Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
44.1 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Coaling, AL
Raul Kozenevski
Birmingham, AL to Coaling, AL is 44.1 miles and takes about 53 minutes via I 20, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within the Southeast region and the state of Alabama. It's primarily a highway drive, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. If you're looking for a straightforward transit between these two locations, this route fits the bill without much fuss. Consider it for a simple transfer rather than a destination in itself.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 38 mi | 41m |
| US 11 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Covered Bridge Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Coaling Hagler Road | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| I 65 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Fikes Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,441 veh/hr typical · worst 2,976
Quietest
2 AM
~268 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Coaling, AL.
Start on 24th Street North
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Covered Bridge Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
Turn left onto Coaling Hagler Road
Turn right onto County Road 59
Turn left onto Fikes Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 59: Brookwood, Vance
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.46 one way
$12.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $7.17 | $14.34 |
| premium | $4.49 | $7.79 | $15.58 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $9.72 | $19.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
10:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
Destination
Morning in Coaling on Saturday
Local time
10:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 91% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 38 miles, primarily on I 20. You'll transition from the interstate to surface roads like US 11 and 6th Avenue North as you approach Coaling. Expect a high volume of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate the interstate segments.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 11. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Avenue North.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 44.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
234 ft
Total Descent
433 ft
Highest Point
666 ft
~34.6 mi in
Elevation Range
257 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Birmingham, AL and Coaling, AL, road signs point toward Cr 59: Brookwood and Vance.
Cr 59: Brookwood
Vance
“The Magic City” · Founded 1871
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 44.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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