Traveling from Scottsboro to Mobile spans 371.9 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 52 minutes of driving time. Because the route is almost entirely highway-focused, you can comfortably complete the journey in a single day, though it will be a significant commitment behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $57 for fuel to cover the distance across Alabama. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, the transit remains consistently within the state’s regional borders. Whether you are heading to the coast for a getaway or traveling for business, knowing that the trip is straightforward helps you plan your departure with confidence.
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
185.9 miles from Scottsboro, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
239.5 mi
4h 18m
I 59
80.9 mi
1h 26m
John M. Harbert III Freeway
17 mi
18m
Veterans Drive
13.5 mi
18m
West Main Street
8.9 mi
12m
I 165
4.7 mi
5m
Love Road
3.7 mi
4m
East Willow Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 239.5 mi, about 4h 18m
Traffic on I-459
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 63 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,603 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~191 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Scottsboro, AL and Mobile, AL.
1
Start on this road
98 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South Broad Street
408 ft·19 sec·South Broad Street
3
Turn right onto AL 35
0.7 mi·1 min·East Willow Street
4
Turn right onto AL 35; AL 279
299 ft·8 sec·Bynum Street
5
Continue on AL 35; AL 279
14 mi·18 min·Veterans Drive
6
Continue on AL 35
8.9 mi·12 min·West Main Street
7
Continue on AL 35
3.7 mi·4 min·Love Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
9
Merge onto I 59
81 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 59
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 137Toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, MontgomeryUse the left lane.
11
Continue on I 459
17 mi·18 min·John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 15Toward I 65: Birmingham, MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 65 South: MontgomeryUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 65
239 mi·4 hr 18 min·I 65
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·41 sec
Toward I 165: Mobile
16
Continue on I 165
4.7 mi·5 min·I 165
17
Turn right onto Saint Joseph Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Saint Joseph Street
18
Turn right onto Saint Louis Street
40 ft·1 sec·Saint Louis Street
19
Arrive at destination
Saint Louis Street
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels steady, plan for at least one dedicated stop during your nearly 7-hour trek. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to navigate the interstate corridors before heavy traffic builds up. Because the vast majority of your time will be spent on I-65, stay alert during the long 239.5-mile stretch where highway fatigue can easily set in. Keep your $57 fuel budget in mind as you monitor your tank, ensuring you refuel during your scheduled break to avoid unnecessary stress on the road. Flexibility is key on this route, so adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected congestion along the major freeways.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.9 miles from Scottsboro, AL, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.5 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 82 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.9 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mobile, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scottsboro, 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 Scottsboro, AL
This is one driving day of about 371.9 miles and 6h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Scottsboro, 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 239.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 125.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Broad Street
Turn left onto South Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 35 / East Willow Street
Turn right onto AL 35 / East Willow Street
Navigation decision point
8
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 137
Toward I 459 South: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery
8
125.6 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Montgomery
7
125.8 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 65 South: Montgomery
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.16 one way
$114.32 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$63.22
$126.45
premium
$4.65
$68.04
$136.08
diesel
$5.35
$78.33
$156.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.6
1
$39.05
$17.85
Efficient EV
93
1
$32.54
$14.88
EV Truck/SUV
148.8
1
$52.07
$23.80
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Scottsboro, AL
Afternoon
in Scottsboro on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Areas Of Fog
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mobile, AL
Afternoon
in Mobile on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph5% chanceLive 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
13 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
6h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 115.4
Russell Cave National Monument is an archeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast. In the 1950s, archeologists uncovered a large quantity of artifa...
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 76.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 92% of this trip is comprised of highway driving. Your route utilizes the John M. Harbert III Freeway, along with stretches of I-59 and I-65, to navigate the state efficiently. The most substantial portion of your journey is a 239.5-mile uninterrupted segment on I-65, which defines the character of the drive. While this allows for consistent progress, the road remains a focused, high-traffic commute rather than a leisurely backroad cruise. Prepare for a steady, monotonous pace as you transition from the northern reaches of Alabama down toward the southern coast.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 59. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Broad Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 371.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AL 35 / East Willow Street): Navigation decision point; at 108.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
877 ft8 ft
Total Climb
1,021 ft
Total Descent
1,655 ft
Highest Point
877 ft
~106.2 mi in
Elevation Range
869 ft
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 Scottsboro, AL to Mobile, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Montgomery along the way.
Scottsboro is in the Mountains region of Alabama and is the seat of Jackson County, having enlivened a railroad mode of commerce there. It is a memorial to a seemingly rare instance where civil rights prevailed in the otherwise rather torn history of equality in this country, in a case known as the Scottsboro Boys. It's also the site of a unique venue where unclaimed airline baggage is publicly sold.
Top landmarks
•Public Square Historic District — historic district in Scottsboro, Alabama, USA
•College Hill Historic District — historic district in Scottsboro, Alabama, USA
For issues specific to mobile phones and smartphone usage, see Mobile phones.
Mobile is a city in the state of Alabama in the South of the United States of America with almost a half million people in the metro area.
Mobile is a historic, diverse port city with a strong southern culture and heritage. The original capital of French Louisiana, Mobile is home to the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.
Top landmarks
•USS Alabama — 1942 South Dakota-class battleship
•USS Drum — 1941 Gato-class submarine
•Battleship Memorial Park — park in Mobile, Alabama, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 52m. Total distance: 371.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.5 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Mobile, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AL 35 / East Willow Street): Navigation decision point; at 108.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, Russell Cave National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mobile, AL before the return drive.
