Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fultondale, AL
Tomás Asurmendi
This quick 16-mile drive from Fultondale, AL to Hoover, AL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 23 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $2, it's an economical option for local travel within the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes major roadways, making it a straightforward journey. Given its short distance and short duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays; it's perfect for a quick transit between these two Alabama locales. The focus is on efficient travel rather than extended sightseeing.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Decatur Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Whaley Road | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Montgomery Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Deo Dara Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Old Columbiana Road | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Whispering Pines Circle | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fultondale, AL and Hoover, AL.
Start on Whaley Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 31
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 31
Turn right onto Old Columbiana Road
At end of road, turn left onto Old Columbiana Road
Turn right onto Deo Dara Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Whispering Pines Circle
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 16 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto US 31 / Decatur Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 31, AL 3
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn left onto Whispering Pines Circle
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Regular Gas
$2.42 one way
$4.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.65 | $5.31 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.53 | $7.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fultondale on Sunday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Hoover on Sunday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this trip, with 78% of the drive taking place on major roads like I-65 and Decatur Highway. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.4 miles on I-65, offering a consistent pace. While much of the route is on faster roads, there are transitions to local roads like Whaley Road, which might offer a slight change in scenery and speed. This drive is characterized by its efficiency and directness, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Decatur Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 31 / Decatur Highway.
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 16 miles you will encounter 10 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 31 / Decatur Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fultondale, AL to Hoover, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Montgomery along the way.
Montgomery
Hoover is a city in the Birmingham urban area in Metropolitan Alabama, south of central Birmingham. While most nearby attractions in the area are in the city of Birmingham, Hoover is an important shopping/retail area.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 16 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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