Origin
Clanton, AL
Morning in Clanton on Tuesday
Local time
6:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clanton, AL to Montgomery, 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
47m
Distance
39.7 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clanton, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit in Alabama, the 39.7-mile connection from Clanton to Montgomery is an ideal choice. This drive typically takes about 47 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, ensuring a efficient transition between these two Southeast locations. Whether you are heading into the capital for business or visiting family, this brief trek is designed for practicality rather than a leisurely pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 33.8 mi | 36m |
| 7th Street North | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| I 85 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Arba Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Decatur Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Winnie Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Union Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 33.8 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clanton, AL and Montgomery, AL.
1
Start on 1st Avenue North
391 ft
·
26 sec
·
1st Avenue North
2
Turn left onto US 31; AL 22
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
7th Street North
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
4
Merge onto I 65
34 mi
·
36 min
·
I 65
5
Take the exit
393 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 171
Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
7
Continue on I 85
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
I 85
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 1
Toward Court Street, Union Street
9
Continue on Arba Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arba Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto South Decatur Street
462 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Decatur Street
11
Turn left onto Winnie Street
440 ft
·
24 sec
·
Winnie Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
187 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Union Street
13
Arrive at destination
South Union Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Clanton, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 38.1 and 39.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
38.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward I-85 North: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 171
Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
6
38.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
6
38.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward Court Street, Union Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward Court Street, Union Street
4
39.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Winnie Street
Turn left onto Winnie Street
Navigation decision point
6
39.6 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
South Union Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.00 one way
$11.99 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.58 | $13.16 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.13 | $14.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.77 | $17.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Montgomery, AL
Morning in Montgomery on Tuesday
Local time
6:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
3 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
47m 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, highway-focused experience as 87% of your travel takes place on high-speed roads. The route centers on I-65, which accounts for a substantial 33.8-mile uninterrupted stretch, allowing for a steady, consistent pace. You will begin by navigating 7th Street North before merging onto the interstate to cover the bulk of the distance. The final approach into Montgomery transitions onto I-85, shifting the character of the drive from open highway to a more urban traffic environment. It is a no-frills, functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.8 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and 7th Street North. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 38.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 39.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 38.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 38.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 38.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Clanton, AL
Full guide →Clanton is a small town in Metropolitan Alabama near Lay Lake and the Confederate Memorial Park, with close ties to peaches.
Arriving in Montgomery, AL
Full guide →Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, in the River Heritage region of the state. Montgomery has also been recognized nationally for its downtown revitalization and new urbanism projects.
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 47m. Total distance: 39.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.8 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: at 38.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 38.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 38.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montgomery, 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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