Traveling from Hackleburg to Birmingham covers a manageable 96.4-mile distance that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes behind the wheel. This straightforward journey within the Southeast region is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. With an estimated fuel cost of just $13, it is an economical route for a quick getaway or a business commute. You will primarily navigate via the Andrew Jackson Highway, I-22 East, and I-65 South to reach your destination. Because the duration is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule rather than rushing to beat daylight.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.8 miles from Hackleburg, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
78.7 mi
1h 24m
Andrew Jackson Highway
18.8 mi
24m
I 65
3.2 mi
3m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
19th Street North
0.3 mi
<1m
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Cedar Tree Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
24th Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 78.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hackleburg, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on AL 172
404 ft·14 sec·Cedar Tree Street
2
Turn left onto US 43; AL 17
19 mi·24 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-22 East: JasperUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 22; US 78
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 22; US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·38 sec
Toward I 65 South: BirminghamUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 65
3.2 mi·3 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 261AToward 17th Street North, DowntownUse the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi·22 sec·Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi·34 sec·19th Street North
10
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
11
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
12
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it best suits your itinerary without needing to plan for overnight stops. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route requires you to stay alert, especially during the initial portion before hitting the interstate system. Budgeting around $13 for fuel should be sufficient for the 96.4-mile trip, though it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Hackleburg to avoid any mid-trip stops. Because the route lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, use the transition onto I-22 East as your primary opportunity to settle into a steady cruising speed. Planning your departure to avoid peak Birmingham traffic will ensure your arrival remains stress-free.
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 51.8 miles from Hackleburg, AL, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.7 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.8 miles or 59m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hackleburg, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hackleburg, AL
This is one driving day of about 103.5 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Hackleburg, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 78.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 101.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 43; AL 17 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Turn left onto US 43; AL 17 / Andrew Jackson Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
18.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I-22 East: Jasper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-22 East: Jasper
5
19.2 mi into trip|~24m in|I 22; US 78
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
97.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
8
101.5 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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 straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 261A
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.63 one way
$31.26 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$17.16
$34.32
premium
$4.56
$18.58
$37.15
diesel
$5.61
$22.85
$45.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31
0
$10.87
$4.97
Efficient EV
25.9
0
$9.06
$4.14
EV Truck/SUV
41.4
0
$14.49
$6.62
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Hackleburg, AL
Morning
in Hackleburg on Tuesday
Local time
8:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Morning
in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
8:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Texas, AL
52 mi in
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
20 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 57m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 103.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate out of the smaller community of Hackleburg. While the route eventually transitions onto major arteries like I-22 East and I-65 South, the initial segments are characterized by frequent turns rather than long, straight highway stretches. In fact, there is no significant highway percentage on this trip, and you will find that the longest stretch on the Andrew Jackson Highway is 0 miles of uninterrupted road. This makes for a more engaging, hands-on driving experience compared to a monotonous interstate grind. Prepare for a dynamic transition from local roads to higher-speed corridors as you make your way toward the Birmingham area.
79% 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: 78.7 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and Andrew Jackson Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 43; AL 17 / Andrew Jackson Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 103.5 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 0.1 miles (US 43; AL 17 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 103.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.7 miles on I 22. 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 0.1 miles (US 43; AL 17 / Andrew Jackson Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles (I 22; US 78): 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.
