Origin
Trussville, AL
Morning in Trussville on Sunday
Local time
8:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Trussville, AL to Vestavia Hills, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
21.1 mi
34 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trussville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Vestavia Hills, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Trussville to Vestavia Hills, you are looking at a straightforward 21.1-mile journey across Alabama. Expect to spend about 29 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Your route will primarily utilize I-59, the Red Mountain Expressway, and Gadsden Highway. With a fuel budget of just $3, this is a highly economical way to navigate between these two Southeast locations. Because the distance is so short, you have complete flexibility to make this trip on your own schedule without worrying about long-haul fatigue or complex logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| Red Mountain Expressway | 3 mi | 3m |
| Gadsden Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Montgomery Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Independence Drive | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Chalkville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 10.5 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trussville, AL and Vestavia Hills, AL.
1
Start on this road
197 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Linden Street
114 ft
·
7 sec
·
Linden Street
3
Turn right onto CR 94
384 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Chalkville Road
4
Turn right onto US 11
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on US 11
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Gadsden Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Birmingham
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 459
0.3 mi
·
16 sec
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 33A
Toward I 59 South: Birmingham
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 59
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 59
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 126A
Toward US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto US 31; US 280
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Mountain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 31
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Independence Drive
14
Continue on US 31
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Montgomery Highway
15
Turn left onto Tyson Drive
380 ft
·
22 sec
·
Tyson Drive
16
Turn right onto Tremont Drive
187 ft
·
11 sec
·
Tremont Drive
17
Turn left
142 ft
·
10 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Linden Street
At end of road, turn right onto Linden Street
Navigation decision point
6
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Birmingham
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Birmingham
8
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 59 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 33A
Toward I 59 South: Birmingham
8
14.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
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 126A
Toward US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downt...
8
14.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.19 one way
$6.37 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $3.50 | $7.00 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.79 | $7.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.66 | $9.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.22 | $1.01 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Vestavia Hills, AL
Morning in Vestavia Hills on Sunday
Local time
8:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
S 0 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 3:14AM CDT until April 12 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Huntsville AL
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 11 at 10:01PM CDT until April 12 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Birmingham AL
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
7 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
29m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 65% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of fast-moving interstate segments and expressway transitions that keep the drive efficient. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 10.5 miles while traveling on I-59. As you progress from the Trussville area toward Vestavia Hills, the transition between these major roads defines the pace of your journey. Expect a steady, predictable flow of traffic rather than a technical or winding route, allowing for a focused and direct commute.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.5 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and Red Mountain Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Linden Street.
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 13 decision points packed into just 21.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Linden Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
977 ft
608 ft
Total Climb
745 ft
Total Descent
481 ft
Highest Point
977 ft
~20.3 mi in
Elevation Range
369 ft
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 Trussville, AL and Vestavia Hills, AL, road signs point toward Birmingham and Downtown.
Birmingham
3 mi in
|
~5m
Downtown
14.5 mi in
|
~18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 21.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.5 miles on I 59. 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 Vestavia Hills, 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: near the start (Linden Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Vestavia Hills, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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