Montgomery to Collinsville is 167 miles and takes about 3 hours and 4 minutes via I-65 and I-59, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within Alabama, moving you from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on major interstates, making it a practical choice for a quick trip. The relatively short distance and estimated duration suggest this route is well-suited for a single day of travel. It's a functional path that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.5 miles from Montgomery, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
78.2 mi
1h 24m
I 59
67.3 mi
1h 12m
John M. Harbert III Freeway
17.1 mi
18m
AL 68
1.2 mi
2m
East South Street
0.5 mi
1m
I 85
0.4 mi
<1m
West Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Union Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 78.2 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montgomery, AL and Collinsville, AL.
1
Start on South Union Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Union Street
2
Turn left onto East South Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East South Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
4
Merge onto I 85
0.4 mi·34 sec·I 85
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
6
Merge onto I 65; US 82
78 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 65; US 82
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 250Toward I 459: Atlanta, Gadsden, TuscaloosaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 459 North: Atlanta, GadsdenUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 459
17 mi·18 min·John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 33BToward I 59 North: GadsdenUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·15 sec·this road
Exit 33AToward I-59 North: Gadsden
12
Merge onto I 59
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 205Toward 68: Collinsville, Crossville
14
Turn right onto AL 68
1.2 mi·2 min·AL 68
15
Continue on West Main Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·West Main Street
16
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
73 ft·3 sec·1st Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
1st Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day trip of just over 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Montgomery in the morning allows you to arrive in Collinsville with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated at $25, be sure to top off your tank before leaving Montgomery, as the longest stretch without a major exit is 78.2 miles on I-65. While you'll only encounter one designated stop on this route data, plan for potential rest breaks as needed, especially if traffic is heavier than anticipated.
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 83.5 miles from Montgomery, AL, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.2 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 37 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Collinsville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Montgomery, 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 Montgomery, AL
This is one driving day of about 167 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Montgomery, 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 78.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 165.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East South Street
Turn left onto East South Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
79.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 459: Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250
Toward I 459: Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa
8
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 459 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 459 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
8
97.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33B
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
6
165.5 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward 68: Collinsville, Crossville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 205
Toward 68: Collinsville, Crossville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.22 one way
$50.44 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.69
$55.37
premium
$4.56
$29.97
$59.95
diesel
$5.61
$36.87
$73.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.61
$6.68
EV Truck/SUV
66.8
0
$23.38
$10.69
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Montgomery, AL
Late night
in Montgomery on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Collinsville, AL
Late night
in Collinsville on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Hoover, AL
84 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
30 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
3h 4m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 86.4
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 138.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-65 and I-59, including John M. Harbert III Freeway. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 78.2 miles on I-65. The character of the drive is largely consistent, offering a smooth, high-speed experience for most of the journey. While primarily interstate, this profile means you'll be navigating faster traffic and fewer opportunities for spontaneous roadside exploration.
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: 78.2 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East South Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 167 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Montgomery, AL and Collinsville, AL, road signs point toward Gadsden and Tuscaloosa.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 167 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.2 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.
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 Collinsville, 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. 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 (East South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Collinsville, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
