How far is Athens, AL from Irondale, AL?

The driving distance from Athens, AL to Irondale, AL is about 101.6 miles (163.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 88.7 miles (142.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
101.61 mi
01h 56m
Flight
88.66 mi
142.68 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Athens.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
88.66 mi
Kilometers
142.68 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.61 mi
Kilometers
163.53 km
Drive Time
01h 56m

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 01h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Irondale
Wed, Sep 23, 3:12 PM CDT
Return by in Athens
Wed, Sep 23, 5:09 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Athens
2026-09-23T13:15
Arrive Irondale
Wed, Sep 23, 3:12 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:57 AM to 11:57 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Athens
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Good Hope
AL

Alabama

From Athens
50.9 mi
00h 58m
To Irondale
50.7 mi
00h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNE
Destination
90°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Athens and Irondale.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Athens and Irondale.

  1. 1

    Start on Jefferson Street South

    1.4 km · 2 min · Jefferson Street South

  2. 2

    Turn left onto US Highway 72 West

    1.8 mi · 3 min · US Highway 72 West

  3. 3

    Take the exit right toward I-65 South: Birmingham

    1118 ft · 27 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    84.8 mi · 1 hr 31 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale

    2715 ft · 38 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis

    2666 ft · 38 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery

    1940 ft · 28 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Atlanta, Gadsden

    1037 ft · 25 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right

    5.1 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 20 East: Atlanta

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Montevallo Road

    868 ft · 21 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto I-20 Frontage Road

    798 ft · 18 sec · I-20 Frontage Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Montevallo Road

    2548 ft · 1 min · Montevallo Road

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left onto 16th Street South

    131 m · 14 sec · 16th Street South

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 1st Avenue South

    1082 ft · 50 sec · 1st Avenue South

  17. 17

    Turn right

    9 m · 2 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Athens and Irondale.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-65 South
85.1 mi · 84%
I 20 East
7.5 mi · 7%
Montgomery
4.24 mi · 4%
US Highway 72 West
1.82 mi · 2%
I 22 West
1.02 mi · 1%
Jefferson Street South
0.88 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I-65 South

Merge slight left

84.8 mi · 01h 31m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.9 mi
88.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Good Hope
00h 58m from Athens
Leave By
2:36 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Athens and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Irondale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Athens to Irondale?

The road trip is about 101.6 miles (163.5 km) and usually takes 01h 56m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Good Hope is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50.9 miles from Athens and 50.7 miles from Irondale.

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

The direct path is about 88.7 miles (142.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:36 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.41 one way or $28.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Athens and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Irondale.

Stop Ideas Near Good Hope

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Good Hope, 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 Good Hope.

RAIL

Birmingham

67 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
RAIL

Anniston

108 mi away
126 West 4th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Athens and Irondale. Straight-line distance: 88.66 mi (142.68 km).

Athens

#1 Athens

County seat of Limestone County, Alabama, United States

Population28,643
Coordinates34.8024300, -86.9721900
Altitude220
CountryUnited States
Irondale

#2 Irondale

Town in Alabama, United States

Population13,226
Coordinates33.5381600, -86.7072100
Altitude226
CountryUnited States
Start: Athens (-86.97219, 34.80243)
End: Irondale (-86.70721, 33.53816)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 164 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.58 gal
13.57 L · about $14.41
Round trip
$28.82
7.16 gal · 27.14 L
Estimated CO2
31.8 kg one way
Round trip: 63.6 kg / 140 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.03 $14.41 $28.82
Mid-grade $4.49 $16.09 $32.18
Premium $4.90 $17.55 $35.10
Diesel $6.16 $22.05 $44.10

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 · Sep 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Athens and Irondale. The current time is 13:15:06.

Distance to Other Cities

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