Origin
Birmingham, AL
Late night in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
4:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, AL to Wilsonville, 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
37.7 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
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
Wilsonville, AL
Owen Mao
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Birmingham to Wilsonville, you can expect a straightforward 37.7-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple day outing, requiring no overnight stays. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, it remains an incredibly affordable way to traverse this stretch of the Southeast. You will primarily utilize the Red Mountain Expressway, US 280, and AL 25 to complete the transit. Because the route is entirely contained within Alabama, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a direct, highway-focused path over winding backroads.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 26.4 mi | 35m |
| AL 25 | 8.7 mi | 12m |
| Red Mountain Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| 24th Street North | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 26.4 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Wilsonville, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
199 ft
·
3 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 31 South, US 280 East
4
Merge onto US 31; US 280
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Mountain Expressway
5
Take the exit onto US 280
18 mi
·
24 min
·
US 280
Toward US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 280
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
US 280
7
Take the exit
195 ft
·
5 sec
8
Turn straight onto AL 25
8.7 mi
·
12 min
·
AL 25
9
Arrive at destination
AL 25
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.9 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 20.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
3rd Avenue North
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 31 South, US 280 East
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway
Merge onto US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 280
Take the exit onto US 280 toward US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
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.
Toward US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
3
20.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
US 280
Take the exit onto US 280
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.69 one way
$11.39 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.77 | $13.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.32 | $16.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Wilsonville, AL
Late night in Wilsonville on Tuesday
Local time
4:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°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
22 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
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 highly efficient experience, as this route is comprised of 99% highway travel. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel on major thoroughfares, providing a consistent and predictable pace. The longest uninterrupted section involves a 26.4-mile stretch along US 280, where you can settle into a steady rhythm. While the drive is focused on highway transit, the transition between these main roads requires your attention to ensure you stay on track. Overall, the character of this trip is functional and fast, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal interruption.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and AL 25. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 3rd Avenue North.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 52m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles (US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Wilsonville, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Zoo Gardens along the way.
Zoo Gardens
2.6 mi in
|
~3m
|
via US 280
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: 37.7 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 (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.4 miles on US 280. 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 (3rd Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles (US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Wilsonville, 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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