Driving from Birmingham, AL to Ft. Benning, GA

[Luke Duke]

Is it faster to stay on the interstates and go through Montgomery or to drive on the state highways and take the direct route?

 

[hullabelew]

Interstates 65 and 85. Get off 85 at Opelika to Columbus.

If you use the other roads (through Chelsea, Childersburg, Alex City) you will be trapped behind pulp wood trucks the entire time.

 

[threesheets]

The resourcefulness of Hornfans knows no end.

 

[MidTexHorn]

We took the direct route after we flew into Birmingham and drove to Ft. Benning for my son's basic training graduation. It was a pretty straight shot, although you do go through a couple of towns. Still, I can't believe that slowed us down enough to make it slower than taking the long way on the interstates.

 

[blkshoes]

not sure why youre even considering going through montgomery. take the route through auburn/opelika. you'll pass the russell athletic factory store. great deals there. nice, green, rolling hills scenic drive.

i used to spend my summers in columbus, and flying into birmingham was cheaper than atl or columbus. made that drive many a time.

 

[Ballaholic]

Eastbound and down

 

[ScoPro]

There were no interstates in existence when I was born at Fort Benning in '44, so can't add nuthin'.

 

[Luke Duke]

Well so far no one has agreed on a route. If it matters, our plane lands at 7:10 pm on a Thursday. There is a female traveling with us, so it wouldn't surprise me if we have to check baggage. I'm guessing that we get on the road at 8pm at the earliest. Do these logging trucks run around the clock? We will be traveling at night so scenery isn't an issue. Travel time is my main concern.

 

[baboso]

That time of night, I'd take 280 the whole way. Leave the Bham AP, head east on I-20. Exit onto I-459 (the half loop that runs to the South of Bham). After about 10 miles or so on I-459, you'll see the exit for Highway 280. Hop on it going south and boogie. You'll have a little dogleg at Opelika, but it's divided highway most of the way.