Famous road · 13 mi off the route
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
Manchester to Birmingham drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 1 hr 46 min
- Distance
- 86 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £14
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Manchester to Birmingham drive
The drive from Manchester to Birmingham covers 86 miles (139 km) and takes about 1 hr 46 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Most of it is one road: the M6 carries 76% of the distance. You pass Altrincham, Stoke-on-Trent and Walsall on the way.
Expect gentle hills rather than climbs. The high point is around 158 m near Walsall. The A54 Congleton to Buxton is 13 mi off the route if you have time for a detour.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £14 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 86 miles this is longer than 12% of the 144 routes covered here, short enough to fold into a bigger itinerary without losing a day.
The road, mile by mile
Towns within a few miles of the fastest route, with the time it takes to reach them without stopping.
- StartManchester
- 14 miAltrincham16 min in
- 45 miStoke-on-Trent55 min in
- 75 miWalsall1 h 32 min in
- 86 miBirmingham
How high it goes
Roads you'll be on
- M666 mi · 76%
- A510312 mi · 14%
Famous roads on or near the drive
From the 500-plus passes and driving roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app. None are on the fastest route, but these are close enough for a detour.
Famous road · 15 mi off the route
Goyt Valley road, Peak District
Famous road · 15 mi off the route
Cat and Fiddle Road (A537)
Famous road · 16 mi off the route
Snake Pass
- Summit
- 510 m summit
Best stops between Manchester and Birmingham
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Landmarks
Ironbridge Gorge
Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the world's first iron bridge built in 1779.
Racetracks
Oulton Park
A picturesque Cheshire circuit winding through parkland with dramatic elevation changes, a favourite of British club and national racing.
Famous Roads
Cat and Fiddle Road
A thrilling moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton in the Peak District, one of the UK's most famous driving roads.
Scenic Viewpoints
Cat and Fiddle Viewpoint
A high-altitude viewpoint on the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, one of England's highest roads with expansive moorland vistas.
Natural Wonders
Lud's Church
Deep mossy chasm hidden in Back Forest above the Dane Valley, 18m deep and cool even in summer. Lollards held secret services here, and scholars identify it as the Green Chapel of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Cafes & Pit Stops
Cat and Fiddle Inn
A historic pub near the summit of the A537 Cat and Fiddle Road between Buxton and Macclesfield, once named Britain's most dangerous road and a famous biking destination.
Landmarks
Alton Towers
Major British theme park set in the grounds of a historic estate in Staffordshire with record-breaking coasters.
Landmarks
Bentley Factory Tour
Exclusive guided tours of Bentley's Crewe factory where master craftspeople build the world's finest luxury cars.
Famous Roads
Cat and Fiddle Road (A537)
The moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton, a Peak District favourite with sweeping bends and long sightlines. Average-speed cameras now cover it.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
United Kingdom
- Motorway
- 112 km/h · 48 in town
- Tolls
- Individual tolled crossings (Dart Charge, M6 Toll)
- Drives on
- the left
Low-emission zones: London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in United Kingdom
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
104 km · 2h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Atlantic Highway A39: North Cornwall
Cornish surf beaches, smuggler's coves, and the Westcountry pasty trail
139 km · 2.5h driving · 7 stops · 4 days
Causeway Coastal Route
Belfast to Derry along Northern Ireland's cliff-edge coast, via Game of Thrones country
200 km · 3.3h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
NC500: North Coast 500
Scotland's answer to Route 66: 516 miles of mountains, single-track roads, and empty beaches
755 km · 11.4h driving · 9 stops · 7 days
Manchester to Birmingham FAQs
How long is the drive from Manchester to Birmingham?
Driving from Manchester to Birmingham takes about 1 hr 46 min nonstop, covering 86 miles (139 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Manchester to Birmingham?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £14 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Manchester to Birmingham in one day?
Yes, at about 1 hr 46 min of driving, Manchester to Birmingham is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
Which roads do you take from Manchester to Birmingham?
The fastest route uses the M6 (about 66 mi), the A5103 (about 12 mi). It passes Altrincham, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 57 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Manchester and Birmingham?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Ironbridge Gorge, Oulton Park, Cat and Fiddle Road: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Manchester & Birmingham
Birmingham → BristolBirmingham → CardiffBirmingham → EdinburghBirmingham → GlasgowBirmingham → YorkLondon → BirminghamLondon → ManchesterManchester → BristolManchester → CardiffManchester → Edinburgh
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.