How far is Chelsea, AL from Alabaster, AL?

The driving distance from Chelsea, AL to Alabaster, AL is about 123.3 miles (198.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 100.7 miles (162 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 44m 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
123.32 mi
01h 52m
Flight
100.63 mi
161.95 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chelsea.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
100.63 mi
Kilometers
161.95 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
123.32 mi
Kilometers
198.46 km
Drive Time
01h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alabaster
Sun, Apr 19, 6:24 AM CDT
Return by in Chelsea
Sun, Apr 19, 8:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chelsea
2026-04-19T04:32
Arrive Alabaster
Sun, Apr 19, 6:24 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:52 AM to 11:52 AM CDT

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

Leave by
2:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chelsea
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
Dodge City
AL

Town

From Chelsea
61.6 mi
00h 56m
To Alabaster
61.8 mi
00h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NNW
Destination
71°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Triana Boulevard Southwest

    2730 ft · 1 min · Triana Boulevard Southwest

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Drake Avenue Southwest

    1.6 km · 2 min · Drake Avenue Southwest

  3. 3

    Turn slight right

    53 m · 8 sec

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Patton Road Southwest

    1.6 km · 2 min · Patton Road Southwest

  5. 5

    Continue on Jordan Lane Southwest

    2662 ft · 1 min · Jordan Lane Southwest

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left

    1510 ft · 38 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    16.3 mi · 18 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville

    864 ft · 16 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    73.7 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  11. 11

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

    2715 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis

    2666 ft · 38 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery

    1940 ft · 28 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    25.9 mi · 30 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 31, AL 3: Alabaster, Saginaw

    1361 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 1st Street South

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 1st Street South

  17. 17

    Turn left

    54 m · 18 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right

    30 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 65 South
74.5 mi · 60%
Montgomery
26.3 mi · 21%
Jordan Lane Southwest
17.1 mi · 14%
1st Street South
1.06 mi · 1%
I 22 West
1.02 mi · 1%
Drake Avenue Southwest
1 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 65 South

Merge slight left

73.7 mi · 01h 19m

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 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.6 mi
100.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dodge City
00h 56m from Chelsea
Leave By
2:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Chelsea and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Alabaster.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 123.3 miles (198.5 km) and usually takes 01h 52m 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?

Dodge City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 61.6 miles from Chelsea and 61.8 miles from Alabaster.

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

The direct path is about 100.7 miles (162 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 2:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.47 one way or $32.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 38.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Chelsea and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Alabaster.

Stop Ideas Near Dodge City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Dodge City, 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 Dodge City.

RAIL

Birmingham

59 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
RAIL

Anniston

107 mi away
126 West 4th St
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

113 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chelsea and Alabaster. Straight-line distance: 100.63 mi (161.95 km).

Chelsea

#1 Chelsea

City in Madison County, Alabama, United States

Population14,608
Coordinates34.6906500, -86.6099900
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Alabaster

#2 Alabaster

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

Population33,701
Coordinates33.2442800, -86.8163800
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Start: Triana Boulevard Southwest (-86.609778, 34.690646)
End: (-86.816657, 33.244315)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 198 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.35 gal
16.47 L · about $16.47
Round trip
$32.95
8.7 gal · 32.94 L
Estimated CO2
38.7 kg one way
Round trip: 77.3 kg / 170 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $16.47 $32.95
Mid-grade $4.26 $18.53 $37.05
Premium $4.63 $20.12 $40.24
Diesel $5.42 $23.56 $47.11

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Chelsea and Alabaster. The current time is 04:32:29.

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.