Origin
Birmingham, AL
Late night in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to West Blocton, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
41.1 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
West Blocton, AL
Elizabeth Iris
Trip Overview
This straightforward 41.1-mile drive from Birmingham to West Blocton in Alabama's Southeast region is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 52 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of around $6, it's an economical option for a short excursion. The route primarily utilizes I-20 and State Route 5, offering a highway-focused experience. You won't need to break this trip up overnight, giving you plenty of flexibility for when you depart and how you spend your time at your destination. This is a simple, no-fuss journey perfect for a quick visit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 27 mi | 29m |
| State Route 5 | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| US 11 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| 6th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Cahaba River Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| I 65 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hickory Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 27 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and West Blocton, 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
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 65
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Merge onto I 20; I 59
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 11; AL 5
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 11; AL 5
Exit 97
Toward US 11 South, AL 5 South: West Blocton, Centreville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 11; AL 5
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
US 11; AL 5
9
Turn left onto AL 5
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
State Route 5
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto CR 24
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Cahaba River Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Hickory Road
399 ft
·
22 sec
·
Hickory Road
12
Turn left onto Azalea Lane
27 ft
·
2 sec
·
Azalea Lane
13
Turn right onto Hickory Road
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Hickory Road
14
Arrive at destination
Hickory Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.5 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 29 — 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 lanes.
8
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
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
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
29 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 11; AL 5
Take the exit onto US 11; AL 5 toward US 11 South, AL 5 South: West Blocton, Centreville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 97
Toward US 11 South, AL 5 South: West Blocton, C...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.21 one way
$12.41 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.81 | $13.63 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.38 | $14.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.07 | $18.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.32 | $1.97 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
West Blocton, AL
Late night in West Blocton on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Woodstock, AL
21 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
52m 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 highway-centric experience for the majority of this drive, with 93% of the journey on major roadways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of 27 miles on I-20 before transitioning to State Route 5 and US 11. While largely focused on efficient travel, be aware of the shift in road type as you move from the interstate to state and US highways. This transition offers a change in scenery and pace as you approach West Blocton.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and State Route 5. 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.
Driving Effort
7/10
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 41.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 West Blocton, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Centreville along the way.
Centreville
29 mi in
|
~33m
|
via US 11; AL 5
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 52m. Total distance: 41.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at West Blocton, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Blocton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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