This 257.1-mile drive from Birmingham to Mobile, Alabama, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 42 minutes. The route is almost entirely focused on highway travel, with a 99% highway share, making it a straightforward journey through the Southeast. You can expect a fuel cost of around $39 for this trip. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 249.4 miles on I-65, it's a relatively uninterrupted drive. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Alabama cities without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128.6 miles from Birmingham, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
249.4 mi
4h 31m
I 165
4.7 mi
5m
1st Avenue North
1.4 mi
2m
Saint Joseph Street
0.4 mi
1m
24th Street North
0.3 mi
<1m
9th Street North
0.1 mi
<1m
3rd Avenue North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Saint Louis Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 249.4 mi, about 4h 31m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 49 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~924 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,266
Quietest
1 AM
~120 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Mobile, 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
249 mi·4 hr 31 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·41 sec
Toward I 165: Mobile
8
Continue on I 165
4.7 mi·5 min·I 165
9
Turn right onto Saint Joseph Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Saint Joseph Street
10
Turn right onto Saint Louis Street
40 ft·1 sec·Saint Louis Street
11
Arrive at destination
Saint Louis Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 42-minute duration, this route works well as a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Mobile without feeling rushed. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the longest stretch of 249.4 miles on I-65. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during that long segment, as services can be more spread out on interstates. The estimated fuel cost is $39, so budget accordingly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128.6 miles from Birmingham, AL, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 249.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 57 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.6 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mobile, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Birmingham, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Birmingham, AL
This is one driving day of about 257.1 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Birmingham, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 249.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 11; US 78 / 1st Avenue North
Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 1st Avenue North
Navigation decision point
4
1.6 mi into trip|~2m in|US 11; US 78 / 9th Street North
Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 9th Street North
Navigation decision point
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.69 one way
$71.38 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$39.93
$79.86
premium
$4.29
$43.41
$86.83
diesel
$4.80
$48.55
$97.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.1
0
$27.00
$12.34
Efficient EV
64.3
0
$22.50
$10.28
EV Truck/SUV
102.8
1
$35.99
$16.45
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Birmingham, AL
Late night
in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mobile, AL
Late night
in Mobile on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Clear
NW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
6 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
4h 42m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this journey. The drive predominantly utilizes I-65, accounting for 99% of the route. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 249.4 miles on I-65, which means long periods of consistent highway driving. This profile suggests a steady pace with limited opportunities for scenic byways or winding local roads. The character of the drive is largely determined by the interstate, offering a direct and efficient path between Birmingham and Mobile.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 249.4 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 165. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 11; US 78 / 1st Avenue North.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 42m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 11; US 78 / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (US 11; US 78 / 9th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
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
•Birmingham Museum of Art — art museum in Birmingham, Alabama, USA
•Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Alabama, United States
•16th Street Baptist Church — church in Birmingham, Alabama
For issues specific to mobile phones and smartphone usage, see Mobile phones.
Mobile is a city in the state of Alabama in the South of the United States of America with almost a half million people in the metro area.
Mobile is a historic, diverse port city with a strong southern culture and heritage. The original capital of French Louisiana, Mobile is home to the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.
Top landmarks
•USS Alabama — 1942 South Dakota-class battleship
•USS Drum — 1941 Gato-class submarine
•Battleship Memorial Park — park in Mobile, Alabama, United States
The longest stretch is about 249.4 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 11; US 78 / 1st Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (US 11; US 78 / 9th Street North): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Mobile, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
