Origin
Smoke Rise, AL
Afternoon in Smoke Rise on Sunday
Local time
4:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smoke Rise, AL to Birmingham, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
29.2 mi
47 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smoke Rise, AL
Marino Kurunić
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Smoke Rise to Birmingham, you are looking at a quick, 29.2-mile journey that typically takes about 44 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it is short enough to handle in under an hour without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Smoke Rise Trail, Crosshill Lane, and I-65. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Southeast region of Alabama, you will find the trip straightforward and familiar. It is an ideal commute for those who need to get between these two points efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 21.7 mi | 23m |
| Smoke Rise Trail | 1.4 mi | 5m |
| Crosshill Lane | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| Crosshill Trail | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Ridge Trail | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| US 31 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 21.7 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smoke Rise, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on this road
157 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Crosshill Lane
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Crosshill Lane
3
At end of road, turn right onto Crosshill Trail
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosshill Trail
4
Turn right onto Ridge Trail
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Ridge Trail
5
Continue on Ridge Trail
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Ridge Trail
6
Turn left onto Scenic Trail
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Scenic Trail
7
Turn left onto Smoke Rise Trail
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Smoke Rise Trail
8
Continue on Smoke Rise Trail
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Smoke Rise Trail
9
At end of road, turn right onto AL 160
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
AL 160
10
Enter roundabout onto US 31
199 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 31
11
Continue on US 31
254 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 31
12
Enter roundabout onto US 31
223 ft
·
6 sec
·
US 31
13
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
US 31
14
Enter roundabout
250 ft
·
4 sec
15
Continue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
16
Merge onto I 65
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 65
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 261A
Toward 17th Street North, Downtown
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
19th Street North
24
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
5th Avenue North
25
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
24th Street North
26
Arrive at destination
24th Street North
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 27.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 31
Enter roundabout onto US 31
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
3.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 31
Enter roundabout onto US 31
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
22.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
22.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
8
27.2 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.41 one way
$8.82 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $4.84 | $9.68 |
| premium | $4.56 | $5.24 | $10.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.45 | $12.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.09 | $1.87 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Birmingham, AL
Afternoon in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
4:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
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
10 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
44m 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?
This 29.2-mile trek is a highway-focused drive, with 76% of your time spent on major routes. You will experience a significant 21.7-mile stretch on I-65, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Transitioning from local roads like Smoke Rise Trail and Crosshill Lane onto the interstate creates a clear shift from neighborhood driving to a more consistent highway pace. Expect a functional, direct experience behind the wheel rather than a winding backroad tour. The road's personality is defined by this high-speed interstate segment, making it a reliable path for reaching your destination quickly.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.7 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Smoke Rise Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in near US 31.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 21 decision points packed into just 29.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles (US 31): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.7 miles (US 31): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Smoke Rise, AL and Birmingham, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery, 17Th Street North and Downtown.
Fultondale
22.2 mi in
|
~34m
Montgomery
23.3 mi in
|
~35m
17Th Street North
27.2 mi in
|
~40m
Downtown
27.2 mi in
|
~40m
About the Cities
Arriving in Birmingham, AL
Full guide →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.
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 44m. Total distance: 29.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.7 miles on I 65. 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.
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 3.6 miles (US 31): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.7 miles (US 31): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.2 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. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Birmingham, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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