This 117.1-mile drive from New Market to Birmingham, Alabama, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with an estimated fuel cost of $18. The route is primarily focused on efficient travel, making it a straightforward journey through the Southeast region. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed. This drive is ideal for those prioritizing directness over extensive sightseeing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.5 miles from New Market, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
77.3 mi
1h 23m
US 72
23.1 mi
25m
Winchester Road
10.6 mi
16m
Moores Mill Road
1.6 mi
2m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
19th Street North
0.3 mi
<1m
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
24th Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 77.3 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Market, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on CH 65
11 mi·16 min·Winchester Road
2
Turn left onto Moores Mill Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Moores Mill Road
3
Take the ramp
417 ft·11 sec
4
Merge onto US 72
23 mi·25 min·US 72
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1Toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 1Toward I 65 South: BirminghamUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 65
74 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 265Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, FultondaleUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 65
3.6 mi·4 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 261AToward 17th Street North, DowntownUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi·22 sec·Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi·34 sec·19th Street North
15
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
16
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
17
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, 2-hour and 15-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning allows for a relaxed arrival in Birmingham. Since the longest stretch is over 77 miles on I 65, plan for a fuel stop before you begin or be aware of upcoming exits. While there are no mandated stops, consider a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The flexibility of this route means you can adapt your departure time based on traffic or personal preference.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.5 miles from New Market, AL, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.3 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.5 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Market, 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 New Market, AL
This is one driving day of about 117.1 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from New Market, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 77.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.6 and 115.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
35.6 mi into trip|~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
8
110.1 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
111.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
8
115.1 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 261A
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.68 one way
$35.37 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.41
$38.83
premium
$4.56
$21.02
$42.04
diesel
$5.61
$25.85
$51.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.1
0
$12.30
$5.62
Efficient EV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
EV Truck/SUV
46.8
0
$16.39
$7.49
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
New Market, AL
Morning
in New Market on Sunday
Local time
9:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Morning
in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
9:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
27 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
2h 15m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 117.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Get ready for a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey on high-speed roads. The longest stretch you'll encounter is a solid 77.3 miles on I 65, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. While the majority is interstate, you'll also navigate segments on US 72 and Winchester Road, providing some variation. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently, with minimal slowdowns.
86% 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: 77.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 14 significant decision points across 117.1 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 35.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Market, AL and Birmingham, AL, road signs point toward Nashville, Fultondale and Montgomery.
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama, and its cultural and economic nucleus. While it's best remembered as the site of protest, bombings, and other racial tumult during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, visitors to the Birmingham of today will find a pleasant green city of ridges, valleys, attractive views, and friendly, hospitable people.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 117.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.3 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Birmingham, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Birmingham, AL before heading back.
