Daphne to Birmingham is 254.3 miles and takes about 4h 47m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a high proportion of highway driving, making it a straightforward trip. It's a single-day option that doesn't require an overnight stay, ideal for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
127.2 miles from Daphne, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
227.4 mi
4h 6m
AL 225
20.3 mi
28m
US Highway 98
2.9 mi
5m
Old Spanish Trail
0.9 mi
1m
3rd Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
Spanish Fort Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 227.4 mi, about 4h 6m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 37 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~864 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,331
Quietest
1 AM
~122 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
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 Daphne, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on Belrose Avenue
271 ft·19 sec·Belrose Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 98
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Turn right onto Santa Rosa Avenue
159 ft·9 sec·Santa Rosa Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 98
2.9 mi·5 min·US Highway 98
5
Continue on US 90; US 98
0.9 mi·1 min·Old Spanish Trail
6
Turn slight right
312 ft·6 sec
7
Turn straight onto US 31
0.2 mi·19 sec·Spanish Fort Boulevard
8
Turn left onto AL 225
20 mi·28 min·AL 225
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
10
Merge onto I 65
227 mi·4 hr 6 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 260BToward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
12
Turn right onto US 11; US 78
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto 19th Street North
0.1 mi·17 sec·19th Street North
14
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
15
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
16
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 47 minute estimated drive time, leaving Daphne in the morning should allow you to reach Birmingham well before dark. The single longest stretch is over 227 miles on I 65, so plan for a mid-drive break before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $37, be sure to check your fuel levels before departing, as gas stations can become less frequent on longer highway stretches. This route is best suited for a single-day push, so you can be flexible with your departure time.
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 127.2 miles from Daphne, AL, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.4 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 56 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.2 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Daphne, 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 Daphne, AL
This is one driving day of about 254.3 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Daphne, 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 227.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 253 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 98 / Main Street
Turn left onto CR 98 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|Santa Rosa Avenue
Turn right onto Santa Rosa Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
25.5 mi into trip|~38m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
252.8 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Take the exit toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
5
253 mi into trip|~4h 44m in|US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.30 one way
$70.60 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$39.50
$78.99
premium
$4.29
$42.94
$85.88
diesel
$4.80
$48.02
$96.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.3
0
$26.70
$12.21
Efficient EV
63.6
0
$22.25
$10.17
EV Truck/SUV
101.7
1
$35.60
$16.28
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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
Daphne, AL
Late night
in Daphne on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Late night
in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
0 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 47m 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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 254.3
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 drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 99% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 65, which accounts for the longest stretch of 227.4 miles. Expect dense exits and frequent merges as you transition from more rural areas into the approaches to Birmingham. The route is considered mostly highway, so surface roads are minimal.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 227.4 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and AL 225. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 98 / Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 98 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Santa Rosa Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 25.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama, and its cultural and economic nucleus. While it's best remembered as the site of protest, bombings, and other racial tumult during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, visitors to the Birmingham of today will find a pleasant green city of ridges, valleys, attractive views, and friendly, hospitable people.
Top landmarks
•Birmingham Museum of Art — art museum in Birmingham, Alabama, USA
•Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Alabama, United States
•16th Street Baptist Church — church in Birmingham, Alabama
The longest stretch is about 227.4 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 0.1 miles (CR 98 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Santa Rosa Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 25.5 miles (I 65): 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 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Birmingham, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
