Join us as we drive America’s Highways for 3 miles west along U.S. Highway 78 through the city of Leeds, Alabama—a small yet bustling community nestled just east of Birmingham in Jefferson County.
Our drive begins on the eastern side of Leeds at the intersection of U.S. Highway 78 and Alabama Highway 25. At this point, US-78 takes the name Parkway Drive as it winds its way northwest through the heart of the city. The surroundings are distinctly small-town Southern—think local diners, auto repair shops, and a smattering of old storefronts that hint at Leeds’ historic character. Despite its compact size, this portion of Leeds carries a fair amount of traffic, as US-78 serves as both a local connector and a parallel route to the heavily traveled Interstate 20, just to the south.
As we proceed westbound, we cross through the downtown corridor of Leeds, where U.S. Route 411 intersects our path. This junction is an important local crossroads and serves as the southern terminus of US-411, which stretches all the way into Tennessee. If you’re a fan of Southern culture or local history, this is a good spot to take a detour—Leeds’ downtown district is home to small shops, a few eateries, and some charming architecture that reflects its roots as a 19th-century railroad town. You’ll also find signage here for the John Henry historical marker, commemorating the legendary folk hero said to have raced a steam drill nearby.
Shortly after passing through downtown, U.S. 78 crosses the Little Cahaba River. This small but scenic waterway winds its way through central Alabama and adds a splash of greenery to the urban landscape. The highway takes a slight bend southwest as it skirts a low hill, and the setting becomes a bit more open. On your right, you’ll find residential neighborhoods tucked away behind a buffer of trees, while to the left, commercial buildings begin to give way to light industrial areas and more natural terrain.
A few minutes later, we arrive at the intersection with Rex Lake Road, which serves as a connector to one of the region’s major attractions: the Barber Motorsports Park. If you’re into motorsports or automotive history, this is a must-visit. The park includes a world-class road course and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum—home to one of the largest motorcycle collections in the world. This makes Leeds not just a waypoint, but a destination for racing enthusiasts and road trippers alike. In fact, this entire stretch of US-78 doubles as the approach to the Barber complex for many visitors traveling from Birmingham and beyond.
Our journey concludes just shy of the interchange with Interstate 20, a major east-west corridor that links Leeds with Birmingham to the west and Anniston and Atlanta to the east. While the drive along US-78 in Leeds is relatively short—just three miles—it offers a compact look at the city’s mix of commerce, history, and outdoor appeal. Whether you’re using this segment as a local route or part of a broader road trip across Alabama, it’s an accessible and engaging stretch of highway.
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