If you are planning a trip from Red Bay to Birmingham, expect a straightforward journey covering 118.7 miles through the heart of Alabama. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 2 hours and 18 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Budget roughly $18 for fuel, as this is a very efficient route that avoids the need for an overnight stay. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel throughout. Whether you are heading to the city for business or leisure, the direct nature of this path ensures you spend less time behind the wheel and more time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.3 miles from Red Bay, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
87.8 mi
1h 34m
Alabama Highway 19
22.2 mi
30m
I 65
3.2 mi
3m
11th Street East
2.1 mi
3m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
4th Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi
<1m
19th Street North
0.3 mi
<1m
AL 74
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 87.8 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Bay, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on 4th Street Southeast
108 ft·6 sec·4th Street Southeast
2
Turn right onto AL 19
0.4 mi·45 sec·4th Avenue Southeast
3
Turn right onto AL 19
2.1 mi·3 min·11th Street East
4
Continue on AL 19
6.6 mi·9 min·Alabama Highway 19
5
Keep slight right at fork onto AL 19
16 mi·21 min·Alabama Highway 19
6
Turn right onto AL 74
0.3 mi·26 sec·AL 74
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I-22 East: Birmingham
8
Merge onto I 22; US 78
88 mi·1 hr 34 min·I 22; US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·38 sec
Toward I 65 South: BirminghamUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 65
3.2 mi·3 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 261AToward 17th Street North, DowntownUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi·22 sec·Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi·34 sec·19th Street North
14
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
15
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
16
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the route is dominated by I-22 and I-65, keep an eye on traffic reports, especially as you approach the Birmingham metro area. There are no mandatory stops required for a trip of this length, but you may want to fuel up before hitting the long 87.8-mile stretch on I-22 to ensure you have plenty of range. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour congestion near the city. Planning your fuel stop in Red Bay before you head out will help you stick to your $18 budget and keep your focus on the road ahead.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.3 miles from Red Bay, AL, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.3 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
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 Red Bay, 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 Red Bay, AL
This is one driving day of about 118.7 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Red Bay, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 87.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.3 and 117.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
25.3 mi into trip|~35m in|I 22; US 78
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
113 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
5
113.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 261A
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
5
117.8 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.93 one way
$35.85 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.68
$39.36
premium
$4.56
$21.31
$42.61
diesel
$5.61
$26.21
$52.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.39
$4.75
EV Truck/SUV
47.5
0
$16.62
$7.60
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Red Bay, AL
Night
in Red Bay on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Night
in Birmingham on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
28 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
2h 18m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with a massive 95% of your trip spent cruising on major thoroughfares. You will start by navigating local Alabama Highway 19 before transitioning onto the interstate system. The core of your journey features a long, uninterrupted 87.8-mile stretch on I-22, which allows for steady, consistent speeds. Because the vast majority of the route is interstate-based, the character of the drive is utilitarian and efficient rather than technical. Expect a smooth, high-speed experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.8 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and Alabama Highway 19. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.3 miles in near I 22; US 78.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 118.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.3 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
720 ft355 ft
Total Climb
638 ft
Total Descent
673 ft
Highest Point
720 ft
~8.5 mi in
Elevation Range
364 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 118.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.8 miles on I 22. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Birmingham, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.3 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
