Homewood's main roads, MAX buses and the new $1.50 on-demand rides, the Birmingham airport, the greenway and downtown parking: three-hour street limit.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Homewood, MAX Transit, the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Birmingham Airport Authority.

Homewood sits over Red Mountain from downtown Birmingham, and Interstate 65, U.S. 31 and U.S. 280 all touch the city. Since July 2026 the city has had its own $1.50 on-demand ride service, and the Shades Creek Greenway gives walkers and cyclists an east-west route across town.

Who to call

Main roads

  • Interstate 65: the Lakeshore Parkway interchange, Exit 255, in Homewood is being rebuilt as a diverging diamond through fall 2027, ALDOT says.
  • U.S. 31, once called Montgomery Highway: ALDOT’s signal and sidewalk project between Old Montgomery Highway and Ventura Avenue is underway, mostly at night.
  • U.S. 280: the Hollywood Boulevard bridge over U.S. 280 is getting new sidewalks now and a wider bridge from 2027.
  • Local roads you will hear about most in city notices: Lakeshore Drive, Oxmoor Road, Green Springs Highway, Valley Avenue and 18th Street South, the heart of downtown.

The city says the Red Mountain Expressway, built in the 1980s, helped grow Homewood’s economic base. See our road construction guide for this week’s closures.

Buses and on-demand rides

MAX On-Demand in Homewood. The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, which runs as MAX Transit, started microtransit in Homewood in July 2026. You request a ride in the MAX Connect app, get picked up nearby and ride anywhere within the city limits for $1.50 a trip. The pilot runs through September 2027, paid for by about $792,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.

Fixed-route buses. MAX’s routes page lists:

  • Route 31, Highway 31 South: Central Station, UAB Hospital, Five Points South, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and the Riverchase Galleria, along U.S. 31. Schedule (PDF).
  • Route 280, Highway 280: Central Station, UAB, Five Points South, The Summit and on out U.S. 280. Schedule (PDF).
  • The Magic City Connector, which MAX says runs along 20th Street from Birmingham’s Uptown district to Homewood, connecting with other routes.

Use the MAX trip planner for the stop nearest you.

Airport

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is at 5900 Messer Airport Highway in Birmingham. The airport’s directions page has driving routes, and its parking page covers the economy lot, which has shuttles running continuously to the terminal.

Walking and biking

The Shades Creek Greenway is Homewood’s main trail, with a 1.4-mile western extension opened in January 2025. Motorized vehicles are banned on the greenway; electric bikes are allowed. The U.S. 31 pedestrian tunnel near the Piggly Wiggly, built in 1954, is closed for renovation. See our parks and trails guide.

Electric scooters are generally treated as motor vehicles under Alabama law, Homewood Police say in their riding safely guide, and golf carts are not allowed on public roads. Registered, insured low-speed vehicles driven by licensed drivers 16 and older may use roads posted at 35 mph or less.

Parking downtown and in Edgewood

  • Street parking is limited to three hours, and the Homewood Police Department has hired a parking enforcement officer, the city said in July 2026. Leave the two “Law Enforcement” spaces in front of SoHo Square free.
  • Dawson parking deck, Edgewood: floors 2, 3 and 4 of the Dawson Baptist Church deck are open to the public 7 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday, adding more than 300 spaces for the Edgewood business district, the city says.
  • Compact spaces: a vehicle in a space marked compact must fit entirely inside the lines, under an ordinance approved in 2026.

For permits and city contacts, see who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Is there public transportation in Homewood, Alabama?

Yes. Since July 2026, MAX On-Demand microtransit has offered point-to-point rides anywhere inside Homewood’s city limits for $1.50 a trip, booked on the MAX Connect app. MAX fixed-route buses also serve the area.

How long can I park on the street in Homewood?

Street parking in Homewood is limited to three hours, the city says. The Homewood Police Department has a parking enforcement officer.

Where can I park in Edgewood?

The second, third and fourth floors of the Dawson Baptist Church parking deck are open to the public 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, adding more than 300 spaces for the Edgewood business district.

What is the closest airport to Homewood?

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, 5900 Messer Airport Highway in Birmingham.

Can I drive a golf cart on Homewood streets?

No. Traditional golf carts are not street legal under Alabama law, Homewood Police say. Registered, insured low-speed vehicles may use roads posted at 35 mph or less.