Silverhill, AL to Birmingham, AL is 254 miles and takes about 4h 51m via I 65 and US 31, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, traversing the Southeast region from its southern part up to its central area. The route is mostly highway, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day drive, you can expect a fairly quick trip with minimal overnight planning needed.
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
127 miles from Silverhill, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
221.5 mi
4h
US 31
12.5 mi
17m
Hickory Street
9.5 mi
12m
Rabun Road
4.2 mi
6m
County Road 55
4 mi
9m
3rd Avenue North
0.7 mi
1m
Broad Street
0.5 mi
1m
5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 221.5 mi, about 4h
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~899 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,411
Quietest
1 AM
~125 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
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 Silverhill, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on AL 104
278 ft·11 sec·Silverhill Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 55
0.5 mi·1 min·Broad Street
3
Continue on CR 55
4.0 mi·9 min·County Road 55
4
Turn left onto US 90; AL 59
9.5 mi·12 min·Hickory Street
5
Continue on US 31; AL 59
13 mi·17 min·US 31; AL 59
6
Continue on AL 287
4.2 mi·6 min·Rabun Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
8
Merge onto I 65
221 mi·4 hr·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
For this 254-mile drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Birmingham comfortably. Since it's a single-day trip, consider making your stop for fuel and a break around the halfway point or when you feel ready, rather than adhering to a strict schedule. The longest stretch on I 65 is over 200 miles, so be mindful of that if you prefer to break up driving time. Keep an eye on your fuel level, especially as you get closer to Birmingham, as highway services can sometimes be spaced out.
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 127 miles from Silverhill, AL, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.5 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 56 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127 miles or 2h 32m 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
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 Silverhill, 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 Silverhill, AL
This is one driving day of about 254 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Silverhill, 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 221.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 253.5 — 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|CR 55 / Broad Street
Turn left onto CR 55 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
31 mi into trip|~48m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
252.5 mi into trip|~4h 48m 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
5
252.7 mi into trip|~4h 49m in|US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto US 11; US 78 / 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
253.5 mi into trip|~4h 50m in|5th Avenue North
Turn right onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.26 one way
$70.52 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$39.45
$78.90
premium
$4.29
$42.89
$85.78
diesel
$4.80
$47.96
$95.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.2
0
$26.67
$12.19
Efficient EV
63.5
0
$22.23
$10.16
EV Truck/SUV
101.6
1
$35.56
$16.26
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Silverhill, AL
Morning
in Silverhill on Sunday
Local time
11:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Birmingham, AL
Morning
in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
11:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph4% 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
4 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 51m 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 254
Park Closure: A.G Gaston Motel Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 92% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway on I 65, covering 221.5 miles. After this extended highway segment, you'll transition to US 31 and then Hickory Street, which will likely feel more like surface street driving with more frequent exits and intersections. Expect a mix of open road and more developed areas as you approach Birmingham.
92% 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: 221.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 31. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 55 / Broad Street.
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 51m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 55 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 252.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Top landmarks
•Birmingham Museum of Art — art museum in Birmingham, Alabama, USA
•Cathedral of Saint Paul — church in Alabama, United States
•16th Street Baptist Church — church in Birmingham, Alabama
The longest stretch is about 221.5 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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: at 0.1 miles (CR 55 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 252.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Birmingham, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
