Origin
Fayetteville, AL
Morning in Fayetteville on Tuesday
Local time
10:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fayetteville, AL to Auburn, 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
1h 38m
Distance
72.2 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fayetteville, AL
Kelly
Auburn, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fayetteville to Auburn is 72.2 miles and takes about 1h 38m via US 280 and US 231, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The drive is mostly on well-maintained highways, making it a straightforward trip. With only 1 recommended day, you can easily complete this drive without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a quick and efficient travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.1 miles from Fayetteville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 34.5 mi | 41m |
| US 231 | 24.8 mi | 29m |
| Sylacauga-Fayetteville Highway | 8.1 mi | 19m |
| North College Street | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Childersburg Fayetteville Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 34.5 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, AL and Auburn, AL.
1
Start on Childersburg Fayetteville Highway
61 ft
·
5 sec
·
Childersburg Fayetteville Highway
2
Turn left onto Sylacauga-Fayetteville Highway
8.1 mi
·
19 min
·
Sylacauga-Fayetteville Highway
3
Turn right onto US 231; US 280
25 mi
·
29 min
·
US 231; US 280
4
Continue on US 280; AL 22
14 mi
·
17 min
·
US 280; AL 22
5
Continue on US 280; AL 49
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
US 280; AL 49
6
Continue on US 280; AL 50
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 280; AL 50
7
Turn right onto AL 147
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North College Street
Use the right lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto AL 147
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
North College Street
9
Continue on AL 147
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
North College Street
10
Turn left
291 ft
·
21 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 38m duration, this is a perfect same-day trip. Leaving Fayetteville in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of time to reach Auburn without feeling rushed. Since there are no specific stops noted, you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $11, but it's always wise to top off before starting, especially since the longest highway stretch is over 34 miles. Consider leaving slightly earlier if you prefer a more relaxed pace.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.1 miles from Fayetteville, AL, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 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 16 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.1 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
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 Fayetteville, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fayetteville, AL
This is one driving day of about 72.2 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Fayetteville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 280 for about 34.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.1 miles from Fayetteville, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sylacauga-Fayetteville Highway
Turn left onto Sylacauga-Fayetteville Highway
Navigation decision point
5
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
AL 147 / North College Street
Turn right onto AL 147 / North College Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
68.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
AL 147 / North College Street
Enter roundabout onto AL 147 / North College Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
72.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.90 one way
$21.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.97 | $23.94 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.96 | $25.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.94 | $31.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.58 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.32 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.11 | $4.62 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Auburn, AL
Morning in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
10:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
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
21 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
1h 38m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 82% of the 72.2 miles being on major roads like US 280 and US 231. The longest continuous stretch on a main highway is 34.5 miles on US 280. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination. The highway profile suggests a relatively unimpeded drive with fewer turns than a rural backroad.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and US 231. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sylacauga-Fayetteville Highway.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fayetteville, AL to Auburn, AL is easy. At 1h 38m with 82% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sylacauga-Fayetteville Highway): Navigation decision point; at 67.4 miles (AL 147 / North College Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.1 miles (AL 147 / North College Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
About the Cities
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 1h 38m. Total distance: 72.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on US 280. 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: near the start (Sylacauga-Fayetteville Highway): Navigation decision point; at 67.4 miles (AL 147 / North College Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.1 miles (AL 147 / North College Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Auburn, 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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