Origin
Margaret, AL
Late night in Margaret on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Margaret, AL to Hoover, 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
48m
Distance
36.6 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Margaret, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 36.6-mile drive from Margaret to Hoover, Alabama, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 48 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it ideal for a single-day excursion with no need for an overnight stop. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this route is quite budget-friendly. You'll primarily be on major roadways, so expect a fairly consistent driving experience throughout. Both Margaret and Hoover are located in the Southeast region of Alabama, so you'll remain within familiar territory for the entire trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 18.7 mi | 20m |
| I 59 | 9.9 mi | 10m |
| CR 6 | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| Montgomery Highway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| County Road 12 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Liles Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Braddock Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John M. Harbert III Freeway
— 18.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Margaret, AL and Hoover, AL.
1
Start on CR 12
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on CR 12
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 12
3
Continue on CR 6
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
CR 6
4
Turn left onto US 11
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto Liles Lane
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Liles Lane
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
7
Merge onto I 59
9.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 59
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 137
Toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on I 459
19 mi
·
20 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 13B
Toward US 31: Hoover, Pelham
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
516 ft
·
12 sec
Toward US 31 North: Hoover
Use the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto US 31
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Montgomery Highway
13
Turn left onto Braddock Drive
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Braddock Drive
14
Turn right onto Spruce Drive
436 ft
·
25 sec
·
Spruce Drive
15
Turn left onto Whispering Pines Circle
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Whispering Pines Circle
16
Arrive at destination
Whispering Pines Circle
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Margaret, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 34.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 11 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 11 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
5.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
Liles Lane
Turn right onto Liles Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
15.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 137
Toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
8
34.7 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward US 31: Hoover, Pelham
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 13B
Toward US 31: Hoover, Pelham
8
34.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 31 North: Hoover
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 31 North: Hoover
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.53 one way
$11.05 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.07 | $12.14 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.57 | $13.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.08 | $16.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.20 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Hoover, AL
Late night in Hoover on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph
5% 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
28 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
48m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 87% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 18.7 miles along the John M. Harbert III Freeway. You'll navigate on I-59 and CR 6, which generally offer smooth travel. The profile is a highway-focused drive, meaning it's designed for efficient travel rather than scenic detours. The road character remains largely consistent, prioritizing speed and directness from start to finish.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.7 mi on John M. Harbert III Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John M. Harbert III Freeway and I 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near US 11 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 36.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (US 11 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (Liles Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Margaret, AL and Hoover, AL, road signs point toward Montgomery and Pelham.
Montgomery
15.5 mi in
|
~22m
Pelham
34.7 mi in
|
~43m
About the Cities
Arriving in Hoover, AL
Full guide →Founded 1850
Hoover is a city in the Birmingham urban area in Metropolitan Alabama, south of central Birmingham. While most nearby attractions in the area are in the city of Birmingham, Hoover is an important shopping/retail area.
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 48m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.7 miles on John M. Harbert III Freeway. 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 Hoover, 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 4.7 miles (US 11 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (Liles Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hoover, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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