How far is Jacksonville, AL from Opelika, AL?

The driving distance from Jacksonville, AL to Opelika, AL is about 104.8 miles (168.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 83.7 miles (134.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 01m 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
104.78 mi
02h 00m
Flight
83.71 mi
134.72 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jacksonville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
83.71 mi
Kilometers
134.72 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
104.78 mi
Kilometers
168.63 km
Drive Time
02h 00m

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 02h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Opelika
Sat, Apr 18, 2:56 AM CDT
Return by in Jacksonville
Sat, Apr 18, 4:57 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jacksonville
2026-04-18T00:55
Arrive Opelika
Sat, Apr 18, 2:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:01 AM to 12:01 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jacksonville
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
Wedowee
AL

Town in Alabama

From Jacksonville
51.8 mi
01h 00m
To Opelika
52.9 mi
01h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
87°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jacksonville and Opelika.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville and Opelika.

  1. 1

    Start on Public Square West

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Public Square West

  2. 2

    Continue on McClellan Boulevard

    3.3 mi · 4 min · McClellan Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Baltzell Gate Road

    2932 ft · 1 min · Baltzell Gate Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Ossington Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Ossington Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on General Gerald Watson Way

    1.1 km · 1 min · General Gerald Watson Way

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Veterans Memorial Parkway

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Veterans Memorial Parkway

  7. 7

    Continue on Henry Road

    2376 ft · 39 sec · Henry Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Golden Springs Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Golden Springs Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Leon Smith Parkway

    1.3 km · 2 min · Leon Smith Parkway

  10. 10

    Take the exit left toward I 20 East, US 431 South: Atlanta

    3.5 mi · 4 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 431 South

    1004 ft · 21 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on US 431 South

    26.5 mi · 36 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    55.6 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    130 m · 12 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Samford Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · Samford Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn slight left onto South Railroad Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · South Railroad Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South 9th Street

    920 ft · 42 sec · South 9th Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 9th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jacksonville and Opelika.

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
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 431 South
82.3 mi · 79%
Public Square West
3.92 mi · 4%
Veterans Memorial Parkway
3.89 mi · 4%
I 20 East
3.5 mi · 3%
McClellan Boulevard
3.27 mi · 3%
Golden Springs Road
1.52 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 431 South

Continue straight

55.6 mi · 01h 17m

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
02h 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.1 mi
83.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wedowee
01h 00m from Jacksonville
Leave By
2:28 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Jacksonville and Mostly Sunny near Opelika.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jacksonville to Opelika?

The road trip is about 104.8 miles (168.6 km) and usually takes 02h 00m 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?

Wedowee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.8 miles from Jacksonville and 52.9 miles from Opelika.

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

The direct path is about 83.7 miles (134.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.01 one way or $28.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Jacksonville and Mostly Sunny near Opelika.

Stop Ideas Near Wedowee

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

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

RAIL

Anniston

50 mi away
126 West 4th St
RAIL

Peachtree Station

115 mi away
1688 Peachtree Street, NW

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jacksonville and Opelika. Straight-line distance: 83.71 mi (134.72 km).

Jacksonville

#1 Jacksonville

City in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States

Population12,972
Coordinates33.8138200, -85.7613000
Altitude216
CountryUnited States
Opelika

#2 Opelika

City in Alabama

Population31,135
Coordinates32.6454100, -85.3782800
Altitude246
CountryUnited States
Start: AL 21 (-85.761559, 33.813838)
End: South 9th Street (-85.378252, 32.645431)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 169 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.7 gal
14 L · about $14.01
Round trip
$28.02
7.4 gal · 28 L
Estimated CO2
32.9 kg one way
Round trip: 65.8 kg / 145 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $14.01 $28.02
Mid-grade $4.26 $15.76 $31.52
Premium $4.63 $17.11 $34.23
Diesel $5.42 $20.04 $40.07

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Jacksonville and Opelika. The current time is 00:55:59.

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.