Spanning 88.7 miles through Southeast Alabama, this route from Headland to Phenix City takes approximately 1 hour and 32 minutes to complete. Because the entire journey is well within the capacity of a single day, you can easily handle this as a straightforward day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $14 for fuel to cover the distance, making this a very affordable excursion. Since both your start and end points are located within the same Southeast region, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that relies on local roads rather than major interstates, perfect for travelers who prefer a steady pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.3 miles from Headland, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Eufaula Avenue
42.5 mi
51m
US 431
40.5 mi
50m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway South
2.9 mi
3m
Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Martin Luther King Jr Parkway North
0.7 mi
1m
Broad Street
0.5 mi
<1m
General Colin Powell Parkway
0.1 mi
<1m
East Church Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North Eufaula Avenue
— 42.5 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Headland, AL and Phenix City, AL.
1
Start on East Church Street
243 ft·9 sec·East Church Street
2
Turn right onto AL 134
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 431
20 mi·23 min·US 431
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 431
2.2 mi·2 min·US 431
5
Continue on US 431
3.6 mi·4 min·US 431
6
Continue on US 431
2.6 mi·2 min·US 431
7
Continue on US 431
12 mi·17 min·US 431
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 82; US 431
43 mi·51 min·North Eufaula Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on US 431
2.9 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway South
10
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Parkway North
0.7 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Jr Parkway North
11
Turn straight onto General Colin Powell Parkway
0.1 mi·11 sec·General Colin Powell Parkway
12
Continue on Broad Street
0.5 mi·50 sec·Broad Street
13
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best without worrying about strict timing. Because there are no scheduled stops along the way, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Headland to avoid any mid-trip interruptions. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of this route means you should stay alert at intersections and follow your navigation closely. A great way to manage this 1 hour and 32-minute drive is to treat it as a continuous stretch, as the lack of designated stops encourages a steady, uninterrupted flow. Prioritize comfort and hydration before you head out, as you will be behind the wheel for the duration of the 88.7-mile trek.
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 44.3 miles from Headland, AL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.5 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.3 miles or 55m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Phenix City, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Headland, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Headland, AL
This is one driving day of about 88.5 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Headland, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Eufaula Avenue for about 42.5 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
2 of 2
2 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 1.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 134 / Main Street
Turn right onto AL 134 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|US 431
Turn left onto US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.37 one way
$26.73 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.67
$29.34
premium
$4.56
$15.88
$31.77
diesel
$5.61
$19.54
$39.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.6
0
$9.29
$4.25
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
EV Truck/SUV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Headland, AL
Afternoon
in Headland on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Phenix City, AL
Afternoon
in Phenix City on Sunday
Local time
1:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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 50m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience as you navigate away from the interstate system entirely. With a highway share of 0%, this route relies on a series of local connectors, including Main Street, North Eufaula Avenue, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway South. You will find that the road demands your full attention, as there are no long, monotonous stretches of highway to zone out on. The character of the drive is defined by its winding, local nature rather than high-speed transit. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that requires you to stay engaged with the road layout from start to finish.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.5 mi on North Eufaula Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AL 134 / Main Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Headland, AL to Phenix City, AL is easy. At 1h 50m with 50% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AL 134 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here.
Columbus is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland, near the Chattahoochee River and bordering Alabama. It is known for its Southern hospitality, unique attractions, and proximity to Fort Benning.
The longest stretch is about 42.5 miles on North Eufaula Avenue. 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 (AL 134 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Phenix City, AL before heading back.
