Origin
Montgomery, AL
Afternoon in Montgomery on Tuesday
Local time
12:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montgomery, AL to Auburn, 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
1h 3m
Distance
54.3 mi
87 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Montgomery, AL to Auburn, AL is 54.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via I-85, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within the Southeast region, specifically Alabama, making it a straightforward local trip. It's a quick drive, primarily on the interstate, perfect for a day trip or an easy transition between these two cities. You'll find the road character is largely highway-focused, so expect consistent speeds and minimal traffic delays. This route offers a practical connection rather than an extensive scenic tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 49.7 mi | 54m |
| South College Street | 4.1 mi | 8m |
| South Union Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 49.7 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montgomery, AL and Auburn, AL.
1
Start on South Union Street
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Union Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
3
Merge onto I 85
50 mi
·
54 min
·
I 85
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 29: Auburn
5
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
11 sec
Toward AL 147 North: Auburn
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto US 29
4.1 mi
·
8 min
·
South College Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right
291 ft
·
21 sec
8
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Montgomery, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 50.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I-85 North: Atlanta
Navigation decision point
Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
49.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 29: Auburn
8
50.1 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AL 147 North: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AL 147 North: Auburn
5
50.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
US 29 / South College Street
Turn left onto US 29 / South College Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.20 one way
$16.40 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.00 | $18.00 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.75 | $19.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Auburn, AL
Afternoon in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
12:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 5 mph
0% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 3m 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?
This route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 92% of the drive utilizing major highways. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-85, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 49.7 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience with high speeds and efficient travel for most of the journey. The transition from South Union Street in Montgomery to South College Street in Auburn will feel like a seamless continuation of interstate travel rather than a significant change in road type. This makes for a predictable and quick trip.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.7 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and South College Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 3m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Montgomery, AL
Full guide →Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, in the River Heritage region of the state. Montgomery has also been recognized nationally for its downtown revitalization and new urbanism projects.
Arriving in Auburn, AL
Full guide →Auburn is in the River Heritage region of Alabama, and home to Auburn University in downtown Auburn. During the university's home football games, the town fills up with thousands of alumni and college football fans for a weekend of tailgating.
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 1h 3m. Total distance: 54.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.7 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Auburn, 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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