How far is Fort Payne, AL from Phenix City, AL?

The driving distance from Fort Payne, AL to Phenix City, AL is about 177.6 miles (285.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 142.5 miles (229.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
177.59 mi
03h 13m
Flight
142.5 mi
229.33 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Payne.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
142.5 mi
Kilometers
229.33 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
177.59 mi
Kilometers
285.8 km
Drive Time
03h 13m

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 03h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Phenix City
Mon, May 18, 10:38 PM EDT
Return by in Fort Payne
Tue, May 19, 12:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Payne
2026-05-18T18:25
Arrive Phenix City
Mon, May 18, 9:38 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:13 AM to 12:13 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Payne
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Ranburne
AL

Town

From Fort Payne
90.6 mi
01h 36m
To Phenix City
87 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
90°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 18 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Payne and Phenix City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Payne and Phenix City.

  1. 1

    Start on Gault Avenue North

    7 m · 5 sec · Gault Avenue North

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 5th Street

    1882 ft · 52 sec · 5th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Wallace Avenue Northeast

    21.6 mi · 31 min · Wallace Avenue Northeast

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Alabama Highway 9 North

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Alabama Highway 9 North

  5. 5

    Continue on Alabama Highway

    8.8 mi · 12 min · Alabama Highway

  6. 6

    Turn right onto West Rome Bypass

    10.3 mi · 13 min · West Rome Bypass

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Cedartown Highway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Cedartown Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Rome Highway

    4 mi · 5 min · Rome Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Cedartown Bypass

    28.7 mi · 38 min · Cedartown Bypass

  10. 10

    Continue on North Park Street

    11.4 mi · 17 min · North Park Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Martha Berry Highway

    31.7 mi · 37 min · Martha Berry Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on New Franklin Road

    7.5 mi · 11 min · New Franklin Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Morgan Street

    2847 ft · 1 min · Morgan Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Whitesville Street

    1067 ft · 31 sec · Whitesville Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Hamilton Road

    7.2 mi · 11 min · Hamilton Road

  16. 16

    Take the exit right toward I 185 South: Columbus

    1927 ft · 47 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Chet Atkins Parkway

    31 mi · 33 min · Chet Atkins Parkway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward GA 540, GA 22, US 80: Phenix City Alabama, Macon

    1353 ft · 33 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on GA 22 West, US 80 West: Phenix City, Alabama

    1.3 km · 2 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto J.R. Allen Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · J.R. Allen Freeway

  21. 21

    Continue on Phenix City North Bypass

    1.5 km · 1 min · Phenix City North Bypass

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    1419 ft · 43 sec

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Summerville Road

    2 mi · 4 min · Summerville Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Broad Street

    2299 ft · 46 sec · Broad Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broad Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Payne and Phenix City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
25 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Martha Berry Highway
31.7 mi · 18%
Chet Atkins Parkway
31 mi · 17%
Cedartown Bypass
28.7 mi · 16%
Wallace Avenue Northeast
21.6 mi · 12%
North Park Street
11.4 mi · 6%
West Rome Bypass
10.3 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Martha Berry Highway

Continue on Martha Berry Highway

31.7 mi · 00h 37m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.1 mi
142.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ranburne
01h 36m from Fort Payne
Leave By
10:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Fort Payne and Mostly Sunny near Phenix City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Payne to Phenix City?

The road trip is about 177.6 miles (285.8 km) and usually takes 03h 13m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ranburne is a useful midpoint, sitting about 90.6 miles from Fort Payne and 87 miles from Phenix City.

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

The direct path is about 142.5 miles (229.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.1 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.74 one way or $47.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Fort Payne and Phenix City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fort Payne and Mostly Sunny near Phenix City.

Stop Ideas Near Ranburne

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

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

RAIL

Anniston

47 mi away
126 West 4th St
RAIL

Peachtree Station

93 mi away
1688 Peachtree Street, NW

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Payne and Phenix City. Straight-line distance: 142.5 mi (229.33 km).

Fort Payne

#1 Fort Payne

City in Alabama, US

Population14,041
Coordinates34.4442500, -85.7196900
Altitude275
CountryUnited States
Phenix City

#2 Phenix City

City in Alabama

Population36,487
Coordinates32.4709800, -85.0007700
Altitude74
CountryUnited States
Start: Gault Avenue North (-85.71964, 34.444218)
End: 13th Street (-85.000758, 32.470959)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 286 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.27 gal
23.72 L · about $23.74
Round trip
$47.49
12.54 gal · 47.44 L
Estimated CO2
55.7 kg one way
Round trip: 111.4 kg / 246 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $23.74 $47.49
Mid-grade $4.26 $26.70 $53.41
Premium $4.63 $29.00 $58.00
Diesel $5.42 $33.95 $67.90

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 · May 18, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Fort Payne, AL and Phenix City, AL. The current time in Fort Payne is 18:25:36, although it is 19:25:36 in Phenix City.

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.