Origin
Cahaba Heights, AL
Morning in Cahaba Heights on Sunday
Local time
9:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cahaba Heights, AL to Phenix City, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
134.1 mi
216 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 41m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cahaba Heights, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Phenix City, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cahaba Heights, AL to Phenix City, AL is 134.1 miles and takes about 2h 51m via US 280, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and entirely within Alabama, making it a straightforward journey. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, so expect consistent speeds and minimal towns to navigate through. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, this route is easily manageable for a single-day trip, letting you reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.1 miles from Cahaba Heights, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 109.3 mi | 2h 17m |
| Columbus Parkway | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| Summit Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Opelika Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Crosshaven Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 13th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Crawford Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 14th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 109.3 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cahaba Heights, AL and Phenix City, AL.
1
Start on this road
160 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Crosshaven Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Crosshaven Drive
3
Continue on Summit Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Summit Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto US 280
13 mi
·
18 min
·
US 280
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 280
91 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
·
US 280
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 280
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 280
Toward I-85 North, US 29 North, US 280 East: Atlanta
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 280
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 280
Toward US 280, US 431: Opelika, Phenix City
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 280
263 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 280
9
Merge onto US 280; US 431
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Columbus Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 280; US 431
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 280; US 431
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto Opelika Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Opelika Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto Crawford Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Crawford Road
13
Continue on 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
14th Street
14
Turn straight onto 12th Avenue
269 ft
·
7 sec
·
12th Avenue
15
Continue on 13th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
13th Street
16
Turn left onto Broad Street
8 ft
·
0 sec
·
Broad Street
17
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 51m duration and 134.1-mile distance, this is a perfect day trip, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour. With a fuel cost estimate of $20, you'll want to ensure your tank is full before departing Cahaba Heights to cover the longest stretch of 109.3 miles on US 280. There's only one suggested stop, so plan your breaks strategically to maximize driving time. Since this is a highway-heavy route, pay attention to speed limit changes and watch for potential construction zones, especially as you approach Columbus Parkway and Summit Boulevard.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.1 miles from Cahaba Heights, AL, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.3 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 30 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.1 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phenix City, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cahaba Heights, 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 Cahaba Heights, AL
This is one driving day of about 134.1 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Cahaba Heights, 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 US 280 for about 109.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.1 miles from Cahaba Heights, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 280 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.3 miles.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 109.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Crosshaven Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Crosshaven Drive
Navigation decision point
5
14.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
US 280
Take the exit onto US 280
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
9
105.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
US 280
Take the exit onto US 280 toward I-85 North, US 29 North, US 280 East: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I-85 North, US 29 North, US 280 East: At...
5
109.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
US 280
Take the exit onto US 280 toward US 280, US 431: Opelika, Phenix City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 280, US 431: Opelika, Phenix City
5
109.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
US 280
Keep slight right at fork onto US 280
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.25 one way
$40.50 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $22.23 | $44.46 |
| premium | $4.56 | $24.07 | $48.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.61 | $59.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.08 | $6.44 |
| Efficient EV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.73 | $5.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.6 | 0 | $18.77 | $8.58 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
Phenix City, AL
Morning in Phenix City on Sunday
Local time
10:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
17 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
2h 51m 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?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey on major roads like US 280 and Summit Boulevard. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of the trip, thanks to the high highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 109.3 miles on US 280, meaning you can settle in for a substantial period without many changes in road type. Expect a smooth, efficient drive with minimal detours or complex intersections for most of the 134.1 miles.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.3 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and Columbus Parkway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Crosshaven Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 134.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Crosshaven Drive): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.8 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Phenix City, AL
Full guide →Columbus is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland, near the Chattahoochee River and bordering Alabama. It is known for its Southern hospitality, unique attractions, and proximity to Fort Benning.
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 2h 51m. Total distance: 134.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.3 miles on US 280. 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 Phenix City, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Crosshaven Drive): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.8 miles (US 280): 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 Phenix City, 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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