Trip from Fairhope, AL to Auburn, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 23m

Distance

226.1 mi

364 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 10m ★

6 AM

4h 24m

8 AM

4h 50m

10 AM

4h 33m

12 PM

4h 30m

3 PM

4h 34m

5 PM

4h 49m

8 PM

4h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States

Fairhope, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Auburn, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Fairhope, AL to Auburn, AL is 226.1 miles and takes about 4h 23m via I 65 and I 85, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Alabama, primarily on major highways, making it a straightforward journey between two points in the Southeast region. With its focus on interstate travel, this route is designed for efficiency, ideal if your priority is reaching your destination without extensive detours. You'll find it's a practical option for a single-day drive, allowing you to get on your way and arrive with time to spare.

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

113.1 miles from Fairhope, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 65	138.8 mi	2h 29m
I 85	51 mi	55m
AL 225	20.3 mi	28m
US Highway 98	7.6 mi	12m
South College Street	4.1 mi	8m
North Section Street	1.6 mi	4m
Old Spanish Trail	1.1 mi	2m
Homestead Avenue	0.4 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 65 — 138.8 mi, about 2h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairhope, AL and Auburn, AL.

Start on CR 98

109 ft · 11 sec · Fairhope Avenue

Turn left onto CR 98

1.6 mi · 4 min · North Section Street

Enter roundabout onto Homestead Avenue

31 ft · 0 sec · Homestead Avenue

Continue on Homestead Avenue

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Homestead Avenue

Turn left onto US 98

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Old Spanish Trail

Continue on US 98

7.6 mi · 12 min · US Highway 98

Continue on US 90; US 98

0.9 mi · 1 min · Old Spanish Trail

Turn slight right

312 ft · 6 sec

Turn straight onto US 31

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Spanish Fort Boulevard

Turn left onto AL 225

20 mi · 28 min · AL 225

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Merge onto I 65

139 mi · 2 hr 29 min · I 65

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 171 Toward I-85 North: Atlanta

Merge onto I 85

51 mi · 55 min · I 85

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward US 29: Auburn

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 11 sec

Toward AL 147 North: Auburn Use the left lane.

Turn left onto US 29

4.1 mi · 8 min · South College Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right

291 ft · 21 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 23m duration, starting your drive from Fairhope in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can plan for a brief refueling or refreshment break during the 138.8-mile stretch on I 65. The $34 fuel cost is a helpful estimate for budgeting. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have flexibility; however, be aware that highway stretches can sometimes feel long, so stretching your legs during your planned stop is a good idea.

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 113.1 miles from Fairhope, AL, or about 2h 16m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.8 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 50 miles or 1h 8m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 113.1 miles or 2h 16m 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 34m

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 Fairhope, 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 Fairhope, AL

This is one driving day of about 226.1 miles and 4h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Fairhope, 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 138.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Andalusia, AL

113 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

Atmore, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Andalusia, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 113.1 miles from Fairhope, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

AKA Japanese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montgomery, Alabama

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 177.7

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13345231320

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Well Red

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Auburn, Alabama

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 226.1

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13342463021

Visit website

Bitty & Beau's Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Auburn, Alabama

0.2 mi

The Fox

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Auburn, Alabama

0.1 mi

McDonald's

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Inexpensiv mile 193.8

Shorter, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13347240180

Visit website

Sonic Drive-In

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 177.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+13342700682

Visit website

AKA Japanese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30 mile 177.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13345231320

Visit website

Ellianos Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 177.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+13345930112

Visit website

Sonic Drive-In

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour Inexpensiv mile 177.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+13342715837

Visit website

Ellianos Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 177.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+13343988440

Visit website

Cook Out

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 177.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 10:30 am–2 pm

+18665470011

Visit website

Well Red

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 226.1

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13342463021

Visit website

Bitty & Beau's Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 226.1

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+13345910291

Visit website

The Fox

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 226.1

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+13342090213

Visit website

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 96.9

Evergreen, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Fairhope, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 177.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

Dinosaur Adventure Land

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 80.8

Repton, Alabama

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+18552443466

Visit website

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 222 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 98 / North Section Street

Turn left onto CR 98 / North Section Street

Navigation decision point

170.4 mi into trip | ~3h 18m in

Take the exit toward I-85 North: Atlanta

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 171 Toward I-85 North: Atlanta

170.8 mi into trip | ~3h 18m in | I 85

Merge onto I 85

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

222 mi into trip | ~4h 15m in

Keep slight left at fork toward AL 147 North: Auburn

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward AL 147 North: Auburn

222 mi into trip | ~4h 15m in | US 29 / South College Street

Turn left onto US 29 / South College Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.15 one way

$68.29 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$37.48	$74.97
premium	$4.56	$40.58	$81.16
diesel	$5.61	$49.92	$99.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	67.8	0	$23.74	$10.85
Efficient EV	56.5	0	$19.78	$9.04
EV Truck/SUV	90.4	1	$31.65	$14.47

Gas CO2

79 kg

EV CO2

26 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 Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Fairhope, AL

Night in Fairhope on Saturday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Auburn, AL

Night in Auburn on Saturday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Clear

SW 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live 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

5 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 23m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for this 226.1-mile trip, with 96% of the journey on interstates. The bulk of your travel will be on I 65, including a significant longest stretch of 138.8 miles where you can settle into a consistent pace. Later, you'll transition to I 85, continuing the highway feel until you approach Auburn. This profile means you'll experience mostly uninterrupted driving, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous roadside exploration compared to a more scenic byway.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 138.8 mi on I 65.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 85. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 98 / North Section Street.

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 226.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (CR 98 / North Section Street): Navigation decision point; at 170.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 170.8 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Fairhope, AL

Full guide →

Fairhope is a small resort town on Mobile Bay on the Gulf Coast of Alabama.

Arriving in Auburn, AL

Full guide →

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.

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 4h 23m. Total distance: 226.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 138.8 miles on I 65. 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Auburn, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Explore more options from Fairhope, AL or browse trips ending in Auburn, AL.

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Trip from Fairhope, AL to Auburn, AL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

AKA Japanese Restaurant

Well Red

McDonald's

Sonic Drive-In

AKA Japanese Restaurant

Ellianos Coffee

Sonic Drive-In

Ellianos Coffee

Cook Out

Well Red

Bitty & Beau's Coffee

The Fox

Thrive Here @Auburn

Coffee Mafia

Good Brew

7 Brew Coffee

Ellianos Coffee

ChargePoint Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

FLO Charging Station

Fairhope Museum of History

M Bagel & Coffee

Dinosaur Adventure Land

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Fairhope, AL

Auburn, AL

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 23m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Fairhope, AL

Arriving in Auburn, AL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Auburn, AL

More from Fairhope, AL

More trips to Auburn, AL