Traveling from Semmes to Birmingham covers 260.7 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 49 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is well within the limits of a single day, you can easily complete it in one sitting without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-65, Industrial Parkway, and Moffett Road to navigate across the Southeast. Budgeting around $40 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. It is a straightforward, highway-focused route that is perfect for those looking to reach their destination efficiently while staying within Alabama.
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
130.3 miles from Semmes, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
246.1 mi
4h 26m
Industrial Parkway
7.4 mi
9m
Moffett Road
2.4 mi
4m
Schillinger Road North
2.1 mi
3m
Newburn Road
0.9 mi
1m
3rd Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
19th Street North
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 246.1 mi, about 4h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Semmes, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on this road
118 ft·11 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right
133 ft·6 sec
3
Turn right onto US 98
2.4 mi·4 min·Moffett Road
4
Turn sharp left onto CR 31
2.1 mi·3 min·Schillinger Road North
5
Continue on Newburn Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Newburn Road
6
Turn right onto AL 158
7.4 mi·9 min·Industrial Parkway
7
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 65 North: MontgomeryUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 65
246 mi·4 hr 26 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 260BToward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
10
Turn right onto US 11; US 78
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto 19th Street North
0.1 mi·17 sec·19th Street North
12
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi·50 sec·5th Avenue North
13
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft·1 sec·24th Street North
14
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Trip Plan
Since the trip is a manageable 4-hour and 49-minute haul, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Planning for at least one dedicated stop will help you break up the 260.7-mile trek and keep you alert behind the wheel. Given the reliance on I-65, keep an eye on traffic patterns as you approach the Birmingham metropolitan area, as volume can fluctuate significantly. To make the most of your fuel budget, try to fill up before hitting the main interstate stretches. Utilizing your single planned stop midway through the longest 246.1-mile stretch is the best way to maintain your comfort throughout the day.
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 130.3 miles from Semmes, AL, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246.1 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.3 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 57m
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 Semmes, 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 Semmes, AL
This is one driving day of about 260.7 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Semmes, 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 246.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 259.2 — 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
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|CR 31 / Schillinger Road North
Turn sharp left onto CR 31 / Schillinger Road North
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
12.8 mi into trip|~19m in
Turn left toward I 65 North: Montgomery
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 65 North: Montgomery
5
13.1 mi into trip|~19m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
259.2 mi into trip|~4h 46m in
Take the exit toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 260B
Toward US 11: 3rd Avenue North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.37 one way
$78.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$43.22
$86.44
premium
$4.56
$46.79
$93.59
diesel
$5.61
$57.56
$115.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.2
0
$27.37
$12.51
Efficient EV
65.2
0
$22.81
$10.43
EV Truck/SUV
104.3
1
$36.50
$16.68
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Semmes, AL
Late night
in Semmes on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Late night
in Birmingham on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
24 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
4h 49m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 260.7
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 experience, as 97% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-65, which accounts for a significant 246.1-mile uninterrupted stretch. While the journey begins with local navigation via Industrial Parkway and Moffett Road, the character of the drive quickly shifts to a standard interstate pace. The transition from the outskirts of Semmes to the busier corridors leading into Birmingham is consistent and predictable. This is a purposeful drive designed for steady progress rather than winding exploration.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 246.1 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Industrial Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 49m 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: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.4 miles (CR 31 / Schillinger Road North): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 12.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 246.1 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.4 miles (CR 31 / Schillinger Road North): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 12.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Birmingham, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
