Ragland, AL to Pennsylvania, AL is 271.4 miles and takes about 5h 13m via I 65 and AL 77, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, covering ground entirely within Alabama. With a mostly highway profile, you'll find this route efficient for covering distance. It's a straightforward drive suitable for a single day, especially if you're looking to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
135.7 miles from Ragland, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
152.8 mi
2h 44m
Broadway Avenue
54.5 mi
1h 2m
AL 77
24.2 mi
33m
Western Bypass
22.7 mi
26m
Main Street
7.9 mi
11m
Northern Boulevard
6.3 mi
8m
Rockford Highway
1.2 mi
1m
US 43
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 152.8 mi, about 2h 44m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~833 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,289
Quietest
1 AM
~118 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 100 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ragland, AL and Pennsylvania, AL.
1
Start on 1st Avenue
70 ft·3 sec·1st Avenue
2
Continue on 7th Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·7th Street
3
Turn left onto AL 144
7.9 mi·11 min·Main Street
4
Turn slight right
174 ft·8 sec
5
Turn right onto AL 77
24 mi·33 min·AL 77
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto AL 21
23 mi·26 min·Western Bypass
7
Continue on AL 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Rockford Highway
8
Continue on US 231; AL 21
54 mi·1 hr 2 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward Birmingham, MobileUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto AL 152
6.3 mi·8 min·Northern Boulevard
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-65 South: Mobile
12
Merge onto I 65; US 82
153 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 65; US 82
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
14
Turn right onto US 43
0.5 mi·47 sec·US 43
15
Turn slight right
190 ft·8 sec
16
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·58 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 13m duration, leaving in the morning will allow ample time to reach Pennsylvania, AL before evening. You'll have one designated stop, but with a drive under 6 hours, you can be flexible with breaks. The fuel cost is estimated at $39, so plan accordingly. Pay attention to the transition off I 65 onto Broadway Avenue and then AL 77, as this marks the change from high-speed interstate travel to surface roads where traffic patterns might differ.
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 135.7 miles from Ragland, AL, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.8 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 60 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.7 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pennsylvania, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ragland, 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 Ragland, AL
This is one driving day of about 271.4 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Ragland, 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 152.8 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 0.1 and 270.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 144 / Main Street
Turn left onto AL 144 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in|AL 77
Turn right onto AL 77
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward Birmingham, Mobile
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Birmingham, Mobile
5
117.1 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-65 South: Mobile
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-65 South: Mobile
5
270.4 mi into trip|~5h 10m in
Take the exit toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.54 one way
$83.09 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$46.01
$92.02
premium
$4.65
$49.67
$99.35
diesel
$6.28
$67.06
$134.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.4
1
$28.50
$13.03
Efficient EV
67.9
0
$23.75
$10.86
EV Truck/SUV
108.6
1
$38.00
$17.37
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Ragland, AL
Late night
in Ragland on Thursday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 9:17PM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Pennsylvania, AL
Late night
in Pennsylvania on Thursday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 9:17PM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
3 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
5h 13m 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.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 18.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 65% of your time on highways, with the bulk of it on I 65. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 152.8 miles on I 65, so you'll have plenty of opportunity for steady cruising. Expect to transition from I 65 to Broadway Avenue and then AL 77, indicating a shift from interstate speeds to more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152.8 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Broadway Avenue. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near AL 144 / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 271.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (AL 144 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
778 ft21 ft
Total Climb
640 ft
Total Descent
1,177 ft
Highest Point
778 ft
~60.3 mi in
Elevation Range
757 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ragland, AL and Pennsylvania, AL, road signs point toward Birmingham and Mobile.
Pennsylvania is a state in the eastern United States. It is known for its Revolutionary War-era historical sites like Valley Forge, its large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, its farming regions (some occupied by the Amish), and a (once)-strong industrial history. With equally large swaths of cities and towns as fields and mountains, Pennsylvania is a rich and varied state, as well as a worthy travel destination.
Top landmarks
•Susquehanna River — river in the northeastern United States
•Appalachian Trail — 2,198.4-mile (3,538 km) trail going through fourteen US states managed by the Na...
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 271.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152.8 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AL 144 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pennsylvania, AL before the return drive.
