Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
70.4 mi
113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hartselle, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 70.4-mile drive from Hartselle, AL to Birmingham, AL is a quick one, clocking in at just about 1 hour and 20 minutes. It's an ideal day trip, perfect for a morning departure and arrival by lunchtime. You'll primarily be on I-65, making up 92% of the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, this is an economical option for getting between these two Southeast Alabama cities. The route feels like a direct connection, designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 64.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| Main Street West | 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 |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hartselle, AL and Birmingham, AL.
Start on AL 36
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Turn right onto 19th Street North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 24th Street North
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.2 miles from Hartselle, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 68.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$10.63 one way
$21.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.67 | $23.34 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.64 | $25.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.54 | $31.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.39 | $3.38 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.16 | $2.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hartselle on Tuesday
Local time
12:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
12:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip. With 92% of the route on major highways, you'll experience mostly high-speed travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 64.8 miles on I-65, offering a consistent pace. While the main roads include Main Street West and 5th Avenue North in addition to I-65, the character remains predominantly that of an interstate journey, designed for getting you to your destination with minimal fuss. It's a drive where the focus is on covering ground efficiently.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Main Street West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near I 65.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64 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.
Between Hartselle, AL and Birmingham, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale and Montgomery.
Fultondale
Montgomery
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 70.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). 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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