Origin
Forestdale, AL
Morning in Forestdale on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forestdale, AL to Birmingham, 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
13m
Distance
8.1 mi
13 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forestdale, AL
Lauri Poldre
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 8.1-mile drive from Forestdale, AL to Birmingham, AL takes about 13 minutes, making it an ideal quick trip. With a minimal fuel cost of just $1, this route is very budget-friendly. It's entirely within the Southeast region and the state of Alabama, so you won't be crossing any state lines. The drive is best suited as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll be navigating city streets and making several turns rather than cruising on a highway for extended periods.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Forestdale Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Bankhead Highway West | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| I 20 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Arkadelphia Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Heflin Avenue East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Forestdale Boulevard
— 2.5 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forestdale, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on Heflin Avenue East
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Heflin Avenue East
2
Turn left onto US 78; AL 5
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Forestdale Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 78; AL 5
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Bankhead Highway West
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 78; AL 5
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Arkadelphia Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 78; AL 5
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Arkadelphia Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I-20 East, I-59 North: Downtown
7
Merge onto I 20; I 59
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 124D
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
19th Street North
11
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
5th Avenue North
12
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
24th Street North
13
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 7.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard
Turn left onto US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 East, I-59 North: Downtown
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-20 East, I-59 North: Downtown
5
5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
6.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street North, Downtown
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 124D
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.22 one way
$2.45 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $1.34 | $2.69 |
| premium | $4.56 | $1.45 | $2.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.79 | $3.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.71 | $0.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% 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
Birmingham, AL
Morning in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
1 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
13m 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?
The journey is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 16% of the route on highways. You'll spend most of your time on local roads, navigating through Forestdale and into Birmingham. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 2.5 miles along Forestdale Boulevard. This suggests a drive with frequent intersections and changes in speed, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Be prepared for a more engaged driving experience as you manage turns and local traffic.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.5 mi on Forestdale Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 8.1 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 0.2 miles (US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Forestdale, AL and Birmingham, AL, road signs point toward 17Th Street North and Downtown.
17Th Street North
6.3 mi in
|
~10m
Downtown
6.3 mi in
|
~10m
About the Cities
Arriving in Birmingham, AL
Full guide →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.
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 13m. Total distance: 8.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.5 miles on Forestdale Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Birmingham, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.2 miles (US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (I 20; I 59): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Birmingham, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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