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Birmingham to Georgia Aquarium road trip: best stops

The drive from Birmingham to Georgia Aquarium takes about 2 hr 12 min (east of Birmingham), by real roads from ZIP 35203. Along the way we found 52 stops within a short detour: 7 coffee shops, 1 bakeries, 8 ice cream and treats and 25 places to eat.

The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Birmingham) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.

Plan this trip All day trips from Birmingham

Where you are going: Georgia Aquarium 2 hr 12 min from Birmingham

Georgia Aquarium

Photo: Diliff, CC BY 2.5

Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium

One of the largest aquariums in the world, with whale sharks, manta rays, beluga whales and a dolphin show. Easy to pair with other downtown sights.

  • 2-3 hrs
  • Year-round
  • Timed tickets; pricing varies by date
  • Confirm fees and hours before you go

Heads-up: Buy timed tickets ahead. Dolphin and sea lion show seats are free but must be reserved on the day of your visit.

Official site

Map of the stops between Birmingham and Georgia Aquarium

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Georgia Aquarium

First stretch 11 stops

  1. Starbucks Coffee shop · Birmingham
    About 13 min into the drive · detour about 4 min Website
  2. Cambrian Overlook Viewpoint · Central Highlands
    About 13 min into the drive · detour about 6 min
  3. Irondale Public Library Attraction · East Irondale
    About 15 min into the drive · detour about 5 min Website
  4. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum Museum · Birmingham
    About 20 min into the drive · detour about 5 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Apr 01-Sep 30 Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 12:00-18:00; Oct 01-Mar 31 Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00 Website
  5. Mr. Tea Boba & Coffee Coffee shop · Lovick
    About 21 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website
  6. Milo's Hamburgers Burger place · Moody
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th 06:00-21:00; Fr, Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00 Website
  7. McDonald's Burger place · Moody
    About 27 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Su 05:00-23:00 Website
  8. Daylight Donuts Donut counter-service · Pell City
    About 36 min into the drive · detour about 5 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo 07:00-14:00; Tu-Fr 06:00-14:00; Sa 06:00-12:00; Su 07:00-12:00
  9. El Cazador Mexican restaurant · Pell City
    About 36 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  10. Mill School Historic site · Pell City
    About 36 min into the drive · detour about 7 min
  11. Huddle House Diner · Embry Crossroads
    About 42 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 24/7

Middle of the drive 8 stops

  1. Alabama International Motorsports Hall of Fame Museum · Talladega
    About 46 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 09:00-16:00; PH off Website
  2. International Motorsports Hall of Fame Museum · Dry Valley
    About 46 min into the drive · detour about 4 min Website
  3. A1 Pitstop Grill Restaurant · Old Eastaboga
    About 48 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  4. Starbucks Coffee shop · Oxford
    About 58 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. Lamar's Donuts Donut counter-service · Blue Pond
    About 59 min into the drive · detour about 4 min
  6. 32°: A Yogurt Bar Candy shop · Boiling Spring
    About 1 hr into the drive · detour about 2 min
  7. Lonestar Restaurant · Boiling Spring
    About 1 hr into the drive · detour about 2 min
  8. Rhythm Cafe Heflin Coffee shop · Helfin
    About 1 hr 10 min into the drive · detour about 6 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 06:00-18:00

Last stretch 7 stops

  1. Ellianos Coffee Co Coffee shop · Bremen
    About 1 hr 31 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 06:00-19:00 Website
  2. Butter'dudder Premium Ice Cream Ice cream · Bremen
    About 1 hr 31 min into the drive · detour about 4 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Tu-Su 12:00-21:00 Website
  3. Stewart House Historic site · Villa Rica
    About 1 hr 42 min into the drive · detour about 5 min
  4. Shiba Coffee & Tea Coffee shop · Douglasville
    About 1 hr 48 min into the drive · detour about 7 min Website
  5. Cinnabon Dessert counter-service · Stewart Woods
    About 1 hr 51 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  6. Nothing Bundt Cakes Pastry shop · Douglasville
    About 1 hr 51 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
  7. Nature's Own Bakery Outlet Bakery · Douglasville
    About 1 hr 52 min into the drive · detour about 7 min

Questions about the drive from Birmingham to Georgia Aquarium

How long is the drive from Birmingham to Georgia Aquarium?

About 2 hr 12 min by road, heading east from the middle of ZIP 35203. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from Birmingham to Georgia Aquarium?

Good ones to start with: Starbucks (Birmingham), Cambrian Overlook (Central Highlands), Irondale Public Library (East Irondale), Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum (Birmingham) and Mr. Tea Boba & Coffee (Lovick). The page lists 26 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between Birmingham and Georgia Aquarium?

Starbucks in Birmingham, Mr. Tea Boba & Coffee in Lovick, Starbucks in Oxford and Rhythm Cafe Heflin in Helfin. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Georgia Aquarium?

Milo's Hamburgers in Moody, McDonald's in Moody, El Cazador in Pell City and Huddle House in Embry Crossroads.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

Cambrian Overlook in Central Highlands, Irondale Public Library in East Irondale, Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham and Mill School in Pell City.

More about Birmingham and Georgia Aquarium

Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.

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