Flint City, AL to Pennsylvania, AL is 315.8 miles and takes about 5h 49m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Alabama, a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for the majority of your travel. Given the relatively short duration, this route is best suited for a single-day 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
157.9 miles from Flint City, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
303.7 mi
5h 29m
6th Avenue Southeast
8.3 mi
12m
Thompson Road
1.2 mi
2m
US 43
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 303.7 mi, about 5h 29m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 55 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~825 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,223
Quietest
1 AM
~118 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
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 Flint City, AL and Pennsylvania, AL.
1
Start on US 31
8 ft·3 sec·6th Avenue Southeast
2
Continue on US 31
8.3 mi·12 min·6th Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Thompson Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Thompson Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
5
Merge onto I 65
59 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 265Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, FultondaleUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 65
245 mi·4 hr 27 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
11
Turn right onto US 43
0.5 mi·47 sec·US 43
12
Turn slight right
190 ft·8 sec
13
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·58 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5 hour and 49 minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Flint City to maximize daylight. The route's 315.8-mile length and 96% highway share mean you can comfortably complete it in one day. While there's only one recommended stop, you can easily extend or shorten your time on the road as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $46, and plan your refueling stops accordingly along I 65 before reaching the final surface roads.
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 157.9 miles from Flint City, AL, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 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 69 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.9 miles or 2h 55m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pennsylvania, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Flint City, 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 Flint City, AL
This is one driving day of about 315.8 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Flint City, 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 303.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 69.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.3 mi into trip|~12m in|Thompson Road
Turn left onto Thompson Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
9.8 mi into trip|~15m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
68.5 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
69 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
69.5 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.84 one way
$87.68 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$49.05
$98.10
premium
$4.29
$53.33
$106.65
diesel
$4.80
$59.63
$119.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.7
1
$33.16
$15.16
Efficient EV
79
0
$27.63
$12.63
EV Truck/SUV
126.3
1
$44.21
$20.21
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Flint City, AL
Afternoon
in Flint City on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NW 5 to 10 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pennsylvania, AL
Afternoon
in Pennsylvania on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
98°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 to 10 mph5% 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
8 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
5h 49m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 96% of the drive on major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 65 for a continuous stretch of 303.7 miles. The transition to surface roads, specifically 6th Avenue Southeast and Thompson Road, will occur near the end of your trip. Be prepared for frequent exits and entrances as you navigate this highway-centric path.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 303.7 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and 6th Avenue Southeast. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in near Thompson Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 315.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (Thompson Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
927 ft21 ft
Total Climb
732 ft
Total Descent
1,325 ft
Highest Point
927 ft
~22.6 mi in
Elevation Range
906 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Flint City, AL and Pennsylvania, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale and Montgomery.
Pennsylvania is a state in the eastern United States. It is known for its Revolutionary War-era historical sites like Valley Forge, its large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, its farming regions (some occupied by the Amish), and a (once)-strong industrial history. With equally large swaths of cities and towns as fields and mountains, Pennsylvania is a rich and varied state, as well as a worthy travel destination.
Top landmarks
•Susquehanna River — river in the northeastern United States
•Appalachian Trail — 2,198.4-mile (3,538 km) trail going through fourteen US states managed by the Na...
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 315.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m 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 303.7 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Pennsylvania, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (Thompson Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pennsylvania, AL before the return drive.
