Origin
Hayden, AL
Late night in Hayden on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hayden, AL to Birmingham, 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
40m
Distance
30.7 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hayden, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hayden to Birmingham is 30.7 miles and takes about 40m via I 65 and AL 160, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a mostly highway experience, making it a simple and efficient transit. Given its short distance and minimal fuel cost, this trip is ideal for a quick journey, allowing for flexibility in departure and arrival times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 21.7 mi | 23m |
| AL 160 | 5 mi | 8m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 31 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 21.7 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hayden, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on 4th Avenue
36 ft
·
2 sec
·
4th Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 7
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
3rd Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto AL 160
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
AL 160
4
Enter roundabout onto US 31
199 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 31
5
Continue on US 31
254 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 31
6
Enter roundabout onto US 31
223 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 31
7
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
US 31
8
Enter roundabout
250 ft
·
4 sec
9
Continue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
10
Merge onto I 65
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 65
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 261A
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
19th Street North
18
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
5th Avenue North
19
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
24th Street North
20
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 28.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 31
Enter roundabout onto US 31
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
23.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
24.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
24.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
8
28.7 mi into trip
|
~35m 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
$4.64 one way
$9.27 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $5.09 | $10.18 |
| premium | $4.56 | $5.51 | $11.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Birmingham, AL
Late night in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph
12% chance
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
29 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
40m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the journey on interstate and major roads. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch for 21.7 miles on I 65, offering a consistent pace. The drive transitions from AL 160 to I 65, and finally to 5th Avenue North as you approach Birmingham. It's a practical path designed for direct travel rather than scenic exploration.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.7 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and AL 160. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near US 31.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 30.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles (US 31): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Hayden, AL and Birmingham, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery, 17Th Street North and Downtown.
Fultondale
23.7 mi in
|
~29m
Montgomery
24.8 mi in
|
~31m
17Th Street North
28.7 mi in
|
~35m
Downtown
28.7 mi in
|
~35m
About the Cities
Arriving in Birmingham, AL
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 30.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.7 miles on I 65. 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 5.2 miles (US 31): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Birmingham, AL
More from Hayden, AL
More trips to Birmingham, AL
Explore more options from Hayden, AL or browse trips ending in Birmingham, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.