Origin
Ragland, AL
Late night in Ragland on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ragland, AL to Birmingham, 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 2m
Distance
46.1 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ragland, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 46.1-mile drive from Ragland, AL to Birmingham, AL takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes, making it a perfect day trip within the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes I-20, with a significant portion (82%) being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this is an economical journey that doesn't require any overnight stays. You'll find the drive straightforward, with no designated stops, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Birmingham offers a vibrant urban destination to conclude your short, efficient trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| AL 144 | 10.1 mi | 17m |
| 1st Avenue North | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Martin Street North | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Heart of Dixie Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 24th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 64th Street South | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 7th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 27.7 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ragland, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on 1st Avenue
70 ft
·
3 sec
·
1st Avenue
2
Continue on 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
7th Street
3
Turn slight right onto Brown
262 ft
·
16 sec
·
Brown
4
At end of road, turn left onto AL 144
10 mi
·
17 min
·
AL 144
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 231
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Heart of Dixie Highway
6
Continue on US 231
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Martin Street North
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 20
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 130B
Toward 1st Avenue South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on 64th Street South
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
64th Street South
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto US 11
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
1st Avenue North
12
Turn right onto 24th Street North
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
24th Street North
13
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Ragland, 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 0.2 and 41.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AL 144
At end of road, turn left onto AL 144
Navigation decision point
4
10.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 231 / Heart of Dixie Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 231 / Heart of Dixie Highway
Navigation decision point
4
13.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
13.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
41.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward 1st Avenue South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 130B
Toward 1st Avenue South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.96 one way
$13.92 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.64 | $15.29 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.27 | $16.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Birmingham, AL
Late night in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
4 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 2m 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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this 46.1-mile trip. With 82% of the route on highways, you'll experience a predominantly fast-paced journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 27.7 miles on I-20, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While primarily interstate, you will transition to AL 144 and 1st Avenue North as you approach Birmingham, introducing a slight change in scenery and road type. This segment offers a practical, efficient connection between your starting point and destination.
82% 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: 27.7 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and AL 144. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near AL 144.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (AL 144): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (US 231 / Heart of Dixie Highway): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Ragland, AL to Birmingham, AL, road signs begin pointing toward 1St Avenue South along the way.
1St Avenue South
41.6 mi in
|
~54m
About the Cities
Arriving in Birmingham, AL
Full guide →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.
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 1h 2m. Total distance: 46.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.7 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (AL 144): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (US 231 / Heart of Dixie Highway): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Birmingham, 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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