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Trip from Fort Deposit, 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

1h 43m

Distance

88.1 mi

142 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 36m ★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m

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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Downtown Fort Deposit, AL, AL

Fort Deposit, AL

mori dad

Downtown Auburn, AL, AL

Auburn, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 88.1-mile drive from Fort Deposit, AL to Auburn, AL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 43 minutes. It's an ideal one-day excursion, perfect for a quick getaway or an efficient transfer between locations within the Southeast region. The majority of the journey, 93%, is on highways, making it a fairly quick and direct route. With an estimated fuel cost of around $13, this trip is also quite budget-friendly. You'll spend most of your time on I-85 and Interstate 65, so expect a focused drive without many detours.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

44 miles from Fort Deposit, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 85 51 mi 55m
Interstate 65 29.1 mi 31m
South College Street 4.1 mi 8m
State Route 185 1.8 mi 3m
Old Fort Road 1.1 mi 1m
Pollard Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 85 — 51 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Pollard Street

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Pollard Street
2

Turn right onto AL 185

1.1 mi · 1 min · Old Fort Road
3

Turn straight onto AL 185

1.8 mi · 3 min · State Route 185
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
5

Merge onto I 65

29 mi · 31 min · Interstate 65
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 171 Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
7

Merge onto I 85

51 mi · 55 min · I 85
Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward US 29: Auburn
9

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 11 sec
Toward AL 147 North: Auburn Use the left lane.
10

Turn left onto US 29

4.1 mi · 8 min · South College Street
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn right

291 ft · 21 sec
12

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 43-minute duration, this route offers a lot of flexibility for your departure time. You won't need to split this drive, so you can leave whenever it's most convenient. There are no specific stops recommended, but the longest stretch on I-85 is 51 miles, so plan for a brief break if needed around that point. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $13. A practical tip for this drive is to ensure your GPS is set for Auburn before you start, as the transition from highway to local roads can be quite swift once you're nearing the city.

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 44 miles from Fort Deposit, AL, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51 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 19 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 44 miles or 51m 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 25m

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 Fort Deposit, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fort Deposit, AL

This is one driving day of about 88.1 miles and 1h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Fort Deposit, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 51 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Montgomery County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pike Road, AL

44 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

Montgomery, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pike Road, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44 miles from Fort Deposit, 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.

Nearby Places

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

Top Restaurant

Ellianos Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montgomery, Alabama

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 44

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+13343988440

Visit website

Vintage Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montgomery, Alabama

1.4 mi

Ellianos Coffee Pike Road

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Pike Rd, Alabama

1.6 mi

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 88.1

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

Ellianos Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 44

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+13343988440

Visit website

Vintage Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 31.5

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+13343561944

Visit website

Ellianos Coffee Pike Road

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 50.3

Pike Rd, Alabama

Hours: 5 am–7 pm

+13343568492

Visit website

Cook Out

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 37.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 10:30 am–2 pm

+18665470011

Visit website

McDonald's

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv mile 56.6

Shorter, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13347240180

Visit website

Ellianos Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 44

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+13345930112

Visit website

Sonic Drive-In

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour Inexpensiv mile 44

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+13342715837

Visit website

AKA Japanese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 44

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13345231320

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 88.1

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 88.1

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 88.1

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+13342090213

Visit website

Thrive Here @Auburn

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 88.1

Auburn University, Alabama

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

Visit website

Coffee Mafia

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 88.1

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+13347287588

Visit website

Hilltop Public House

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 31.5

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 6:30 am–12 pm

+13342397752

Visit website

Baristas and Barristers

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 31.5

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

Visit website

Prevail Union | MGM

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 31.5

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+13344168399

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 18.9

Hope Hull, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13346130212

Visit website

Flying J EV Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 18.9

Hope Hull, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13346130212

Visit website

Mercedes-Benz Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 81.8

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336224743

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 44

Montgomery, Alabama

+13342608650

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 44

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 37.7

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Downtown Montgomery EV Charger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 31.5

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 37.7

Montgomery, Alabama

The MOOseum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 31.5

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+13342651867

Visit website

M Bagel & Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 44

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 32.4 and 84 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
32.4 mi into trip | ~38m in

Take the exit toward I-85 North: Atlanta

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 171 Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
5
32.7 mi into trip | ~38m in | I 85

Merge onto I 85

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

Use the straight lane.
4
83.7 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward US 29: Auburn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 29: Auburn
8
83.9 mi into trip | ~1h 35m 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
5
84 mi into trip | ~1h 35m 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

$13.31 one way

$26.61 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $14.61 $29.21
premium $4.56 $15.81 $31.63
diesel $5.61 $19.45 $38.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.4 0 $9.25 $4.23
Efficient EV 22 0 $7.71 $3.52
EV Truck/SUV 35.2 0 $12.33 $5.64

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fort Deposit, AL

Morning in Fort Deposit on Sunday

Local time

9:23 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Auburn, AL

Morning in Auburn on Sunday

Local time

9:23 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

2 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

1h 43m 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?

This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 93% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience the efficiency of I-85 and Interstate 65 for the bulk of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51 miles on I-85, allowing for a consistent pace. While it's primarily an interstate experience, you will transition to South College Street closer to your destination. Expect a practical and direct driving experience, designed for covering distance effectively rather than for leisurely sightseeing.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51 mi on I 85.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Interstate 65. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 32.4 miles in.

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 88.1 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 32.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 32.7 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

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 43m. Total distance: 88.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 51 miles on I 85. 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 Auburn, 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 32.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 32.7 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

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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