Jackson, AL to Birmingham, AL is 171.3 miles and takes about 3h 50m via State Route 5 and US 43, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience that's straightforward and efficient for getting from point A to point B. Given the relatively short duration, it's easily achievable as a single-day trip, making it a convenient option for a quick journey or a segment of a larger road trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.7 miles from Jackson, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 5
97.4 mi
2h 19m
US 43
32.1 mi
37m
Jefferson Davis Highway
4.3 mi
6m
Broad Street
3.8 mi
5m
AL 5
3 mi
4m
College Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
AL 69
0.5 mi
<1m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
State Route 5
— 97.4 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on Kimbell Avenue
58 ft·8 sec·Kimbell Avenue
2
Turn left onto AL 177
0.1 mi·10 sec·Commerce Street
3
Turn straight onto AL 177
0.8 mi·1 min·College Avenue
4
Turn slight left onto AL 69
0.5 mi·48 sec·AL 69
5
Turn left
340 ft·6 sec
6
Take the ramp
213 ft·5 sec
7
Merge onto US 43
32 mi·37 min·US 43
8
Turn straight onto AL 5
7.5 mi·11 min·State Route 5
9
Continue on AL 5
3.8 mi·5 min·Broad Street
10
Continue on AL 5
21 mi·31 min·State Route 5
11
Continue on AL 5
4.3 mi·6 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 5
50 mi·1 hr 10 min·State Route 5
13
Enter roundabout onto AL 5
115 ft·4 sec·State Route 5
14
Continue on AL 5
19 mi·26 min·State Route 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn slight right onto AL 5
3.0 mi·4 min·AL 5
16
Take the ramp
28 mi·30 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 124DToward 17th Street North, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi·22 sec·Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi·34 sec·19th Street North
20
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
21
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
22
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 4 hours, this trip is best suited for a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. You'll encounter one planned stop on this route, so plan for a single break to refuel or stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 97.4-mile stretch on State Route 5, as services might be less frequent than on interstates.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.7 miles from Jackson, AL, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.4 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.7 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
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 Jackson, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jackson, AL
This is one driving day of about 171.3 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Jackson, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on State Route 5 for about 97.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 170.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 177 / Commerce Street
Turn left onto AL 177 / Commerce Street
Navigation decision point
5
120.2 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|AL 5 / State Route 5
Enter roundabout onto AL 5 / State Route 5
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
169.6 mi into trip|~3h 46m 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 slight right lane.
Exit 124D
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
5
170.4 mi into trip|~3h 48m in|Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
170.6 mi into trip|~3h 48m in|19th Street North
Turn right onto 19th Street North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.87 one way
$51.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.40
$56.80
premium
$4.56
$30.75
$61.49
diesel
$5.61
$37.82
$75.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.4
0
$17.99
$8.22
Efficient EV
42.8
0
$14.99
$6.85
EV Truck/SUV
68.5
0
$23.98
$10.96
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 19, 2026
Origin
Jackson, AL
Morning
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Morning
in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Marion, AL
86 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
3 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
3h 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 78% of the journey on faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion on State Route 5, including one continuous stretch of 97.4 miles. The drive progresses along main roads like State Route 5, US 43, and Jefferson Davis Highway, offering a consistent and direct path. The character of the drive is focused on efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, making it predictable and easy to navigate.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.4 mi on State Route 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 5 and US 43. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AL 177 / Commerce Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 50m drive. You will face about 12 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 (AL 177 / Commerce Street): Navigation decision point; at 120.2 miles (AL 5 / State Route 5): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 169.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 97.4 miles on State Route 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AL 177 / Commerce Street): Navigation decision point; at 120.2 miles (AL 5 / State Route 5): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 169.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Birmingham, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
