Origin
Birmingham, AL
Morning in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
8:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Cullman, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
50.6 mi
82 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 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Cullman, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 50.6-mile drive from Birmingham to Cullman, Alabama, is designed for a single day, taking just under an hour to complete. Primarily utilizing I-65 with brief segments on US 278 and 6th Avenue North, the journey is almost entirely highway driving. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $8, this route is an economical option for a quick trip. It's a convenient connection within the Southeast region, perfect for a spontaneous outing or a planned short excursion. You'll find this drive to be efficient and direct, making it an easy addition to any travel plans.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 47.1 mi | 51m |
| US 278 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| 6th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 47.1 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Cullman, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
523 ft
·
19 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Avenue North
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 65 North
4
Merge onto I 65
47 mi
·
51 min
·
I 65
Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 308
Toward 278: Cullman, Double Springs
6
Turn right onto US 278
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 278
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto US 31; AL 69
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Arrive at destination
US 31; AL 69
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.3 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 50.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
6th Avenue North
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.
6
48.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward 278: Cullman, Double Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 308
Toward 278: Cullman, Double Springs
5
48.8 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
US 278
Turn right onto US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
50.6 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
US 31; AL 69 / 2nd Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto US 31; AL 69 / 2nd Avenue Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.64 one way
$15.28 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.08 | $18.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.17 | $22.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.08 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Cullman, AL
Morning in Cullman on Sunday
Local time
8:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
28 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
58m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 97% of the drive taking place on interstates and major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.1 miles on I-65, offering a consistent pace. This means you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed roads, allowing for steady progress. While the landscape is not explicitly detailed, the nature of this highway-centric profile suggests a focus on efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The transition from urban Birmingham onto I-65 will quickly establish the driving character for the majority of your trip.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.1 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 278. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Avenue North.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Cullman, AL is easy. At 58m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 58m. Total distance: 50.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.1 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 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 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Cullman, 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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