This straightforward 76.2-mile drive from Marion to Birmingham, Alabama, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 40 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on State Route 5, also known as AL 5, and Martin Luther King Parkway. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical journey. The route is largely highway-focused, offering a consistent pace for most of the drive. Since it's a relatively short distance within the Southeast region, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Marion, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 5
42.3 mi
58m
AL 5
3 mi
4m
Martin Luther King Parkway
1.5 mi
3m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
19th Street North
0.3 mi
<1m
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Jefferson Street
0.1 mi
<1m
24th Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
State Route 5
— 42.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marion, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Jefferson Street
2
Continue on AL 14
1.5 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King Parkway
3
Turn left onto AL 5
23 mi·32 min·State Route 5
4
Enter roundabout onto AL 5
115 ft·4 sec·State Route 5
5
Continue on AL 5
19 mi·26 min·State Route 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn slight right onto AL 5
3.0 mi·4 min·AL 5
7
Take the ramp
28 mi·30 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 124DToward 17th Street North, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi·22 sec·Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi·34 sec·19th Street North
11
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
12
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
13
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
For this short, 76.2-mile trip, you have the advantage of flexibility. Leaving Marion, AL, in the morning will likely mean less traffic as you approach Birmingham. With a driving time of around 1 hour and 40 minutes, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always wise, especially since the longest stretch on AL 5 is over 42 miles. A quick fuel stop before departing Marion or upon entering the Birmingham area should suffice, given the estimated $12 fuel cost. Stay alert for the transition onto Martin Luther King Parkway as you near your destination.
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 38.1 miles from Marion, AL, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.3 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 54m 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 26m
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 Marion, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marion, AL
This is one driving day of about 76.2 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Marion, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Route 5 for about 42.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 25 and 75.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
25 mi into trip|~35m in|AL 5 / State Route 5
Enter roundabout onto AL 5 / State Route 5
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
46.9 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
75.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
75.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|19th Street North
Turn right onto 19th Street North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.51 one way
$23.02 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.63
$25.27
premium
$4.56
$13.68
$27.35
diesel
$5.61
$16.82
$33.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.9
0
$8.00
$3.66
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.67
$3.05
EV Truck/SUV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Marion, AL
Late night
in Marion on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Late night
in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Woodstock, 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
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 40m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 76.2-mile journey, with 61% of it utilizing main roads like State Route 5 and Martin Luther King Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 42.3 miles, primarily on State Route 5. This section offers a steady pace, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. While the profile suggests a consistent highway feel, be mindful that transitions between different road designations can occur, so staying aware of signage is key. The drive's character remains largely consistent, prioritizing direct travel.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.3 mi on State Route 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 5 and AL 5. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 25 miles in near AL 5 / State Route 5.
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 40m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25 miles (AL 5 / State Route 5): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 46.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 74.5 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 42.3 miles on State Route 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 25 miles (AL 5 / State Route 5): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 46.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 74.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
