Origin
Rainbow City, AL
Morning in Rainbow City on Tuesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rainbow City, 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 10m
Distance
59.2 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rainbow City, AL
Walter Cunha
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Rainbow City to Birmingham, you are looking at a straightforward 59.2-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the journey, keeping it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will remain in a familiar geographic context throughout the drive. This trip serves as an efficient connection between the two Alabama cities, making it an ideal choice for travelers who prioritize speed and practicality over a long-distance scenic tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 48.2 mi | 51m |
| 1st Avenue North | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| West Grand Avenue | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Gilbert Ferry Road Southeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rainbow Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 48.2 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rainbow City, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on this road
54 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn sharp left onto US 411
126 ft
·
7 sec
·
Rainbow Drive
3
Turn left onto AL 77
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
West Grand Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on AL 77
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Gilbert Ferry Road Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-59 South: Birmingham
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 59
48 mi
·
51 min
·
I 59
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 132
Toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
326 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 11
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
1st Avenue North
10
Turn right onto 24th Street North
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
24th Street North
11
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.6 miles from Rainbow 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 53.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 411 / Rainbow Drive
Turn sharp left onto US 411 / Rainbow Drive
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AL 77 / West Grand Avenue
Turn left onto AL 77 / West Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I-59 South: Birmingham
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-59 South: Birmingham
7
53 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward US 11: 1st Avenue North
8
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 11 South: 1st Avenue North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.94 one way
$17.88 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.81 | $19.63 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.63 | $21.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.07 | $26.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.29 | $3.79 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Birmingham, AL
Morning in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Springville, AL
30 mi in
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 10m 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?
This journey is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your trip on I-59, which accounts for a 48.2-mile stretch of uninterrupted interstate travel. As you transition off the highway, you will navigate via 1st Avenue North and West Grand Avenue to reach your final destination in Birmingham. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience that favors interstate efficiency rather than winding local backroads. The character of the drive is functional and direct, allowing you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel for the majority of the hour-long commute.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.2 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and 1st Avenue North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 411 / Rainbow Drive.
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 10m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 411 / Rainbow Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; near the start (AL 77 / West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 10m. Total distance: 59.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.2 miles on I 59. 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: near the start (US 411 / Rainbow Drive): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; near the start (AL 77 / West Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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