Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 18m
Distance
196.9 mi
317 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mobile, AL
Wikimedia Commons
West Blocton, AL
Elizabeth Iris
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Mobile, AL and West Blocton, AL.
Start on Saint Louis Street
Turn left onto North Royal Street
Turn right onto Congress Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto North Water Street
Continue on US 90; US 98 Truck
Turn straight onto I 165; US 90; US 98 Truck
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 43
Turn straight onto AL 5
Continue on AL 5
Continue on AL 5
Continue on AL 5
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 5
Enter roundabout onto AL 5
Continue on AL 5
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto CR 24
Turn left onto Hickory Road
Turn left onto Azalea Lane
Turn right onto Hickory Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 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.
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 98.5 miles from Mobile, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before State Route 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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.
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward 430: Creola
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork toward 430: Creola
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Enter roundabout onto AL 5 / State Route 5
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$29.74 one way
$59.47 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $32.64 | $65.29 |
| premium | $4.56 | $35.34 | $70.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.47 | $86.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Mobile on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in West Blocton on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
78°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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Creola
430: Creola
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).
Weekend Trip
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.
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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