Origin
Phenix City, AL
Morning in Phenix City on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Phenix City, AL to Auburn, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
33.8 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Phenix City, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transition between Phenix City and Auburn, you can expect a straightforward 33.8-mile journey. This trip typically takes about 46 minutes to complete, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 280 and US 80, eventually transitioning onto East Glenn Avenue as you reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $5 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Alabama, the drive offers a familiar, consistent feel throughout the transit. It is a highly practical route for anyone needing to move efficiently between these two points without the complexity of a longer expedition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 25.7 mi | 30m |
| East Glenn Avenue | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| US 80 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Opelika Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 13th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Crawford Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 14th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Bent Creek Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 25.7 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phenix City, AL and Auburn, AL.
1
Start on Broad Street
8 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Turn right onto 13th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
13th Street
3
Continue on 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
14th Street
4
Continue on Crawford Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Crawford Road
5
Turn right onto Opelika Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Opelika Road
6
Turn right onto US 80; US 280; US 431
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 80; US 280; US 431
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 280; US 431
21 mi
·
24 min
·
US 280; US 431
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 280
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US 280
Toward I-85 South, US 29 South, US 280 West: Auburn, Montgomery
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Auburn, Opelika
10
Keep slight right at fork
285 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Auburn, Opelika
11
Turn straight onto Bent Creek Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Bent Creek Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto East Glenn Avenue
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Glenn Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto North Gay Street
367 ft
·
18 sec
·
North Gay Street
14
Turn left
285 ft
·
20 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Phenix City, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 30.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 80; US 280; US 431
Turn right onto US 80; US 280; US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
24.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
US 280
Take the exit onto US 280 toward I-85 South, US 29 South, US 280 West: Auburn, Montgomery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I-85 South, US 29 South, US 280 West: Au...
5
29.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Auburn, Opelika
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Auburn, Opelika
6
30 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Auburn, Opelika
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Auburn, Opelika
6
30.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
East Glenn Avenue
Turn left onto East Glenn Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.10 one way
$10.21 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $5.60 | $11.21 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.07 | $12.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.46 | $14.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.96 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Auburn, AL
Morning in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
6 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
46m 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 46-minute excursion is a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your effort on US 280, which serves as the backbone of the trip, including one longest uninterrupted stretch of 25.7 miles. The experience is largely defined by this high-speed highway segment, providing a consistent pace before the route transitions into local roads like East Glenn Avenue. Because the highway share is so high, you can anticipate a steady, predictable flow behind the wheel. The road maintains a functional character, favoring efficiency over technical curves or varied terrain, which keeps the driving experience simple and direct from start to finish.
81% 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: 25.7 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and East Glenn Avenue. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near US 80; US 280; US 431.
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 33.8 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 2.2 miles (US 80; US 280; US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Phenix City, AL and Auburn, AL, road signs point toward Montgomery and Opelika.
Montgomery
24.9 mi in
|
~32m
|
via US 280
Opelika
29.7 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Phenix City, AL
Full guide →Columbus is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland, near the Chattahoochee River and bordering Alabama. It is known for its Southern hospitality, unique attractions, and proximity to Fort Benning.
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 46m. Total distance: 33.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.7 miles on US 280. 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 Auburn, 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 2.2 miles (US 80; US 280; US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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