Macon County Rest Area South Bound
0 mi from route
Trip from Opelika, AL to Selma, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
110.7 mi
178 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Opelika, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Selma, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Trip Overview
The drive from Opelika, AL to Selma, AL covers 110.7 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 85, US 80, I 65 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.8 miles on I 85. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.4 miles from Opelika, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 60.8 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 80 | 44.6 mi | 54m |
| I 65 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Geneva Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South 10th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Avenue C | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Alabama Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 9th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 60.8 mi, about 1h 6m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,128 veh/hr typical · worst 3,842
Quietest
2 AM
~272 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Opelika, AL and Selma, AL.
1
Start on South 9th Street
376 ft
·
18 sec
·
South 9th Street
2
Turn right onto Avenue C
462 ft
·
25 sec
·
Avenue C
3
Turn left onto South 10th Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
South 10th Street
4
Continue on Geneva Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Geneva Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 280
61 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 85; US 29; US 280
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
I 85
Toward I 65 South: Mobile, Day Street
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I-65 South: Mobile
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
this road
Exit 171
Toward I 65 South: Mobile
10
Merge onto I 65; US 82
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 65; US 82
11
Take the exit onto US 80
45 mi
·
54 min
·
US 80
Exit 167
Toward Selma
12
Turn left onto Alabama Avenue
397 ft
·
10 sec
·
Alabama Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Alabama Avenue
Trip Plan
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 55.4 miles from Opelika, AL, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.8 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.4 miles or 1h 2m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Selma, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Opelika, 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 Opelika, AL
This is one driving day of about 110.7 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Opelika, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 60.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.4 miles from Opelika, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 85 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Macon County Rest Area North Bound
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 62 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Avenue C
Turn right onto Avenue C
Navigation decision point
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 85; US 29; US 280
Merge onto I 85; US 29; US 280
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
I 85
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 toward I 65 South: Mobile, Day Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 65 South: Mobile, Day Street
6
62 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-65 South: Mobile
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-65 South: Mobile
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.22 one way
$32.43 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $18.00 | $36.01 |
| premium | $4.49 | $19.55 | $39.10 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $24.40 | $48.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.62 | $5.31 |
| Efficient EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.3 | 0 | $15.50 | $7.08 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Origin
Opelika, AL
Night in Opelika on Saturday
Local time
11:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Selma, AL
Night in Selma on Saturday
Local time
11:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 8m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
110.7 mi in 2h 8m, mostly highway — 60.8 mi of that is on I 85.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.8 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and US 80. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Avenue C.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 110.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (Avenue C): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (I 85; US 29; US 280): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
805 ft
138 ft
Total Climb
244 ft
Total Descent
911 ft
Highest Point
805 ft
Elevation Range
667 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Opelika, AL
Full guide →Founded 1854
Top landmarks
- • G.W. Andrews Federal Building — government building in Opelika, Alabama
- • Lee County Courthouse — courthouse in Alabama, United States
- • Geneva Street Historic District — historic district in Opelika, Alabama, USA
Arriving in Selma, AL
Full guide →Selma is a city in Alabama. Selma has the distinction of being a notable place in the pages of history, for its role in the Civil War and doubly-so for its role in the Civil Rights Movement. Though a bit forgotten and depressed today, during the Confederacy it was second only to Richmond in providing critical munitions from an armory, and thus was a target of Union forces, which, through stealth and sacrifice, took the city in the final month of the Civil War, and set General Nathan Bedford Forrest on the run, though this guy managed to live to a ripe old age anyway. This was known as the Battle of Selma. White segregationists weren't about to have equal rights and treatment after the Civil War dust had settled though, and they put a stranglehold on any such idea in Selma with an unduly heavy hand.
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 2h 8m. Total distance: 110.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.8 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Selma, 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. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Avenue C): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (I 85; US 29; US 280): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Selma, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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