Origin
Mobile, AL
Late night in Mobile on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mobile, AL to Pell City, 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
5h 7m
Distance
263.3 mi
424 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 54m
★
6 AM
5h 7m
8 AM
5h 34m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 14m
3 PM
5h 18m
5 PM
5h 33m
8 PM
4h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mobile, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Pell City, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Mobile, AL to Pell City, AL is 263.3 miles and takes about 5h 7m via I 65 and US 231, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily takes place within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to the same. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's well-suited for a single-day trip. The route is efficient, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours. Consider this a reliable option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Alabama cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
131.6 miles from Mobile, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 201.6 mi | 3h 37m |
| AL 145 | 23.3 mi | 32m |
| US 231 | 15.6 mi | 23m |
| AL 25 | 13.8 mi | 20m |
| I 165 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Cogswell Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Royal Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 201.6 mi, about 3h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mobile, AL and Pell City, AL.
1
Start on Saint Louis Street
389 ft
·
22 sec
·
Saint Louis Street
2
Turn left onto North Royal Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Royal Street
3
Turn right onto Congress Street
260 ft
·
11 sec
·
Congress Street
4
Take the ramp
411 ft
·
12 sec
5
Merge onto North Water Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Water Street
6
Continue on US 90; US 98 Truck
482 ft
·
11 sec
·
Telegraph Road
7
Turn straight onto I 165; US 90; US 98 Truck
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 165; US 90; US 98 Truck
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 65: Montgomery
9
Merge onto I 65
202 mi
·
3 hr 37 min
·
I 65
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 212
Toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
11
Turn right onto AL 145
23 mi
·
32 min
·
AL 145
12
Continue on CR 61
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
13
Turn right onto AL 25
14 mi
·
20 min
·
AL 25
14
Continue on US 231
16 mi
·
23 min
·
US 231
15
Turn left onto 231 Circle
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
231 Circle
16
Turn slight right onto US 78
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cogswell Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
US 78
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting your drive in Mobile, AL early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a highway-focused profile, you can cover significant ground quickly. The longest stretch on I 65 is over 200 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, as options might be more spaced out during that segment. Your fuel cost is estimated around $40, so ensure your tank is full before departing. This is a trip that can comfortably be completed in one day, offering flexibility for when you choose to depart.
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 131.6 miles from Mobile, AL, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 201.6 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.6 miles or 2h 23m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pell City, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mobile, 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 Mobile, AL
This is one driving day of about 263.3 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Mobile, 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 I 65 for about 201.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 131.6 miles from Mobile, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 201.6 miles.
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 0.1 and 207.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Royal Street
Turn left onto North Royal Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Congress Street
Turn right onto Congress Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
5.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 65: Montgomery
6
207.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 212
Toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.76 one way
$79.53 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $43.65 | $87.30 |
| premium | $4.56 | $47.26 | $94.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.13 | $116.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79 | 0 | $27.65 | $12.64 |
| Efficient EV | 65.8 | 0 | $23.04 | $10.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.3 | 1 | $36.86 | $16.85 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Pell City, AL
Late night in Pell City on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 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
5h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 263.3
View on nps.gov
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 245.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 65, encountering a significant uninterrupted stretch of 201.6 miles. While the majority of the drive is on interstates like I 65, you'll also transition to US 231 and AL 145. This means you'll experience consistent travel speeds for extended periods, punctuated by changes in highway numbers. The character is efficient and direct, prioritizing forward momentum.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 201.6 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and AL 145. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Royal Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Royal Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Congress Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 Mobile, AL and Pell City, AL, road signs point toward 145: Clanton and Lay Dam.
145: Clanton
207.3 mi in
|
~3h 45m
Lay Dam
207.3 mi in
|
~3h 45m
About the Cities
Starting in Mobile, AL
Full guide →For issues specific to mobile phones and smartphone usage, see Mobile phones. Mobile is a city in the state of Alabama in the South of the United States of America with almost a half million people in the metro area. Mobile is a historic, diverse port city with a strong southern culture and heritage. The original capital of French Louisiana, Mobile is home to the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.
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 5h 7m. Total distance: 263.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 201.6 miles on I 65. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Royal Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Congress Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument and Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pell City, AL before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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