How far is Vestavia Hills, AL from Chelsea, AL?

The driving distance from Vestavia Hills, AL to Chelsea, AL is about 106.2 miles (170.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 86.4 miles (139.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 07m 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
106.21 mi
02h 03m
Flight
86.41 mi
139.06 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Vestavia Hills.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
86.41 mi
Kilometers
139.06 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
106.21 mi
Kilometers
170.93 km
Drive Time
02h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chelsea
Wed, Apr 15, 11:37 PM CDT
Return by in Vestavia Hills
Thu, Apr 16, 1:41 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Vestavia Hills
2026-04-15T21:33
Arrive Chelsea
Wed, Apr 15, 11:37 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 PM CDT

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

Leave by
2:22 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Vestavia Hills
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
Cullman
AL

City in Cullman County, Alabama, United States

From Vestavia Hills
53.2 mi
01h 01m
To Chelsea
53 mi
01h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Vestavia Hills and Chelsea.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    43 m · 17 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Tremont Drive

    145 m · 23 sec · Tremont Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right

    104 m · 27 sec

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Montgomery Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Montgomery Highway

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Independence Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · Independence Drive

  6. 6

    Continue on Red Mountain Expressway

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Red Mountain Expressway

  7. 7

    Continue on Carraway Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Carraway Boulevard

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Finley Boulevard

    1 km · 1 min · Finley Boulevard

  9. 9

    Turn right onto 19th Street North

    15 m · 1 sec · 19th Street North

  10. 10

    Take the ramp straight toward I 65 North

    771 ft · 19 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    77.2 mi · 1 hr 23 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville

    1665 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville

    2761 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    16.3 mi · 18 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward AL 53: Jordan Lane

    1417 ft · 30 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Jordan Lane Southwest

    2054 ft · 46 sec · Jordan Lane Southwest

  17. 17

    Continue on Patton Road Southwest

    1 mi · 2 min · Patton Road Southwest

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Drake Avenue Southwest

    1 mi · 2 min · Drake Avenue Southwest

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Triana Boulevard Southwest

    2730 ft · 1 min · Triana Boulevard Southwest

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Triana Boulevard Southwest

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 65 North
77.3 mi · 73%
I 565 East
17.2 mi · 16%
Red Mountain Expressway
3.39 mi · 3%
Montgomery Highway
1.79 mi · 2%
Carraway Boulevard
1.51 mi · 1%
Independence Drive
1.03 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 65 North

Merge slight left

77.2 mi · 01h 23m

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 03m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.8 mi
86.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cullman
01h 01m from Vestavia Hills
Leave By
2:22 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Vestavia Hills and Mostly Sunny near Chelsea.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Vestavia Hills to Chelsea?

The road trip is about 106.2 miles (170.9 km) and usually takes 02h 03m 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?

Cullman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 53.2 miles from Vestavia Hills and 53 miles from Chelsea.

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

The direct path is about 86.4 miles (139.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.8 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 2:22 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.20 one way or $28.40 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Vestavia Hills and Mostly Sunny near Chelsea.

Stop Ideas Near Cullman

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

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

RAIL

Birmingham

74 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
RAIL

Anniston

110 mi away
126 West 4th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Vestavia Hills and Chelsea. Straight-line distance: 86.41 mi (139.06 km).

Vestavia Hills

#1 Vestavia Hills

City in Jefferson and Shelby counties, Alabama, United States

Population34,317
Coordinates33.4487200, -86.7877700
Altitude290
CountryUnited States
Chelsea

#2 Chelsea

City in Madison County, Alabama, United States

Population14,608
Coordinates34.6906500, -86.6099900
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Start: Vestavia Hills (-86.78777, 33.44872)
End: Chelsea (-86.60999, 34.69065)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 171 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.75 gal
14.19 L · about $14.20
Round trip
$28.40
7.5 gal · 28.38 L
Estimated CO2
33.3 kg one way
Round trip: 66.7 kg / 147 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $14.20 $28.40
Mid-grade $4.26 $15.97 $31.94
Premium $4.63 $17.34 $34.69
Diesel $5.42 $20.31 $40.61

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Vestavia Hills and Chelsea. The current time is 21:33:33.

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.