How far is Gulf Shores, AL from Vestavia Hills, AL?

The driving distance from Gulf Shores, AL to Vestavia Hills, AL is about 271.1 miles (436.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 227.7 miles (366.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 54m 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
271.11 mi
04h 27m
Flight
227.68 mi
366.41 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gulf Shores.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
227.68 mi
Kilometers
366.41 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
271.11 mi
Kilometers
436.31 km
Drive Time
04h 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 04h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Vestavia Hills
Tue, May 26, 5:12 PM CDT
Return by in Gulf Shores
Tue, May 26, 9:39 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gulf Shores
2026-05-26T12:45
Arrive Vestavia Hills
Tue, May 26, 5:12 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:27 AM to 12:27 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:06 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gulf Shores
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
Providence
AL

Town in Marengo County, Alabama, United States

From Gulf Shores
135.4 mi
02h 13m
To Vestavia Hills
135.7 mi
02h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Gulf Shores Weather
AL
Live fallback forecast
82°F
Tuesday
Using Orange Beach as the closest live forecast in the Baldwin County weather hub.

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gulf Shores and Vestavia Hills.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gulf Shores and Vestavia Hills.

  1. 1

    Start on West Beach Boulevard

    1.1 km · 2 min · West Beach Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Gulf Shores Parkway

    4.4 mi · 8 min · Gulf Shores Parkway

  3. 3

    Continue on State Hwy 59

    1.5 mi · 2 min · State Hwy 59

  4. 4

    Continue on McKenzie Street

    3 mi · 4 min · McKenzie Street

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on South McKenzie Street

    34.3 mi · 50 min · South McKenzie Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Bay Minette Bypass

    5.3 mi · 9 min · Bay Minette Bypass

  7. 7

    Continue on Rabun Road

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Rabun Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp straight

    1421 ft · 35 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    213.6 mi · 3 hr 51 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 31: Montgomery Highway

    1348 ft · 33 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on US 31 North: Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills

    78 m · 6 sec

  12. 12

    Turn slight right onto Montgomery Highway

    2.8 mi · 5 min · Montgomery Highway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Tyson Drive

    94 m · 17 sec · Tyson Drive

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Tremont Drive

    57 m · 12 sec · Tremont Drive

  15. 15

    Turn left

    43 m · 11 sec

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gulf Shores and Vestavia Hills.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Rabun Road
218 mi · 80%
South McKenzie Street
34.3 mi · 13%
Bay Minette Bypass
5.29 mi · 2%
Gulf Shores Parkway
4.41 mi · 2%
McKenzie Street
2.99 mi · 1%
Montgomery Highway
2.83 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Rabun Road

Merge slight left

214 mi · 03h 51m

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
04h 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.4 mi
227.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Providence
02h 13m from Gulf Shores
Leave By
8:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Gulf Shores and Showers And Thunderstorms near Vestavia Hills.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gulf Shores to Vestavia Hills?

The road trip is about 271.1 miles (436.3 km) and usually takes 04h 27m 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?

Providence is a useful midpoint, sitting about 135.4 miles from Gulf Shores and 135.7 miles from Vestavia Hills.

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

The direct path is about 227.7 miles (366.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.4 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 8:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.24 one way or $72.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Gulf Shores and Showers And Thunderstorms near Vestavia Hills.

Stop Ideas Near Providence

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

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

BUS

Camden, AL

53 mi away
8 Claiborne Street \r\n8 Claiborne Street \r\n
BUS

Selma, AL

79 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Montgomery, AL

82 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
BUS

Thomasville, AL

90 mi away
34390 US Highway 43

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gulf Shores and Vestavia Hills. Straight-line distance: 227.68 mi (366.41 km).

Gulf Shores

#1 Gulf Shores

City in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States

Population13,166
Coordinates30.2460400, -87.7008200
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Vestavia Hills

#2 Vestavia Hills

City in Jefferson and Shelby counties, Alabama, United States

Population34,317
Coordinates33.4487200, -86.7877700
Altitude290
CountryUnited States
Start: West Beach Boulevard (-87.700903, 30.246361)
End: (-86.787989, 33.448476)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 436 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.57 gal
36.21 L · about $36.24
Round trip
$72.48
19.14 gal · 72.42 L
Estimated CO2
85 kg one way
Round trip: 170.1 kg / 375 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $36.24 $72.48
Mid-grade $4.26 $40.76 $81.52
Premium $4.63 $44.26 $88.52
Diesel $5.42 $51.82 $103.64

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Gulf Shores and Vestavia Hills. The current time is 12:45:31.

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.