Trip from Prichard, 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

4h 2m

Distance

218.6 mi

352 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 50m ★

6 AM

4h 3m

8 AM

4h 29m

10 AM

4h 12m

12 PM

4h 9m

3 PM

4h 13m

5 PM

4h 27m

8 PM

3h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Prichard, AL

Ludovic Delot

Auburn, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 218.6-mile journey from Prichard, AL, to Auburn, AL, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in about 4 hours and 2 minutes. With 97% of the trip on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $33, so you can budget accordingly. This route stays within the Southeast region, primarily traversing Alabama on major interstates before reaching your destination. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

109.3 miles from Prichard, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 65	160.9 mi	2h 53m
I 85	51 mi	55m
South College Street	4.1 mi	8m
I 165	0.6 mi	<1m
North Wilson Avenue	0.1 mi	<1m
East Azan Street	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 65 — 160.9 mi, about 2h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Prichard, AL and Auburn, AL.

Start on East Azan Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · East Azan Street

Turn left onto North Wilson Avenue

0.1 mi · 18 sec · North Wilson Avenue

Turn right

0.4 mi · 50 sec

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Merge onto I 165

0.6 mi · 40 sec · I 165

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 33 sec

Exit 1B Toward I 65: Montgomery

Merge onto I 65

161 mi · 2 hr 53 min · I 65

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 171 Toward I-85 North: Atlanta

Merge onto I 85

51 mi · 55 min · I 85

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward US 29: Auburn

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 11 sec

Toward AL 147 North: Auburn Use the left lane.

Turn left onto US 29

4.1 mi · 8 min · South College Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right

291 ft · 21 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour duration, this trip is best tackled as a single-day excursion. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a comfortable arrival. You'll have one primary stretch of 160.9 miles on I-65, so plan for a mid-drive break before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you get closer to Auburn, though the estimated $33 fuel cost indicates it's not an overly expensive trip. Flexibility is key on a drive this length, so feel free to adjust your timing as needed.

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 109.3 miles from Prichard, AL, or about 1h 59m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.9 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 48 miles or 52m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 109.3 miles or 1h 59m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, AL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Prichard, 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 Prichard, AL

This is one driving day of about 218.6 miles and 4h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Prichard, 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 160.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montgomery, AL

109 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.

Popular next leg

Montgomery, AL to Auburn, AL

54.3 mi · 1h 3m

Pacing Suggestions

Atmore, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Andalusia, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 109.3 miles from Prichard, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 160.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

AKA Japanese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montgomery, Alabama

Later in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 171.8

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13345231320

Visit website

Ellianos Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montgomery, Alabama

1.9 mi

Ellianos Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Montgomery, Alabama

2.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Well Red

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Auburn, Alabama

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 218.6

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13342463021

Visit website

Bitty & Beau's Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Auburn, Alabama

0.2 mi

The Fox

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Auburn, Alabama

0.1 mi

Sonic Drive-In

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour Inexpensiv mile 171.8

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+13342715837

Visit website

AKA Japanese Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 171.8

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13345231320

Visit website

Ellianos Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 171.8

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+13345930112

Visit website

Ellianos Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 171.8

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+13343988440

Visit website

Sonic Drive-In

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 171.8

Montgomery, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+13342700682

Visit website

McDonald's

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv mile 187.4

Shorter, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13347240180

Visit website

Well Red

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 218.6

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13342463021

Visit website

Bitty & Beau's Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 218.6

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm

+13345910291

Visit website

The Fox

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 218.6

Auburn, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+13342090213

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 46.9

Atmore, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 203

Tuskegee, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13342264071

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 124.9

Greenville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Mobile, Alabama

Hours: 11 am–3:30 pm

+12514324722

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 214.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1.5 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 65: Montgomery

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 1B Toward I 65: Montgomery

163 mi into trip | ~2h 56m in

Take the exit toward I-85 North: Atlanta

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 171 Toward I-85 North: Atlanta

163.3 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in | I 85

Merge onto I 85

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

214.5 mi into trip | ~3h 53m in

Keep slight left at fork toward AL 147 North: Auburn

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward AL 147 North: Auburn

214.5 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in | US 29 / South College Street

Turn left onto US 29 / South College Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.01 one way

$66.03 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$36.24	$72.48
premium	$4.56	$39.24	$78.47
diesel	$5.61	$48.26	$96.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	65.6	0	$22.95	$10.49
Efficient EV	54.7	0	$19.13	$8.74
EV Truck/SUV	87.4	1	$30.60	$13.99

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 16, 2026

Origin

Prichard, AL

Night in Prichard on Saturday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Destination

Auburn, AL

Night in Auburn on Saturday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

7 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

4h 2m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominately highway experience on this route, with 97% of your miles covered on major roads like I-65 and I-85. This means you'll encounter consistent speeds and relatively few traffic disruptions for most of the drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 160.9 miles on I-65, so be prepared for extended periods of driving on this interstate before needing to navigate onto South College Street near Auburn. The profile is clearly highway-focused, suggesting a predictable and efficient driving experience.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 160.9 mi on I 65.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 85. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.

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 218.6 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 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 163 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 163.3 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

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 4h 2m. Total distance: 218.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 160.9 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 Auburn, 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Auburn, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Explore more options from Prichard, AL or browse trips ending in Auburn, AL.

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Trip from Prichard, AL to Auburn, AL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

AKA Japanese Restaurant

Well Red

Sonic Drive-In

AKA Japanese Restaurant

Ellianos Coffee

Ellianos Coffee

Sonic Drive-In

McDonald's

Well Red

Bitty & Beau's Coffee

The Fox

Thrive Here @Auburn

Coffee Mafia

7 Brew Coffee

Ellianos Coffee

One Bike Coffee

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

FLO Charging Station

M Bagel & Coffee

Bienville Square

Mobile Carnival Museum

History Museum of Mobile

Mardi Gras Park

National Maritime Museum of the Gulf

Colonial Fort Condé

Condé-Charlotte Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Prichard, AL

Auburn, AL

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 2m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Arriving in Auburn, AL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Auburn, AL

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