Origin
Hamilton, AL
Late night in Hamilton on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hamilton, AL to Brilliant, 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
27m
Distance
19.6 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamilton, AL
muaz semih güven
Brilliant, AL
Merlin Lightpainting
Trip Overview
This short 19.6-mile drive from Hamilton, AL to Brilliant, AL takes approximately 27 minutes, making it an easy day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $3, it's a budget-friendly option for a quick journey. The route is primarily highway-focused, with a significant portion on I 22. You'll be staying within the Southeast region and the state of Alabama for this entire trip. Given its brevity, this drive is perfect for a spontaneous outing or as a segment of a larger exploration of the area.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 22 | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Military Street South | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 44 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Old Hwy 129 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Bexar Avenue West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 8.8 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamilton, AL and Brilliant, AL.
1
Start on AL 74
21 ft
·
4 sec
·
Bexar Avenue West
2
Turn right onto US 43; US 278; AL 17
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Military Street South
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-22 East: Jasper
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 22; US 78
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 22; US 78
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 26
Toward 44: Brilliant, Guin
6
Keep slight left at fork
138 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 26
Toward AL 44 East: Brilliant
7
Turn left onto AL 44
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 44
8
Continue on Old Hwy 129
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Hwy 129
9
Continue on Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
Old Hwy 129
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 43; US 278; AL 17 / Military Street South
Turn right onto US 43; US 278; AL 17 / Military Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m 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
3
5.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 22; US 78
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
14.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward 44: Brilliant, Guin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 26
Toward 44: Brilliant, Guin
7
14.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AL 44 East: Brilliant
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 26
Toward AL 44 East: Brilliant
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.96 one way
$5.92 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $3.25 | $6.50 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.52 | $7.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.33 | $8.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Brilliant, AL
Late night in Brilliant on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
27m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 19.6-mile trip, with 69% of the route utilizing highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.8 miles on I 22, offering a consistent pace. You'll also navigate Military Street South and State Highway 44, which might introduce some variations in road type and speed. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, with the interstate providing a straightforward path between your start and end points.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.8 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and Military Street South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 43; US 278; AL 17 / Military Street South.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 27m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 43; US 278; AL 17 / Military Street South): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Hamilton, AL and Brilliant, AL, road signs point toward 44: Brilliant and Guin.
44: Brilliant
14.2 mi in
|
~18m
Guin
14.2 mi in
|
~18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 19.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.8 miles on I 22. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (US 43; US 278; AL 17 / Military Street South): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brilliant, 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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