This 253-mile drive from Prichard, AL to Birmingham, AL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 36 minutes on the road, primarily on I-65. With a fuel cost estimated at $38, this trip is quite budget-friendly. The route stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience. Given its manageable distance and duration, this drive is ideal for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
126.5 miles from Prichard, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
249.5 mi
4h 30m
3rd Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
I 165
0.6 mi
<1m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
19th Street North
0.1 mi
<1m
North Wilson Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
East Azan Street
0.1 mi
<1m
24th Street North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 249.5 mi, about 4h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prichard, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on East Azan Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·East Azan Street
2
Turn left onto North Wilson Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·North Wilson Avenue
3
Turn right
0.4 mi·50 sec
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
5
Merge onto I 165
0.6 mi·40 sec·I 165
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Exit 1BToward I 65: Montgomery
7
Merge onto I 65
250 mi·4 hr 30 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 260BToward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
9
Turn right onto US 11; US 78
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto 19th Street North
0.1 mi·17 sec·19th Street North
11
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
12
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
13
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour and 36-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach Birmingham. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of nearly 250 miles, plan your breaks accordingly to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $38 estimated cost suggests a single fill-up might suffice, but it's always wise to top off before embarking on the longest segment. The flexibility of this route means you can adjust your stop timing based on your personal pace.
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 126.5 miles from Prichard, AL, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 249.5 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 56 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.5 miles or 2h 18m 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 46m
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 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 253 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 249.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 252.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
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
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
251.5 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
5
251.7 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
252.6 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.21 one way
$76.42 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$41.94
$83.89
premium
$4.56
$45.41
$90.82
diesel
$5.61
$55.86
$111.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.9
0
$26.56
$12.14
Efficient EV
63.3
0
$22.14
$10.12
EV Truck/SUV
101.2
1
$35.42
$16.19
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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 20, 2026
Origin
Prichard, AL
Morning
in Prichard on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
N 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 8:40AM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Morning
in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 20 at 8:40AM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
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
4h 36m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The personality of this drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with a 99% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I-65, experiencing a consistent pace for long stretches. The longest uninterrupted segment on I-65 spans an impressive 249.5 miles, meaning you can settle in for a considerable period. While primarily interstate, you will transition onto 3rd Avenue North and I-165 at different points, offering minor shifts in the driving environment before returning to the main highway.
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: 249.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and 3rd Avenue North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 36m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 251.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
The longest stretch is about 249.5 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 251.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Birmingham, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
