Mobile, AL to West Blocton, AL is 196.9 miles and takes about 4h 18m via State Route 5, US 43, and I 65, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It’s a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day journey. You'll be covering a good portion of the state, so be prepared for a solid drive without too many detours.
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
98.5 miles from Mobile, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 5
89.9 mi
2h 9m
US 43
82.3 mi
1h 34m
I 65
9.2 mi
10m
I 165
4.5 mi
5m
Jefferson Davis Highway
4.3 mi
6m
Broad Street
3.8 mi
5m
Cahaba River Drive
0.8 mi
2m
North Royal Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
State Route 5
— 89.9 mi, about 2h 9m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,234 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,504
Quietest
1 AM
~115 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mobile, AL and West Blocton, 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 1BToward I 65: Montgomery
9
Merge onto I 65
9.2 mi·10 min·I 65
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward 430: Creola
12
Keep slight left at fork
124 ft·3 sec
Toward 430: Creola
13
Merge onto US 43
82 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 43
14
Turn straight onto AL 5
7.5 mi·11 min·State Route 5
15
Continue on AL 5
3.8 mi·5 min·Broad Street
16
Continue on AL 5
21 mi·31 min·State Route 5
17
Continue on AL 5
4.3 mi·6 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 5
50 mi·1 hr 10 min·State Route 5
19
Enter roundabout onto AL 5
115 ft·4 sec·State Route 5
20
Continue on AL 5
11 mi·15 min·State Route 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn slight right
151 ft·5 sec
22
Turn straight onto CR 24
0.8 mi·2 min·Cahaba River Drive
23
Turn left onto Hickory Road
399 ft·22 sec·Hickory Road
24
Turn left onto Azalea Lane
27 ft·2 sec·Azalea Lane
25
Turn right onto Hickory Road
0.1 mi·26 sec·Hickory Road
26
Arrive at destination
Hickory Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 18m duration and 196.9-mile distance, starting early in the morning is your best bet to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longest stretch of 89.9 miles on State Route 5, as services might be less frequent. The relatively short duration means you have flexibility, but it's still wise to have a plan for fuel and rest.
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 98.5 miles from Mobile, AL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 43 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.5 miles or 1h 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 3h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Blocton, 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 196.9 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 State Route 5 for about 89.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.1 and 184.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
5
14.9 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
5
15 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 430: Creola
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward 430: Creola
5
15.6 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 430: Creola
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward 430: Creola
5
184.5 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|AL 5 / State Route 5
Enter roundabout onto AL 5 / State Route 5
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.33 one way
$54.67 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$30.58
$61.16
premium
$4.29
$33.25
$66.50
diesel
$4.80
$37.18
$74.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.1
0
$20.67
$9.45
Efficient EV
49.2
0
$17.23
$7.88
EV Truck/SUV
78.8
0
$27.57
$12.60
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Mobile, AL
Morning
in Mobile on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Destination
West Blocton, AL
Morning
in West Blocton on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
0 mph25% chanceLive forecast
89°F
Thomasville, AL
98 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
4h 18m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 94% of the route utilizing major roads. Expect long stretches of consistent driving, including one segment of 89.9 miles primarily on State Route 5. The profile suggests a consistent pace, likely with limited complex intersections or winding local roads. You'll experience a steady progression through the landscape with minimal interruptions, making it ideal for focusing on the journey.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on State Route 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 5 and US 43. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 196.9 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
496 ft8 ft
Total Climb
881 ft
Total Descent
393 ft
Highest Point
496 ft
~196.9 mi in
Elevation Range
488 ft
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 West Blocton, AL, road signs point toward 430: Satsuma, Creola and 430: Creola.
430: Satsuma
14.9 mi in|~17m
Creola
14.9 mi in|~17m
430: Creola
15 mi in|~18m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Knucklebones Elixir Co.
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Mobile, AL
Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-15:00; Su of...
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.
Top landmarks
•USS Alabama — 1942 South Dakota-class battleship
•USS Drum — 1941 Gato-class submarine
•Battleship Memorial Park — park in Mobile, Alabama, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 196.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on State Route 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
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 West Blocton, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at West Blocton, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
