If you are planning a trip from Jacksonville to Birmingham, you are looking at a straightforward 75.2-mile journey through Alabama. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $12, the trip is as economical as it is efficient. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the transit. Because the travel time is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging, allowing you maximum flexibility with your schedule. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, this route provides a reliable connection between the two locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.6 miles from Jacksonville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
54.6 mi
59m
McClellan Boulevard
7 mi
10m
Public Square West
3.9 mi
5m
Quintard Avenue
3.9 mi
7m
1st Avenue North
3.9 mi
5m
Quintard Drive
1.1 mi
2m
24th Street North
0.3 mi
<1m
64th Street South
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 54.6 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on AL 21
3.9 mi·5 min·Public Square West
2
Continue on AL 21
7.0 mi·10 min·McClellan Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Continue on AL 21
3.9 mi·7 min·Quintard Avenue
4
Continue on AL 21
1.1 mi·2 min·Quintard Drive
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 20 West: BirminghamUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 20
55 mi·59 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 130BToward 1st Avenue SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on 64th Street South
0.1 mi·15 sec·64th Street South
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto US 11
3.9 mi·5 min·1st Avenue North
10
Turn right onto 24th Street North
0.3 mi·40 sec·24th Street North
11
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
Because this is a concise 1 hour and 32-minute drive, you have plenty of freedom to choose your departure time without fearing a long day on the road. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the trip in one go, though you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Jacksonville to ensure you stay within your $12 estimate. If you prefer to avoid heavy traffic, consider planning your departure to bypass peak commute hours on I-20. Take advantage of the route's simplicity by keeping your itinerary flexible; you won't need to stress over complex pacing or fatigue management. Keep your focus on the transitions between the local roads and the interstate, as these are the most active parts of your journey.
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 37.6 miles from Jacksonville, AL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.6 miles or 49m 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 18m
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 Jacksonville, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jacksonville, AL
This is one driving day of about 75.2 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Jacksonville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 54.6 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 74.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.9 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 West: Birmingham
5
16.1 mi into trip|~26m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
70.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward 1st Avenue South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 130B
Toward 1st Avenue South
3
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|64th Street South
Continue onto 64th Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|24th Street North
Turn right onto 24th Street North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.36 one way
$22.71 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.47
$24.93
premium
$4.56
$13.50
$27.00
diesel
$5.61
$16.60
$33.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.6
0
$7.90
$3.61
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.58
$3.01
EV Truck/SUV
30.1
0
$10.53
$4.81
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Jacksonville, AL
Late night
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Late night
in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Lincoln, AL
38 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
29 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 32m 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 75.2-mile trek is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 73% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate through local roads like McClellan Boulevard and Public Square West before transitioning to the interstate. The core of your journey features a significant 54.6-mile stretch on I-20, which serves as the backbone of your travel. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience as you move from the local street network onto the high-speed interstate lanes. The character of the drive shifts from the initial local navigation to a steady, rhythmic cruise once you merge onto the primary highway corridor.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and McClellan Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 32m 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: at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
907 ft482 ft
Total Climb
674 ft
Total Descent
781 ft
Highest Point
907 ft
~65.8 mi in
Elevation Range
424 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jacksonville, AL to Birmingham, AL, road signs begin pointing toward 1St Avenue South along the way.
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 54.6 miles on I 20. 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: at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Birmingham, AL before heading back.
