Birmingham, AL to Phil Campbell, AL is 95.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via I 22 and I 65, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip perfect for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a quick and efficient journey. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.7 miles from Birmingham, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
55.6 mi
59m
AL 13
32.5 mi
48m
I 65
3.8 mi
5m
6th Avenue North
1.2 mi
2m
US 278
0.5 mi
<1m
24th Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
McClung Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 55.6 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Phil Campbell, 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
3.8 mi·5 min·I 65
Use the slight left / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 265AToward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 22
56 mi·59 min·I 22
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 39Toward 13: Natural Bridge, Eldridge
8
Turn right onto AL 13
9.9 mi·14 min·AL 13
9
Continue on US 278; AL 13
0.5 mi·43 sec·US 278; AL 13
10
Continue on AL 13
23 mi·33 min·AL 13
11
Turn left onto McClung Avenue
101 ft·4 sec·McClung Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
McClung Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, single-day drive of under two hours, flexibility is your best friend. You can easily depart Birmingham, AL anytime and still arrive in Phil Campbell, AL with plenty of daylight to spare. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, filling up before you leave is a sensible approach. While there are no designated stops mentioned, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 55.6-mile stretch on I 22, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.7 miles from Birmingham, AL, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.6 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phil Campbell, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Birmingham, AL
This is one driving day of about 95.4 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Birmingham, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 55.6 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 62.1 — 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.
4
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 65 North
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.
7
5.3 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265A
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
6
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward 13: Natural Bridge, Eldridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 39
Toward 13: Natural Bridge, Eldridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.41 one way
$28.82 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.82
$31.63
premium
$4.56
$17.12
$34.25
diesel
$5.61
$21.06
$42.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.6
0
$10.02
$4.58
Efficient EV
23.9
0
$8.35
$3.82
EV Truck/SUV
38.2
0
$13.36
$6.11
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Birmingham, AL
Morning
in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Phil Campbell, AL
Morning
in Phil Campbell on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Texas, AL
48 mi in
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
4 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 59m 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.
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 drive for this trip, with 97% of the route utilizing major roads like I 22 and I 65. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 55.6 miles on I 22, offering a sustained period of consistent speed. The initial part of the journey involves navigating onto I 65 before transitioning to I 22, which forms the bulk of your travel. This profile means you'll experience minimal stops and a generally high-speed environment, making for a predictable driving experience.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.6 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and AL 13. 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 Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Birmingham, AL to Phil Campbell, AL is easy. At 1h 59m 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 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 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.
On the drive from Birmingham, AL to Phil Campbell, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Eldridge along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 55.6 miles on I 22. 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 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 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 Phil Campbell, AL before heading back.
