Parkway
Turn right onto Old Springville Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto 5th Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the ramp toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Deerfoot Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$3.20 one way
$6.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $3.51 | $7.03 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.81 | $7.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Clay on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 81% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 59. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 13.7 miles on I 59, offering a consistent, high-speed travel experience. Messer Airport Highway and Deerfoot Parkway provide the initial and concluding segments, offering a slight variation from the interstate before you reach your destination. The character is one of efficient travel, prioritizing directness over leisurely exploration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and Deerfoot Parkway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 5th Avenue North.
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 21.2 miles you will encounter 7 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; 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Clay, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Atlanta along the way.
Atlanta
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 21.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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