Origin
Smiths Station, AL
Late night in Smiths Station on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
8.2 mi
13 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smiths Station, AL
Jan Wright
Phenix City, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 8.2-mile drive from Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL takes approximately 13 minutes to complete. It's a straightforward trip that's easily manageable as a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily focused on highway driving, with about 69% of the journey on highways. You can expect a minimal fuel cost of around $1 for this short hop. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick transit between two points in the Southeast region of Alabama.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Opelika Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 13th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Crawford Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 14th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| County Road 298 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 12th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 243 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 5.7 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smiths Station, AL and Phenix City, AL.
1
Start on County Road 243
104 ft
·
4 sec
·
County Road 243
2
Continue on CR 298
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
County Road 298
3
Turn right onto US 280; US 431
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
US 280; US 431
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 280; US 431
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 280; US 431
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto Opelika Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Opelika Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Crawford Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Crawford Road
7
Continue on 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
14th Street
8
Turn straight onto 12th Avenue
269 ft
·
7 sec
·
12th Avenue
9
Continue on 13th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
13th Street
10
Turn left onto Broad Street
8 ft
·
0 sec
·
Broad Street
11
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 8.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 280; US 431
Turn right onto US 280; US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
6.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Crawford Road
At end of road, turn left onto Crawford Road
Navigation decision point
3
8.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Broad Street
Turn left onto Broad Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.24 one way
$2.48 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $1.36 | $2.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $1.47 | $2.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.86 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.72 | $0.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.52 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Phenix City, AL
Late night in Phenix City on Sunday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
17 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
13m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 13-minute journey. Over two-thirds of the drive, specifically 69%, will be on main roads like US 280 and Opelika Road. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 5.7 miles on US 280, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the route does transition through local roads like 13th Street as you approach Phenix City, so be prepared for a slight change in scenery and traffic patterns.
69% 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: 5.7 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and Opelika Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 280; US 431.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Smiths Station, AL to Phenix City, AL is easy. At 13m with 69% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 280; US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (Crawford Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Phenix City, AL
Full guide →Columbus is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland, near the Chattahoochee River and bordering Alabama. It is known for its Southern hospitality, unique attractions, and proximity to Fort Benning.
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 13m. Total distance: 8.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.7 miles on US 280. 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: at 0.3 miles (US 280; US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (Crawford Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Phenix City, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Phenix City, AL
More from Smiths Station, AL
More trips to Phenix City, AL
Explore more options from Smiths Station, AL or browse trips ending in Phenix City, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.