Origin
Union Springs, AL
Late night in Union Springs on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union Springs, AL to Auburn, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
41.6 mi
67 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union Springs, AL
eshaq nasser
Auburn, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Union Springs to Auburn, Alabama, you are in for a quick 40.2-mile journey through the Southeast. The drive typically takes about 51 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Since the route is entirely local, you won't need to worry about long-distance highway fatigue or overnight planning. Budgeting around $5 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for this short hop. This path connects two distinct communities in Alabama, providing a straightforward way to reach your destination without the complexity of major interstate travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Boulevard | 19.4 mi | 28m |
| I 85 | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| South College Street | 4.1 mi | 8m |
| AL 81 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Wright Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Crawford Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King Boulevard
— 19.4 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union Springs, AL and Auburn, AL.
1
Start on North Powell Street
170 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Powell Street
2
Turn right onto Hardaway Avenue
402 ft
·
22 sec
·
Hardaway Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 29; US 82
19 mi
·
28 min
·
Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 29
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 29; US 80
168 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Martin Luther King Highway
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto AL 81
356 ft
·
12 sec
·
Eastside Street
7
Turn left onto AL 81
167 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Northside Street
8
Turn right onto AL 81
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Main Street
9
Turn right onto AL 81
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Water Street
10
Turn straight onto AL 81
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Wright Street
11
Turn left onto AL 81
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Crawford Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto AL 81
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
AL 81
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
14
Merge onto I 85
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 85
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 29: Auburn
16
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
11 sec
Toward AL 147 North: Auburn
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto US 29
4.1 mi
·
8 min
·
South College Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right
291 ft
·
21 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.8 miles from Union Springs, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 37.4 — 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
|
Hardaway Avenue
Turn right onto Hardaway Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 29; US 82 / Martin Luther King Boulevard
Turn left onto US 29; US 82 / Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
21.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
US 29; US 80 / East Martin Luther King Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 29; US 80 / East Martin Luther King Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
21.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
AL 81 / Eastside Street
Turn left onto AL 81 / Eastside Street
Navigation decision point
8
37.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AL 147 North: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward AL 147 North: Auburn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.28 one way
$12.57 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.90 | $13.79 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.47 | $14.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.18 | $18.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Auburn, AL
Late night in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Beehive, AL
21 mi in
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
20 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
1h 1m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate primarily via Hardaway Avenue, Martin Luther King Boulevard, and South Main Street throughout the trip. Because the roads are local, there is no single long-stretch highway segment to settle into; instead, you should prepare for constant adjustments behind the wheel. The personality of this drive is defined by its local character, requiring your full attention as you transition between these specific thoroughfares.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.4 mi on Martin Luther King Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hardaway Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Hardaway Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 29; US 82 / Martin Luther King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles (US 29; US 80 / East Martin Luther King Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
702 ft
305 ft
Total Climb
540 ft
Total Descent
356 ft
Highest Point
702 ft
~41.6 mi in
Elevation Range
397 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Auburn, AL
Full guide →Auburn is in the River Heritage region of Alabama, and home to Auburn University in downtown Auburn. During the university's home football games, the town fills up with thousands of alumni and college football fans for a weekend of tailgating.
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 41.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.4 miles on Martin Luther King Boulevard. 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 Auburn, 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 (Hardaway Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 29; US 82 / Martin Luther King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles (US 29; US 80 / East Martin Luther King Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Auburn, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. 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 Auburn, AL
More from Union Springs, AL
More trips to Auburn, AL
Explore more options from Union Springs, AL or browse trips ending in Auburn, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.