Origin
Vestavia Hills, AL
Morning in Vestavia Hills on Sunday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vestavia Hills, AL to Fultondale, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
12.6 mi
20 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vestavia Hills, AL
Kelly
Fultondale, AL
Tomás Asurmendi
Trip Overview
This quick 12.6-mile drive from Vestavia Hills to Fultondale, Alabama, is easily manageable in just 22 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day trip. You'll navigate a blend of local roads and expressways, with about 27% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is a low $2, reflecting the short distance. Given its brevity and local character, no overnight stay is necessary. This route is ideal for a straightforward commute or a quick errand between these two Southeast Alabama communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur Highway | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Red Mountain Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Carraway Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Montgomery Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Independence Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| Whaley Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Tremont Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Decatur Highway
— 3.5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vestavia Hills, AL and Fultondale, AL.
1
Start on this road
142 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Tremont Drive
477 ft
·
22 sec
·
Tremont Drive
3
Turn right
341 ft
·
26 sec
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 31
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Montgomery Highway
5
Turn straight onto US 31
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Independence Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 31
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Red Mountain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Carraway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on US 31
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Decatur Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Whaley Road
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Whaley Road
10
Arrive at destination
Whaley Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.3 — 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
|
Tremont Drive
Turn left onto Tremont Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 31 / Montgomery Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 31 / Montgomery Highway
Navigation decision point
3
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 31 / Independence Drive
Turn straight onto US 31 / Independence Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
12.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Whaley Road
Turn right onto Whaley Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.90 one way
$3.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.09 | $4.18 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.26 | $4.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.78 | $5.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.10 | $0.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Fultondale, AL
Morning in Fultondale on Sunday
Local time
8:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
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
1 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
22m 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 on this route, characterized by frequent intersections and changes in road type. While 27% of the trip involves highway driving, the longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 3.5 miles on Decatur Highway. This suggests a dynamic driving experience, moving between quicker highway sections and more involved local road navigation. The profile indicates a route where you'll be actively engaged with steering and traffic signals rather than cruising on a monotonous interstate.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.5 mi on Decatur Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Tremont Drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Tremont Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 31 / Montgomery Highway): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 12.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (27%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.5 miles on Decatur Highway. 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: near the start (Tremont Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 31 / Montgomery Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fultondale, 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.
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