How far is Alabaster, AL from Chelsea, AL?

The driving distance from Alabaster, AL to Chelsea, AL is about 15.3 miles (24.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.6 miles (20.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
15.32 mi
00h 27m
Flight
12.63 mi
20.32 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Alabaster.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.63 mi
Kilometers
20.32 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
15.32 mi
Kilometers
24.65 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chelsea
Thu, Apr 23, 12:29 AM CDT
Return by in Alabaster
Thu, Apr 23, 12:56 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Alabaster
2026-04-23T00:01
Arrive Chelsea
Thu, Apr 23, 12:29 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Alabaster
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Indian Springs Village
AL

City in Shelby County, Alabama, United States of America

From Alabaster
7.6 mi
00h 13m
To Chelsea
7.6 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Alabaster and Chelsea.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alabaster and Chelsea.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    91 m · 24 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 2nd Place Northwest

    56 m · 13 sec · 2nd Place Northwest

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 1st Street North

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 1st Street North

  4. 4

    Turn right onto County Road 68

    1.3 km · 2 min · County Road 68

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Simmsville Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Simmsville Road

  6. 6

    Continue on County Road 11

    9.9 mi · 15 min · County Road 11

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto County Road 280

    1 mi · 3 min · County Road 280

  8. 8

    Continue on County Road 280

    97 m · 9 sec · County Road 280

  9. 9

    Turn right

    1402 ft · 26 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Chelsea Road

    1 km · 1 min · Chelsea Road

  11. 11

    Turn left

    100 m · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Allen Drive

    52 m · 8 sec · Allen Drive

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Chelsea Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Alabaster and Chelsea.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
85 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
County Road 11
9.86 mi · 64%
1st Street North
1.31 mi · 9%
Simmsville Road
1.15 mi · 8%
County Road 280
1.08 mi · 7%
County Road 68
0.83 mi · 5%
Chelsea Road
0.64 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

County Road 11

Continue on County Road 11

9.86 mi · 00h 15m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.7 mi
12.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Indian Springs Village
00h 13m from Alabaster
Leave By
7:36 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Alabaster and Sunny near Chelsea.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Alabaster to Chelsea?

The road trip is about 15.3 miles (24.6 km) and usually takes 00h 27m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Indian Springs Village is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.6 miles from Alabaster and 7.6 miles from Chelsea.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 12.6 miles (20.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.04 one way or $4.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Alabaster and Sunny near Chelsea.

Stop Ideas Near Indian Springs Village

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Indian Springs Village, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Indian Springs Village.

RAIL

Birmingham

18 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Brent, AL

59 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

77 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave
RAIL

Anniston

92 mi away
126 West 4th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Alabaster and Chelsea. Straight-line distance: 12.63 mi (20.32 km).

Alabaster

#1 Alabaster

Suburb city of Birmingham, located in Shelby County, Alabama, United States

Population33,701
Coordinates33.2442800, -86.8163800
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Chelsea

Chelsea is a place in Alabama, United States.

Population0
Coordinates33.3401100, -86.6302600
Altitude156
CountryUnited States
Start: Alabaster (-86.81638, 33.24428)
End: Chelsea (-86.63026, 33.34011)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 25 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.54 gal
2.05 L · about $2.04
Round trip
$4.09
1.08 gal · 4.1 L
Estimated CO2
4.8 kg one way
Round trip: 9.6 kg / 21 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $2.04 $4.09
Mid-grade $4.26 $2.30 $4.60
Premium $4.63 $2.50 $5.00
Diesel $5.42 $2.92 $5.85

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Alabama · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Alabaster and Chelsea. The current time is 00:01:55.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.