Origin
Oxford, AL
Late night in Oxford on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oxford, AL to Alabaster, 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 26m
Distance
76.5 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oxford, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Alabaster, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Oxford to Alabaster, you are looking at a straightforward 76.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 26 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it connects two points within the Southeast region of Alabama without requiring an overnight stay. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $12, it is a budget-friendly option for commuters or casual travelers. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates, making this a highly efficient way to traverse this part of the state. Because the trip is relatively short and direct, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 47.8 mi | 51m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 12.8 mi | 13m |
| I 65 | 10.9 mi | 11m |
| 1st Street South | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Quintard Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Snow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 47.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oxford, AL and Alabaster, AL.
1
Start on Snow Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Snow Street
2
Turn right onto AL 21
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Quintard Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 20 West: Birmingham
Use the slight right lane.
4
Merge onto I 20
48 mi
·
51 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 136
Toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 459 South: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
7
Merge onto I 459
13 mi
·
13 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 65
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 65
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw
12
Turn right onto US 31
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
13
Turn left
177 ft
·
18 sec
14
Turn right
97 ft
·
7 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.2 miles from Oxford, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 63.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 West: Birmingham
8
49.1 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
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 136
Toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
6
49.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 459 South: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 459 South: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
8
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
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 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
7
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.55 one way
$23.11 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.68 | $25.37 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.73 | $27.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.89 | $33.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23 | 0 | $8.03 | $3.67 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.69 | $3.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.71 | $4.90 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Alabaster, AL
Late night in Alabaster on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 26m 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?
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 94% of this drive takes place on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of I-20, the John M. Harbert III Freeway, and I-65 to reach your destination. The most significant portion of the drive is a 47.8-mile stretch on I-20, which serves as the backbone of your trip before you transition toward the I-65 corridor. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for a consistent interstate pace rather than winding backroads. The transition between these major freeways defines the character of the journey, moving you steadily across the region with minimal local road navigation.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.8 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
755 ft
433 ft
Total Climb
405 ft
Total Descent
577 ft
Highest Point
755 ft
~38.2 mi in
Elevation Range
322 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oxford, AL and Alabaster, AL, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Montgomery.
Tuscaloosa
49.1 mi in
|
~54m
Gadsden
49.1 mi in
|
~54m
Montgomery
63.1 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 76.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.8 miles on I 20. 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 Alabaster, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument and 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 Alabaster, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Alabaster, AL
More trips to Alabaster, AL
Explore more options from Oxford, AL or browse trips ending in Alabaster, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.