Origin
Calera, AL
Late night in Calera on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Calera, AL to Alabaster, 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
14m
Distance
11.1 mi
18 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 14m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Calera, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Alabaster, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick, straightforward trip within the Southeast, the 12.1-mile drive from Calera to Alabaster is a perfect candidate. This short excursion typically takes about 14 minutes to complete, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Because the route is so brief, you can budget just $2 for fuel, keeping your travel costs remarkably low. You will primarily navigate via US 31 and 1st Street South, keeping your focus on local roads rather than long-distance interstates. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Alabama towns that offers complete flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are running errands or commuting, this route gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| US 31 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| 1st Street South | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 6.5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Calera, AL and Alabaster, AL.
1
Start on this road
204 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 31
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 31
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
4
Merge onto I 65
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 65
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn slight left onto US 31
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left
177 ft
·
18 sec
8
Turn right
97 ft
·
7 sec
9
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 11.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 31
Turn left onto US 31
Navigation decision point
3
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
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 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.68 one way
$3.35 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $1.84 | $3.68 |
| premium | $4.56 | $1.99 | $3.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.45 | $4.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.17 | $0.53 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.97 | $0.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Alabaster, AL
Late night in Alabaster on Tuesday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
14m 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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than drifting on a monotonous highway. With a 0% highway share, you won't be dealing with high-speed interstate merging or long, uninterrupted stretches. The road personality here is defined by frequent transitions between local thoroughfares, requiring you to stay alert as you move through the Southeast landscape. Navigating the turns of US 31 and 1st Street South provides a steady, rhythmic pace that contrasts sharply with typical highway cruising. It is a functional, road-focused experience that demands your attention to the immediate surroundings throughout the entire 14-minute duration.
84% 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: 6.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 31. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 31.
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 14m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 31): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 65): 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 Calera, AL to Alabaster, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Saginaw along the way.
Saginaw
9.6 mi in
|
~12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 14m. Total distance: 11.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.5 miles on I 65. 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: near the start (US 31): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alabaster, 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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