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Nothing cleaner nearby

Birmingham is breathing 2.5 cigarettes a week

7.7
PM2.5 µg/m³
43
AQI
4.9
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
Look farther for cleaner air

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

You may already have the cleanest nearby air.No meaningfully cleaner place has a verified road route within 3 hours. Widen the range or show worse air for context.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Birmingham Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Montgomery
Cel-shaded illustration of Montgomery
#1MontgomeryPM2.5 5.6~1 h 45 min drivesaves 0.7 cigs/wk

Alabama· PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³

A major Alabama city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 5.6 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.6/22 × 7 = 1.8 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Birmingham right now

27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Gadsden
Cel-shaded illustration of Gadsden
#2GadsdenPM2.5 6.7Checking road route

Alabama· PM2.5 6.7 µg/m³

Alabama community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.7 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.7/22 × 7 = 2.1 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
13% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Huntsville
Cel-shaded illustration of Huntsville
#3HuntsvillePM2.5 9.4~1 h 50 min drive

Alabama· PM2.5 9.4 µg/m³

North Alabama city with plentiful lodging and a separate air-quality reading from Birmingham.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 9.4 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
22% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Tuscaloosa
Cel-shaded illustration of Tuscaloosa
#4TuscaloosaPM2.5 14Checking road route

Alabama· PM2.5 14 µg/m³

Alabama community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 14 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 14/22 × 7 = 4.5 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Birmingham

82% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Selma
Cel-shaded illustration of Selma
#5SelmaPM2.5 15.7Checking road route

Alabama· PM2.5 15.7 µg/m³

Alabama community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 15.7 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 15.7/22 × 7 = 5.0 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Birmingham

104% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Cullman
Cel-shaded illustration of Cullman
#6CullmanPM2.5 16Checking road route

Alabama· PM2.5 16 µg/m³

Alabama community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 16 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 16/22 × 7 = 5.1 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Birmingham

108% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Pleasant Grove
Cel-shaded illustration of Pleasant Grove
#7Pleasant GroveParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

Alabama

Alabama community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Lake Purdy
Cel-shaded illustration of Lake Purdy
#8Lake PurdyParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

Alabama

Alabama community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Gardendale
Cel-shaded illustration of Gardendale
#9GardendaleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

Alabama

Alabama community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Brighton
Cel-shaded illustration of Brighton
#10BrightonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

Alabama

Alabama community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Adamsville
Cel-shaded illustration of Adamsville
#11AdamsvilleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

Alabama

Alabama community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Meadowbrook
Cel-shaded illustration of Meadowbrook
#12MeadowbrookParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

Alabama

Alabama community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Fort Payne
Cel-shaded illustration of Fort Payne
#13Fort PaynePM2.5 5.5Checking road routesaves 0.7 cigs/wk

Alabama· PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³

DeSoto Canyon-adjacent town in Alabama's Appalachian foothills, higher and cooler than the state's lowlands.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 5.5 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.5/22 × 7 = 1.8 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Birmingham right now

29% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Chattanooga
Cel-shaded illustration of Chattanooga
#14ChattanoogaPM2.5 8~2 h 40 min drive

Tennessee· PM2.5 8 µg/m³

River and mountain city with plentiful lodging between Nashville, Atlanta and Birmingham.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 8 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
4% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Auburn
Cel-shaded illustration of Auburn
#15AuburnPM2.5 10.4Checking road route

Alabama· PM2.5 10.4 µg/m³

Alabama community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 10.4 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10.4/22 × 7 = 3.3 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Birmingham

35% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Mentone
Cel-shaded illustration of Mentone
#16MentonePM2.5 12.1Checking road route

Alabama· PM2.5 12.1 µg/m³

Lookout Mountain village above 1,700 feet in northeast Alabama, a cool-ridge escape with cabins and inns.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 12.1 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 12.1/22 × 7 = 3.8 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Birmingham

57% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Atlanta
Cel-shaded illustration of Atlanta
#17AtlantaPM2.5 15.2~2 h 45 min drive

Georgia· PM2.5 15.2 µg/m³

A major Georgia city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 15.2 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 15.2/22 × 7 = 4.8 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Birmingham

97% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
New Orleans
Cel-shaded illustration of New Orleans
#18New OrleansPM2.5 4.9~6 h 15 min drivesaves 0.9 cigs/wk

Louisiana· PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³

A major Louisiana city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 4.9 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.9/22 × 7 = 1.6 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Birmingham right now

36% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Tellico Plains
Cel-shaded illustration of Tellico Plains
#19Tellico PlainsPM2.5 7.1Checking road route

Tennessee· PM2.5 7.1 µg/m³

Cherokee National Forest gateway on the Tellico River, a quiet Smokies-adjacent base with cabins.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 7.1 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.1/22 × 7 = 2.3 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
8% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Natchez
Cel-shaded illustration of Natchez
#20NatchezPM2.5 7.7~6 h 25 min drive

Mississippi· PM2.5 7.7 µg/m³

Historic bluff town high above the Mississippi River, with antebellum inns and open river-valley air.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 7.7 µg/m³ here vs 7.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
0% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

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What this means · Birmingham

Phew.

2.5cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

7.7 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 7.7 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 7.7/22 × 7 = 2.5 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →