U.S. Route 31 in Alabama
# U.S. Route 31 in Alabama

U.S. Route 31 (US 31) in Alabama runs north–south up through the heart of Alabama for 386.449 miles (621.929 km). US 31 proper begins at a junction with US 90 and US 98 in Spanish Fort and exits the state into Tennessee running concurrently with Interstate 65 (I-65) near Ardmore. US 31 enters the limits of major cities Montgomery, Birmingham, and Decatur. Throughout the state, with the exception of its concurrency with I-65 north of Athens, US 31 runs concurrently with the unsigned State Route 3 (SR 3). Today, aside from portions through major towns and cities, US 31 is largely a rural two-lane highway. The route has largely been supplanted by I-65, with which it has eight junctions and two concurrencies.

## Route description

As with several other U.S. Routes in Alabama, U.S. Route 31 is mostly parallel to Interstate 65 throughout its journey across the state, servicing several towns and cities Interstate 65 bypasses.

Upon leaving US Route 90 and US Route 98 in Spanish Fort, the route heads due east towards the town of Stapleton, where it joins Alabama State Route 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway). About eleven miles later, the route leaves the Gulf Shores Parkway right-of-way and follows a town square around the Baldwin County Courthouse in Bay Minette. Leaving Bay Minette, the route winds northeast, passing fairly close to the northwestern corner of Florida. Upon crossing into Escambia County, the route winds east through Atmore before dipping south into Flomaton. Several hundred feet from the state line with Florida, the route gains U.S. Route 29, which joins it in a fifteen-mile concurrency northeast to Brewton. After losing U.S. 29 in Brewton, the route heads directly north, crossing the county line into Conecuh County. A few miles later, the route turns to be parallel with Interstate 65.

Reaching U.S. Route 84 just east of Interstate 65, U.S. Routes 31/84 travel into Evergreen, deviating from I-65. East of Evergreen, U.S. Route 84 heads southeast towards Andalusia, while U.S. Route 31 winds back north into Butler County. In far southeastern Butler County, the route engages in a fairly short concurrency with Alabama State Route 55. From the end of this concurrency in Georgiana north to Tennessee and beyond, U.S. 31 roughly parallels I-65. Heading northeast, U.S. 31 passes through Greenville. After cutting a corner of Lowndes County, U.S. 31 enters Montgomery County and crosses over I-65 for the first time.

After crossing U.S. Route 80 - which follows the historic Selma to Montgomery March Corridor - the route turns onto a beltway routing around western Montgomery, the capital of Alabama. At this point, it passes within a few miles of its child routes U.S. Route 331 and U.S. Route 231. After crossing the Alabama River, the route cuts a corner of Elmore County and enters Autauga County. In Prattville, the route has its junction with U.S. Route 82. It crosses Interstate 65 again a few miles later, quickly entering into Chilton County.

The route reaches its next concurrency with Alabama State Route 22, which it carries across Interstate 65 and into downtown Clanton, the geographical center of Alabama. After leaving SR-22, it heads north into Shelby County. After Calera, the route crosses I-65, serving Saginaw. It yet again crosses I-65 into the town of Alabaster. It enters Jefferson County a few miles later, home of Birmingham (AL).

In southern Jefferson County, the route reaches Hoover. At this point, the route crosses Interstate 459 - a partial beltway around Birmingham. In Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham, the route crosses Interstate 65 yet again, its last crossing in the county. Snaking up to Homewood, another suburb of Birmingham, the route reaches U.S. Route 280. At its interchange with U.S. 280, the route becomes the Red Mountain Expressway, descending down Red Mountain. Descending onto a viaduct above eastern Birmingham, the route has its junctions with U.S. Route 78 and U.S. Route 11 before reaching their Interstate parallels, the concurrent Interstate 20 and Interstate 59, which is also the western terminus of U.S. Route 280. At this junction, the route dips down out of the viaduct onto surface streets, passing through the northern suburbs of Birmingham. A few miles later, the route has its junction with Interstate 22; this is also a dual junction with Interstate 65, but not a crossing. At this point, the route leaves Birmingham.

Winding through Fultondale, Gardendale, Morris, and Warrior, the route serves the communities of hilly northern Jefferson County. After crossing the county line into Blount County, the route has a junction with Alabama State Route 160 immediately followed by a Parclo Interchange with Interstate 65. At this point, U.S. Route 31 enters its first concurrency with Interstate 65. A few miles later in Smoke Rise, the route leaves Interstate 65 at a trumpet interchange. Following an arc, the route winds through a ridge cut, passes through Bangor, and crosses the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River into Cullman County.

Immediately entering Garden City, the route slowly starts to arc back towards I-65. In Hanceville, the route passes Wallace State University and also passes within a few miles of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Winding north out of Hanceville, the route crosses into the city limits of Cullman. A few miles into the city limits, the route engages in a concurrency with Alabama State Route 69. About two miles later, it reaches U.S. Route 278, which is also the end of the SR-69 concurrency. Heading north out of town, the route crosses SR-157, the University of North Alabama Highway. After descending down into Morgan County, the route yet again crosses Interstate 65. Heading north, the route passes through Hartselle before serving Decatur. Just south of the Tennessee River, the route enters its next concurrency with U.S. 72 Alt.

Crossing the Tennessee River into Limestone County, the route has a Directional-T Interchange and loses U.S. 72 Alt, heading north out of the junction. Passing by Calhoun Community College, the route heads its way to Athens (AL). At this point, it has a Parclo Interchange with U.S. Route 72. A few miles later, it returns to a concurrent state with Interstate 65, which it follows all the way to one mile above the state line with Tennessee.

## Major intersections

| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Baldwin | Spanish Fort | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 90 (SR 16) / US 98 (SR 42 / Spanish Fort Boulevard) | Southern terminus |
| Baldwin | Spanish Fort | 0.209 | 0.336 | SR 225 north | Southern terminus of SR 225 |
| Baldwin | Daphne | 3.634 | 5.848 | SR 181 south / CR 27 north (Jimmy Faulkner Drive) to I-10 | Northern terminus of SR 181 |
| Baldwin | ​ | 9.819 | 15.802 | SR 59 south – Loxley, Gulf Shores | Southern end of SR 59 overlap |
| Baldwin | Bay Minette | 20.446 | 32.905 | SR 59 north (McMeans Avenue) to I-65 / D'Olive Street | Northern end of SR 59 overlap; To I-65 signed northbound only |
| Baldwin | Bay Minette | 21.135 | 34.013 | SR 287 north (Hand Avenue) / Hand Avenue | Southern terminus of SR 287 |
| Escambia | Atmore | 41.212 | 66.324 | SR 21 (Main Street) to I-65 – Pensacola, Monroeville, Coastal Alabama Community College | Cities signed southbound only |
| Escambia | Flomaton | 55.460 | 89.254 | US 29 south / SR 113 south (Sidney E. Manning Boulevard) – Pensacola | Southern end of US 29 / SR 113 overlap |
| Escambia | Flomaton | 56.601 | 91.090 | SR 113 north to I-65 | Northern end of SR 113 overlap |
| Escambia | Brewton | 69.320 | 111.560 | US 29 north (SR 15 north / Mildred Street) / SR 41 (South Nicholas Avenue) to I-65 – Andalusia, Repton | Northern end of US 29 overlap; southern terminus of SR 15; destinations signed southbound only |
| Conecuh | ​ | 93.004 | 149.675 | US 84 west (SR 12 west) to I-65 | Southern end of US 84 / SR 12 overlap |
| Conecuh | Evergreen | 95.670 | 153.966 | SR 83 north (Cooper Street) to I-65 – Midway | Southern terminus of SR 83 |
| Conecuh | ​ | 101.861 | 163.929 | US 84 east (SR 12 east) – Andalusia | Northern end of US 84 / SR 12 overlap |
| Butler | McKenzie | 115.515 | 185.903 | SR 55 south / South Garland Road – Andalusia, McKenzie | Southern end of SR 55 overlap |
| Butler | ​ | 119.5 | 192.3 | SR 55 north / Kokomo Road | Northern end of SR 55 overlap |
| Butler | Georgiana | 122.910 | 197.804 | SR 106 – Brantley, Georgiana | |
| Butler | ​ | 134.128 | 215.858 | SR 185 north (Aztec Road) – Greenville | Southern end of SR 185 Truck overlap; southern terminus of SR 185; southern terminus of SR 185 Truck |
| Butler | Greenville | 138.942 | 223.605 | SR 10 / SR 185 Truck north (Luverne Highway / East Commerce Street) to SR 10 Truck – Luverne, Greenville | Northern end of SR 185 Truck overlap |
| Lowndes | ​ | 151.213 | 243.354 | SR 185 south / CR 4 | Northern terminus of SR 185 |
| Lowndes | ​ | 157.593 | 253.621 | SR 97 north – Hayneville | Southern end of SR 97 overlap |
| Lowndes | Davenport | 159.063 | 255.987 | SR 97 south to US 331 | Northern end of SR 97 overlap |
| Montgomery | Hope Hull | 174.046 | 280.100 | I-65 – Montgomery, Mobile | I-65 exit 164 |
| Montgomery | Montgomery | 177.262 | 285.276 | US 80 (SR 8 / Selma Highway) / SR 21 south to I-65 – Selma | Southern end of SR 21 overlap; interchange on US 80 |
| Montgomery | Montgomery | 178.494 | 287.258 | SR 21 north (West South Boulevard) to I-65 / I-85 / US 82 / US 231 / US 331 / Mobile Highway – Union Springs | Northern end of SR 21 overlap; destination signed southbound only |
| Montgomery–Elmore county line | ​ | 186.018– 186.304 | 299.367– 299.827 | Bridge over the Alabama River | Bridge over the Alabama River |
| Elmore | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions |
| Autauga | Prattville | 188.271 | 302.993 | US 82 (SR 6) to SR 14 / I-65 | |
| Autauga | ​ | 196.581 | 316.366 | I-65 – Montgomery, Birmingham | I-65 exit 186 |
| Chilton | Mountain Creek | 208.882 | 336.163 | SR 143 south – Marbury | Northern terminus of SR 143 |
| Chilton | ​ | 213.408 | 343.447 | SR 22 east – Alexander City | Southern end of SR 22 overlap |
| Chilton | Clanton | 217.466 | 349.978 | I-65 – Birmingham, Montgomery | I-65 exit 208 |
| Chilton | Clanton | 221.710 | 356.808 | SR 22 west / SR 145 north (Fourth Avenue North) – Selma | Northern end of SR 22 overlap; southern terminus of SR 145 |
| Chilton | Jemison | 232.684 | 374.469 | SR 191 south / CR 42 (Church Street) / Church Street – Maplesville | Northern terminus of SR 191 |
| Chilton | ​ | 234.790 | 377.858 | SR 155 north – Montevallo | Southern terminus of SR 155 |
| Shelby | Calera | 242.795 | 390.741 | SR 25 south / 18th Avenue | Southern end of SR 25 overlap |
| Shelby | Calera | 242.955 | 390.998 | SR 25 north (Main Street) to I-65 | Northern end of SR 25 overlap |
| Shelby | Calera | 245.674 | 395.374 | I-65 – Montgomery, Birmingham | I-65 exit 231 |
| Shelby | Calera | 246.670 | 396.977 | SR 70 east / CR 22 west – Columbiana | Southern terminus of SR 70 |
| Shelby | Alabaster | 252.935 | 407.059 | I-65 – Birmingham, Montgomery | I-65 exit 238 |
| Shelby | Alabaster | 253.652 | 408.213 | SR 119 south (Montevallo Road) / CR 11 north (Simmsville Road) – Montevallo, Brierfield State Park | Southern end of SR 119 overlap |
| Shelby | Pelham | 260.473 | 419.191 | SR 119 north (Cahaba Valley Road) to I-65 / Commerce Parkway | Northern end of SR 119 overlap |
| Shelby | Pelham | 261.493 | 420.832 | SR 261 south (Helena Road) / CR 17 north (Valleydale Road) to I-65 – Helena | Northern terminus of SR 261 |
| Jefferson | Hoover | 263.732 | 424.436 | SR 150 west (John Hawkins Parkway) / Lorna Road | Eastern terminus of SR 150 |
| Jefferson | ​ | 264.277 | 425.313 | I-459 – Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa | I-459 exit 13 |
| Jefferson | Hoover–Vestavia Hills line | 266.187 | 428.386 | I-65 / Lorna Road / Columbiana Road – Montgomery, Birmingham | I-65 exit 252 |
| Jefferson | Homewood | 270.698 | 435.646 | SR 149 | |
| Jefferson | Homewood | 270 | 430 | Brookwood Medical Center Drive | Interchange |
| Jefferson | Homewood | 270.698 | 435.646 | SR 149 (Shades Creek Parkway / Lakeshore Drive) | Interchange |
| Jefferson | Homewood | 271.7 | 437.3 | Southern end of Red Mountain Expressway | Southern end of Red Mountain Expressway |
| Jefferson | Homewood | 272.076 | 437.864 | US 280 east (SR 38 East) / Rosedale Drive – Sylacauga, Homewood | Southern end of US 280 overlap; interchange; destinations signed southbound only; western terminus of unsigned SR 38 |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 272.5 | 438.5 | 21st Avenue South | Southbound exit and northbound entrance |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 272.9 | 439.2 | Highland Avenue / Arlington Avenue | Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 273.6 | 440.3 | University Boulevard | |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 274.162 | 441.221 | To US 78 (SR 4 / 3rd-4th Avenue South) | |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 274.234 | 441.337 | US 11 (SR 7 / First Avenue North) | Northbound exit only |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 274.4 | 441.6 | 2nd Avenue North | Northbound exit and southbound entrance; entrance ramp from 3rd Avenue North |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 275.407 | 443.225 | I-20 / I-59 to I-65 – Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa | No access from US 31 south to I-20 / 59 or from I-20 east / I-59 north to US 31 north; northern end of US 280 overlap; western terminus of US 280; I-20 / 59 exit 126A |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 275.1 | 442.7 | Northern end of Red Mountain Expressway | Northern end of Red Mountain Expressway |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 276.762 | 445.405 | SR 378 west (Finley Boulevard) to I-65 / Finley Boulevard | Eastern terminus of SR 378 |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | | | I-22 west – Memphis | Future interchange (under construction); future eastern terminus of I-22 |
| Jefferson | Birmingham | 279.5 | 449.8 | I-65 – Huntsville, Birmingham | I-65 southbound exit 265B |
| Jefferson | ​ | | | I-422 | Future interchange exit 19; temporary western terminus of future I-422 (funded, to be completed by 2028) |
| Blount | ​ | 299.707 | 482.332 | SR 160 east – Hayden | Western terminus of SR 160 |
| Blount | ​ | 299.823284.361 | 482.518457.635 | I-65 south / Lester Doss Road / White Oak Trail – Birmingham | Southern end of I-65 overlap; I-65 exit 284; mileposts switch from SR 3 to I-65 |
| Blount | ​ | 287.370302.832 | 462.477487.361 | I-65 north – Cullman, Decatur | Northern end of I-65 overlap; I-65 exit 287; mileposts switch from I-65 to SR 3 |
| Cullman | Hanceville | 317.460 | 510.902 | SR 91 (Arkadelphia Road) to I-65 / US 278 (SR 74) – Holly Pond, Colony | Destinations signed southbound only |
| Cullman | Cullman | 325.356 | 523.610 | SR 69 south (Cherokee Avenue SW) to I-65 / King Edward Street NW | Southern end of SR 69 overlap |
| Cullman | Cullman | 326.569 | 525.562 | US 278 (SR 74) / SR 69 north (Third Street SW) | Northern end of SR 69 overlap |
| Cullman | Cullman | 328.918 | 529.342 | SR 157 to I-65 / US 278 north (SR 74) – Gadsden, Moulton | |
| Morgan | ​ | 337.073 | 542.466 | I-65 – Nashville, Birmingham | I-65 exit 318; Nashville signed southbound only |
| Morgan | Hartselle | 346.313 | 557.337 | SR 36 (Main Street West) to I-65 – Danville | |
| Morgan | Decatur | 354.958 | 571.250 | SR 67 (Point Mallard Parkway / Beltline Road SW) to I-65 – Priceville, Tuscumbia | |
| Morgan | Decatur | 358.394 | 576.779 | US 72 Alt. west (Corridor V / Wilson Street NE) / SR 20 / Wilson Street NE | Southern end of US 72 Alt. / SR 20 overlap; no access from US 31 north to US 72 Alt./SR 20 west |
| Morgan–Limestone county line | Decatur | 358.731 | 577.322 | Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges over Tennessee River | Captain William J. Hudson "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges over Tennessee River |
| Limestone | Decatur | 360.377 | 579.971 | US 72 Alt. east (Corridor V) / SR 20 east to I-65 / I-565 | Northern end of US 72 Alt. / SR 20 overlap |
| Limestone | Athens | 371.264 | 597.491 | US 72 (SR 2) – Athens, Huntsville | Interchange |
| Limestone | Athens | 372.793 | 599.952 | SR 251 north (Pryor Street) / Pryor Street – Ardmore | Southern terminus of SR 251 |
| Limestone | Athens | 373.647 | 601.327 | SR 99 north (East Elm Street) to SR 127 / Sportsplex Loop | Southern terminus of SR 99 |
| Limestone | Athens | 374.377354.157 | 602.501569.960 | I-65 south – Birmingham | Southern end of I-65 overlap; northern end of SR 3 overlap; northern terminus of SR 3; I-65 exit 354; mileposts switch from SR 3 to I-65 |
| Limestone | ​ | 360.918 | 580.841 | Elkmont | I-65 exit 361 |
| Limestone | ​ | 364.826 | 587.131 | SR 53 south – Ardmore | Northern terminus of SR 53; I-65 exit 365 |
| Limestone | ​ | 366.229 | 589.388 | I-65 north / US 31 north – Nashville | Continuation into Tennessee |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus ||||||
