How far is Irondale, AL from Alabaster, AL?

The driving distance from Irondale, AL to Alabaster, AL is about 30.7 miles (49.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 21.3 miles (34.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 00m 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
30.68 mi
00h 30m
Flight
21.26 mi
34.21 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Irondale.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
21.26 mi
Kilometers
34.21 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
30.68 mi
Kilometers
49.38 km
Drive Time
00h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alabaster
Wed, Apr 22, 9:35 PM CDT
Return by in Irondale
Wed, Apr 22, 10:05 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Irondale
2026-04-22T21:05
Arrive Alabaster
Wed, Apr 22, 9:35 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:30 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Irondale
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
Hoover
AL

The most populous city in Jefferson County, Alabama.

From Irondale
14 mi
00h 15m
To Alabaster
16.7 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    9 m · 4 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 1st Avenue South

    14 m · 4 sec · 1st Avenue South

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 20th Street South

    2174 ft · 60 sec · 20th Street South

  4. 4

    Continue on 22nd Street South

    121 m · 13 sec · 22nd Street South

  5. 5

    Continue on Kilgore Memorial Drive

    1 km · 1 min · Kilgore Memorial Drive

  6. 6

    Continue on Grants Mill Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Grants Mill Road

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grants Mill Road

    29 m · 2 sec · Grants Mill Road

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Grants Mill Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Grants Mill Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right

    1561 ft · 38 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto John M. Harbert III Freeway

    11.1 mi · 12 min · John M. Harbert III Freeway

  11. 11

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

    979 ft · 24 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Montgomery

    1.5 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    10.9 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

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

    1361 ft · 33 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 1st Street South

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 1st Street South

  16. 16

    Turn left

    54 m · 18 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right

    30 m · 7 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
58.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 65 South
11.8 mi · 39%
John M. Harbert III Freeway
11.1 mi · 36%
Grants Mill Road
2.34 mi · 8%
1st Street South
1.06 mi · 3%
Kilgore Memorial Drive
0.63 mi · 2%
20th Street South
0.41 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

John M. Harbert III Freeway

Merge slight left onto John M. Harbert III Freeway

11.1 mi · 00h 12m

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 30m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.4 mi
21.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hoover
00h 15m from Irondale
Leave By
7:30 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Irondale and Mostly Sunny near Alabaster.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 30.7 miles (49.4 km) and usually takes 00h 30m 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?

Hoover is a useful midpoint, sitting about 14 miles from Irondale and 16.7 miles from Alabaster.

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

The direct path is about 21.3 miles (34.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:30 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.09 one way or $8.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Irondale and Mostly Sunny near Alabaster.

Stop Ideas Near Hoover

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

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

RAIL

Birmingham

12 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Brent, AL

60 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

74 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave
RAIL

Anniston

95 mi away
126 West 4th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Irondale and Alabaster. Straight-line distance: 21.26 mi (34.21 km).

Irondale

#1 Irondale

Town in Alabama, United States

Population13,226
Coordinates33.5381600, -86.7072100
Altitude226
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: 1st Avenue South (-86.707265, 33.538223)
End: (-86.816657, 33.244315)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 49 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.08 gal
4.1 L · about $4.09
Round trip
$8.18
2.16 gal · 8.2 L
Estimated CO2
9.6 kg one way
Round trip: 19.2 kg / 42 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $4.09 $8.18
Mid-grade $4.26 $4.60 $9.20
Premium $4.63 $5.00 $9.99
Diesel $5.42 $5.85 $11.70

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 Irondale and Alabaster. The current time is 21:05:20.

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.