How far is Phenix City, AL from Rainbow City, AL?

The driving distance from Phenix City, AL to Rainbow City, AL is about 153.8 miles (247.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 118.9 miles (191.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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
153.77 mi
03h 16m
Flight
118.88 mi
191.32 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Phenix City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
118.88 mi
Kilometers
191.32 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
153.77 mi
Kilometers
247.47 km
Drive Time
03h 16m

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 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rainbow City
Tue, Apr 14, 10:42 PM CDT
Return by in Phenix City
Wed, Apr 15, 2:58 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Phenix City
2026-04-14T20:26
Arrive Rainbow City
Tue, Apr 14, 11:42 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:16 AM to 10:16 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:28 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Phenix City
9:00 PM EDT
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
Kellyton
AL

Town in Alabama, United States

From Phenix City
76.9 mi
01h 38m
To Rainbow City
76.9 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
85°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Phenix City and Rainbow City.

  1. 1

    Start on Broad Street

    2 m · 2 sec · Broad Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 13th Street

    2834 ft · 1 min · 13th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on 14th Street

    2265 ft · 1 min · 14th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Crawford Road

    2365 ft · 1 min · Crawford Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Opelika Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Opelika Road

  6. 6

    Turn right

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    20.9 mi · 25 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit left toward I-85 South, US 29 South, US 280 West: Auburn, Montgomery

    3.1 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 280 West: Opelika, Birmingham

    1852 ft · 45 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on US 280 West: Opelika, Birmingham

    87 m · 7 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Gateway Drive

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Gateway Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on Birmingham Highway

    3 mi · 4 min · Birmingham Highway

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    59.7 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    1053 ft · 29 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right

    30 m · 3 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Rockford Highway

    1.5 km · 1 min · Rockford Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on South Broadway Avenue

    22.7 mi · 26 min · South Broadway Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left

    37.3 mi · 54 min

  19. 19

    Continue on West Grand Avenue

    913 ft · 17 sec · West Grand Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn slight right

    33 m · 4 sec

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Phenix City and Rainbow 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
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Birmingham Highway
62.8 mi · 41%
South Broadway Avenue
22.7 mi · 15%
Opelika Road
21.7 mi · 14%
I-85 South
3.05 mi · 2%
Gateway Drive
1.46 mi · 1%
Rockford Highway
0.94 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Birmingham Highway

Continue straight

59.7 mi · 01h 11m

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 16m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.9 mi
118.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kellyton
01h 38m from Phenix City
Leave By
10:28 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Phenix City and Sunny near Rainbow City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Phenix City to Rainbow City?

The road trip is about 153.8 miles (247.5 km) and usually takes 03h 16m 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?

Kellyton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 76.9 miles from Phenix City and 76.9 miles from Rainbow City.

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

The direct path is about 118.9 miles (191.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.9 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:28 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.56 one way or $41.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Phenix City and Sunny near Rainbow City.

Stop Ideas Near Kellyton

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

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

RAIL

Anniston

77 mi away
126 West 4th St
BUS

Montgomery, AL

78 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
RAIL

Birmingham

93 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Brent, AL

106 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Phenix City and Rainbow City. Straight-line distance: 118.88 mi (191.32 km).

Phenix City

#1 Phenix City

City in Alabama

Population36,487
Coordinates32.4709800, -85.0007700
Altitude74
CountryUnited States
Rainbow City

#2 Rainbow City

City in Alabama, United States

Population9,611
Coordinates33.9548200, -86.0419200
Altitude170
CountryUnited States
Start: Phenix City (-85.00077, 32.47098)
End: Rainbow City (-86.04192, 33.95482)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 247 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.43 gal
20.54 L · about $20.56
Round trip
$41.13
10.86 gal · 41.08 L
Estimated CO2
48.3 kg one way
Round trip: 96.5 kg / 213 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $20.56 $41.13
Mid-grade $4.26 $23.13 $46.25
Premium $4.63 $25.11 $50.23
Diesel $5.42 $29.40 $58.81

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 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Phenix City, AL and Rainbow City, AL. The current time in Phenix City is 20:26:37, although it is 19:26:37 in Rainbow 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.