Chalkville to Mobile is 268.8 miles and takes about 4h 59m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region down to its coast. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates, making for a quick and uncomplicated trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
134.4 miles from Chalkville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
239.5 mi
4h 18m
John M. Harbert III Freeway
16.5 mi
17m
I 165
4.7 mi
5m
Old Springville Road Northeast
2.5 mi
4m
Edwards Lake Road
1.4 mi
3m
Pine Tree Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Brewster Road
0.5 mi
1m
Saint Joseph Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 239.5 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-459
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 126 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,603 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~191 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chalkville, AL and Mobile, AL.
1
Start on Old Springville Road Northeast
2.5 mi·4 min·Old Springville Road Northeast
2
Turn left onto Brewster Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Brewster Road
3
Turn right onto Pine Tree Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Pine Tree Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto Edwards Lake Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Edwards Lake Road
5
Turn right onto US 11
0.2 mi·29 sec·Gadsden Highway
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
7
Merge onto I 459
17 mi·17 min·John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 15Toward I 65: Birmingham, MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 65 South: MontgomeryUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 65
239 mi·4 hr 18 min·I 65
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·41 sec
Toward I 165: Mobile
12
Continue on I 165
4.7 mi·5 min·I 165
13
Turn right onto Saint Joseph Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Saint Joseph Street
14
Turn right onto Saint Louis Street
40 ft·1 sec·Saint Louis Street
15
Arrive at destination
Saint Louis Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 59m estimated drive time, leaving Chalkville in the morning is ideal to maximize your daylight. The route is mostly highway, so you'll cover ground quickly, with the longest stretch on I 65 being 239.5 miles. Plan for a single stop for fuel or a break, especially before embarking on that long interstate segment. The $43 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient.
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 134.4 miles from Chalkville, AL, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.5 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 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.4 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mobile, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chalkville, 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 Chalkville, AL
This is one driving day of about 268.8 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Chalkville, 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 I 65 for about 239.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 22.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|Brewster Road
Turn left onto Brewster Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|Pine Tree Drive
Turn right onto Pine Tree Drive
Navigation decision point
5
6 mi into trip|~13m in|I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway
Merge onto I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.5 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
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 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
7
22.7 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.31 one way
$74.63 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$41.75
$83.50
premium
$4.29
$45.39
$90.78
diesel
$4.80
$50.75
$101.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.6
0
$28.22
$12.90
Efficient EV
67.2
0
$23.52
$10.75
EV Truck/SUV
107.5
1
$37.63
$17.20
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Chalkville, AL
Evening
in Chalkville on Monday
Local time
7:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mobile, AL
Evening
in Mobile on Monday
Local time
7:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Clear
NW 0 to 5 mph4% chanceLive 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 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
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 18.5
Park Closure: A.G Gaston Motel Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 97% of the 268.8 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 239.5 miles on I 65, indicating extended periods of cruising. The transition from highway to surface streets will likely occur as you approach your destination in Mobile, specifically around the John M. Harbert III Freeway and I 165 interchanges.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near Brewster Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 268.8 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 2.5 miles (Brewster Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (Pine Tree Drive): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
878 ft8 ft
Total Climb
454 ft
Total Descent
1,324 ft
Highest Point
878 ft
Elevation Range
870 ft
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 Chalkville, AL to Mobile, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Montgomery along the way.
For issues specific to mobile phones and smartphone usage, see Mobile phones.
Mobile is a city in the state of Alabama in the South of the United States of America with almost a half million people in the metro area.
Mobile is a historic, diverse port city with a strong southern culture and heritage. The original capital of French Louisiana, Mobile is home to the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.
Top landmarks
•USS Alabama — 1942 South Dakota-class battleship
•USS Drum — 1941 Gato-class submarine
•Battleship Memorial Park — park in Mobile, Alabama, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 268.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m 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 239.5 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: at 2.5 miles (Brewster Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (Pine Tree Drive): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Mobile, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
