This 133.6-mile drive from Cedar Bluff, AL to Auburn, AL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day trip. Expect to spend around 3 hours and 13 minutes on the road, with a projected fuel cost of about $20. The route primarily utilizes US 431, State Route 9, and AL 147, offering a direct path through Alabama's Southeast region. Given its manageable length and duration, this trip is ideal for a day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
66.8 miles from Cedar Bluff, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 431
71.5 mi
1h 39m
State Route 9
37.8 mi
57m
AL 147
7.9 mi
10m
North College Street
4.7 mi
7m
US 78
4 mi
5m
Cedar Bluff Road
2.8 mi
3m
Piedmont Highway
1.4 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 431
— 71.5 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Bluff, AL and Auburn, AL.
1
Start on Old Hwy 9
44 ft·7 sec·Old Hwy 9
2
Turn right onto AL 68
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Weiss Lake Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto AL 9; AL 68
2.5 mi·2 min·State Route 9
4
Continue on AL 9; AL 68
2.8 mi·3 min·Cedar Bluff Road
5
Turn left onto AL 9
0.9 mi·1 min·Armory Road
6
Continue on AL 9
1.4 mi·2 min·Piedmont Highway
7
Continue on AL 9
15 mi·25 min·State Route 9
8
Continue on US 278; AL 9
0.1 mi·16 sec·US 278; AL 9
9
Turn left onto AL 9
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn straight onto AL 9
21 mi·28 min·State Route 9
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 78
4.0 mi·5 min·US 78
12
Turn left onto AL 301
0.4 mi·30 sec·Old US Highway 431 South
13
Continue on US 431
27 mi·36 min·US 431
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 431
45 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 431
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn sharp right onto AL 147
7.9 mi·10 min·AL 147
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 280; AL 147
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 280; AL 147
17
Turn right onto AL 147
0.7 mi·1 min·North College Street
Use the right lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto AL 147
77 ft·1 sec·North College Street
19
Continue on AL 147
4.0 mi·6 min·North College Street
20
Turn left
291 ft·21 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 13-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Cedar Bluff to maximize your day in Auburn. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 70 miles on US 431, so plan your fuel needs accordingly before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services might be more spread out during that longer portion of the drive. This route is best tackled in one go, making it an easy day trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.8 miles from Cedar Bluff, AL, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.5 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 29 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.8 miles or 1h 38m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar Bluff, 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 Cedar Bluff, AL
This is one driving day of about 133.6 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Cedar Bluff, 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 431 for about 71.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 128.8 — 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|AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive
Turn right onto AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 9; AL 68 / State Route 9
At end of road, turn right onto AL 9; AL 68 / State Route 9
Navigation decision point
5
22.6 mi into trip|~36m in|AL 9 / North Main Street
Turn left onto AL 9 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
120.5 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|AL 147
Turn sharp right onto AL 147
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
128.8 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|AL 147 / North College Street
Turn right onto AL 147 / North College Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.18 one way
$40.35 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.15
$44.30
premium
$4.56
$23.98
$47.96
diesel
$5.61
$29.50
$58.99
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: 46.7 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
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
Efficient EV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
EV Truck/SUV
53.4
0
$18.70
$8.55
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cedar Bluff, AL
Night
in Cedar Bluff on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Auburn, AL
Night
in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Roanoke, AL
67 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
31 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
3h 13m 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.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 50.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 91% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 71.5 miles along US 431, which forms the backbone of this route. While largely a high-speed affair, the road does transition through different state routes, offering some variation. The overall feel is one of consistent forward motion, designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. Be prepared for a steady pace for the majority of your trip.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.5 mi on US 431.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 431 and State Route 9. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 13m drive. You will face about 11 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 (AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (AL 9; AL 68 / State Route 9): Navigation decision point; at 22.6 miles (AL 9 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Auburn is in the River Heritage region of Alabama, and home to Auburn University in downtown Auburn. During the university's home football games, the town fills up with thousands of alumni and college football fans for a weekend of tailgating.
The longest stretch is about 71.5 miles on US 431. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (AL 9; AL 68 / State Route 9): Navigation decision point; at 22.6 miles (AL 9 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Auburn, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
