View source for U.S. Route 31

{{Short description|Highway in the United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=US
|route=31
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/U.S. Route 31}}}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes = US&nbsp;31 highlighted in red; US&nbsp;31E/31W split in orange
|length_mi=1280
|length_round=0
|length_ref={{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
|established={{start date|df=yes|1926|11|11}}<ref name=mcnichol>{{cite book |last= McNichol |first= Dan |year= 2006 |title= The Roads that Built America |location= New York |publisher= Sterling |isbn= 1-4027-3468-9 |page= 74}}</ref>
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{Jct|country=USA|US|90|US|98}} in [[Spanish Fort, Alabama|Spanish Fort, AL]]
|junction={{plainlist|1=
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|65}} near [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham, AL]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|20|I|59}} in Birmingham, AL
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|22}} near [[Fultondale, Alabama|Fultondale, AL]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|24}} in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville, TN]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|40}} in Nashville, TN
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|64}} in Louisville, KY
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|65|I|69|I|70|I|74}} in [[Indianapolis|Indianapolis, IN]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|80|I|90}} in [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend, IN]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|94}} near [[Benton Harbor, Michigan|Benton Harbor, MI]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|96}} in [[Norton Shores, Michigan|Norton Shores, MI]]
}}
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=MI|I|75}} near [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City, MI]]
|states=[[Alabama]], [[Tennessee]], [[Kentucky]], [[Indiana]], [[Michigan]]
| previous_type = US
| previous_route = 30
| next_type = US 1926
| next_route = 32
}}
'''U.S. Route&nbsp;31''' or '''U.S. Highway&nbsp;31''' ('''US&nbsp;31''') is a major north–south [[U.S. highway]] connecting southern [[Alabama]] to northern [[Michigan]]. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with [[U.S. Route 90|US&nbsp;90]]/[[U.S. Route 98|US&nbsp;98]] in [[Spanish Fort, Alabama]]. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with [[Interstate&nbsp;75]] (I-75) south of [[Mackinaw City, Michigan]].

US&nbsp;31 once crossed the [[Straits of Mackinac]] by car ferry to intersect [[U.S. Route 2|US&nbsp;2]] north of [[St. Ignace, Michigan]], in the [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan|Upper Peninsula]] and then formerly reached Mackinaw City along the southern approaches of the [[Mackinac Bridge]] (which has been taken over by I-75). It also formerly entered downtown [[Mobile, Alabama]], via a long bridge over [[Mobile Bay]].

The southern segment of US 31 connects the cities of Mobile, [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], and [[Decatur, Alabama|Decatur]] in Alabama, and [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] in [[Tennessee]]. The northern segment of US 31 connects [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] in [[Kentucky]], and [[Indianapolis]] in [[Indiana]]. From Nashville to Louisville, US 31 is signed [[U.S. Route 31W]] and [[U.S. Route 31E]]. From the Mobile Bay area in Alabama to Indianapolis, US 31 travels parallel to [[Interstate 65]] (I-65).

==Route description==

===Alabama===
{{main|U.S. Route 31 in Alabama}}
[[File:US31 South End - US90 US98 East West Signs - Spanish Fort (29362238438).jpg|thumb|left|Southern terminus of US 31 in Spanish Fort, AL]]
US&nbsp;31 begins in [[Spanish Fort, Alabama]] at a junction with [[U.S. Route 90|US&nbsp;90 and]] [[U.S. Route 98|98]].  Formerly, the route originated in [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], co-routed with US&nbsp;90 and 98.  Whereas [[Interstate 65 in Alabama|Interstate 65]] leaves the [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] Metropolitan Area via a route on the west side of the city, US&nbsp;31 leaves the Mobile area via a route on the eastern side of the metro area, passing through [[Bay Minette, Alabama|Bay Minette]].  I-65 has effectively replaced US&nbsp;31 as the preferred route for through traffic, making US&nbsp;31 a local connecting route.

Near [[Atmore, Alabama|Atmore]], the route passes extremely close to the [[Florida Panhandle]]'s extreme northwestern corner, missing by approximately 1000 feet.
 
At [[Flomaton, Alabama|Flomaton]], US&nbsp;31 begins a 15-mile virtual east–west concurrency with [[U. S. Route 29 in Alabama|US&nbsp;29]] that continues to [[Brewton, Alabama|Brewton]].  North of Brewton, US&nbsp;31 assumes a northeast–southwest trajectory, passing through rural areas and small towns in [[Escambia County, Alabama|Escambia and]] [[Conecuh County, Alabama|Conecuh Counties]].  In [[Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama|Evergreen]], US&nbsp;31 north and [[U.S. Route 84|US&nbsp;84]] share a brief concurrency heading north and east out of town.

Although US&nbsp;31 parallels Interstate 65 throughout Alabama, the two routes do not directly junction each other until they reach [[Pintlala, Alabama|Pintlala]] in southern [[Montgomery County, Alabama|Montgomery County]], which is 164 miles north of Mobile.  The two routes do not junction each other again for another 22 miles.  US&nbsp;31 is routed along a bypass of [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], the state capital.  At [[Prattville, Alabama|Prattville]], this route intersects [[U.S. Route 82]].

North of Prattville, US&nbsp;31 passes through rural areas of [[Autauga County, Alabama|Autauga]] and [[Chilton County, Alabama|Chilton Counties]], primarily along two-lane roadways.  Between Prattville and [[Alabaster, Alabama|Alabaster]], US&nbsp;31 has three interchanges with I-65.

Between [[Saginaw, Alabama|Saginaw]] and [[Warrior, Alabama|Warrior]], US&nbsp;31 is routed along multi-laned routes as it passes through the [[Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area]].  It passes through suburbs such as Alabaster, [[Pelham, Alabama|Pelham]], [[Hoover, Alabama|Hoover]] and [[Vestavia Hills, Alabama|Vestavia Hills]].  In [[Homewood, Alabama|Homewood]], US&nbsp;31 merges with [[U.S. Route 280]] and is routed along the [[Elton B. Stephens Expressway]], a 2.6-mile limited access highway that connects the south suburbs with downtown [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]].  US&nbsp;31 and 280 are co-routed until the expressway junctions [[Interstate 20 in Alabama|I-20/]] [[Interstate 59 in Alabama|59]] just northeast of downtown.  This interchange serves as the western terminus of US&nbsp;280, and north of the interchange US&nbsp;31 is routed along surface streets as it proceeds northwardly out of Birmingham.

US&nbsp;31 continues to be routed along multi-lane streets and highways as it continues north of Birmingham, meeting the eastern terminus of [[Interstate 22|I-22]] just south of [[Fultondale, Alabama|Fultondale]], and passing through the small town, along with [[Gardendale, Alabama|Gardendale]], [[Morris, Alabama|Morris]] and [[Kimberly, Alabama|Kimberly]], also closely paralleling I-65.  At Warrior, the roadway shrinks to two lanes.  Two miles north of Warrior, US&nbsp;31 and I-65 begin a three-mile concurrency between the interstate route's Exits 284 and 287.  The interstate route was constructed over US&nbsp;31's roadway through this segment.

Between the split from I-65 and [[Garden City, Alabama|Garden City]], US&nbsp;31 is routed along a narrow two-lane route.  North of Garden City, and passing through [[Cullman, Alabama|Cullman]], [[Hartselle, Alabama|Hartselle]], [[Decatur, Alabama|Decatur]] and [[Athens, Alabama|Athens]], it is routed along multi-lane and often divided roadways.
  
At Athens, I-65 and US&nbsp;31 begin a concurrency that continues to just north of the [[Tennessee]] state line.  In both states, US&nbsp;31 is largely unsigned.

In addition to junctions previously cited, US&nbsp;31 junctions [[U.S. Route 80]] in Montgomery, [[Interstate 459]] in Hoover, [[U.S. Route 78]] in Birmingham, [[U.S. Route 278]] in Cullman, [[U.S. Route 72 Alternate]] in Decatur, and [[U.S. Route 72]] in Athens.

Given US&nbsp;31's former importance as a major connecting route in Alabama, in several cities it is known by the name of the city it leads to.  For example, south of Montgomery it is still named Mobile Highway, and northwardly it is referred to as the Birmingham Highway.  Similarly, south of Birmingham it is referred to as Montgomery Highway, and northwardly it is referred to as the Decatur Highway.  Throughout north Alabama plaques and signage refer to the route as the Beeline Highway.

US&nbsp;31 is co-routed with unsigned '''State Route 3''' ('''SR 3''') throughout the state until its junction with [[Interstate 65 in Alabama|I-65]] north of Athens.

===Tennessee===
{{summarize|section|date=October 2018}}
{{main|U.S. Route 31 in Tennessee}}
[[File:US&nbsp;31 NB approaching Gleaves Street Nashville.jpg|thumb|right|US&nbsp;31 northbound on 8th Avenue in Nashville]]
The first mile in [[Tennessee]], US&nbsp;31 [[Concurrency (road)|runs concurrently]] with I-65, somewhat parallel to which it runs until it splits in downtown Nashville, to become US&nbsp;31W and US&nbsp;31E, a relatively uncommon occurrence in U.S. Highways, though not unlike that which occurs to [[U.S. Route 49|US&nbsp;49]] and [[U.S. Route 45|US&nbsp;45]] in [[Mississippi]], [[U.S. Route 19]] in [[North Carolina]] and Tennessee, and [[U.S. Route 11|US&nbsp;11]] in Tennessee.

While upon crossing the state line from Alabama into Tennessee, US&nbsp;31 (also State Route 7 [SR&nbsp;7] at this point) runs to the east of I-65, it crosses over I-65, changing names from Main Street to Elkton Pike on the overpass. According to this name change, US&nbsp;31 runs through Elkton shortly after making this crossing.

After passing through Elkton, US&nbsp;31 wanders, away from I-65, towards the city of [[Pulaski, Tennessee|Pulaski]]. On its way to Pulaski, US&nbsp;31 intersects with US&nbsp;64 and does so once again in the center of the city. In Pulaski, US&nbsp;31 serves as 1st Street in the downtown area. Just north of the downtown area of Pulaski, US&nbsp;31 Alternate (US&nbsp;31A) branches off US&nbsp;31, serving first as East Grigsby Street, then as Lewisburg Highway, never to be visible from US&nbsp;31 again until reaching downtown Nashville.

Continuing north, US&nbsp;31 meanders, following [[Richland Creek (Tennessee)|Richland Creek]] for a portion of the way, named Columbia Highway; naturally, as follows the typical naming trend for former connecting routes, halfway to [[Columbia, Tennessee|Columbia]], the name changes to Pulaski Highway. US&nbsp;31 runs by [[Lynnville, Tennessee|Lynnville]] in this process.

As US&nbsp;31 enters [[Columbia, Tennessee|Columbia]], upon crossing James Campbell Boulevard (also SR&nbsp;50), it is named Carmack Boulevard, at this point a decently wide road with two lanes on each side. While in Columbia, US&nbsp;31 changes names two more times, once to South Garden Street (also temporarily sharing routes with [[U.S. Route 412|US&nbsp;412]] and SR&nbsp;99 in this area), and then to Nashville Highway while SR&nbsp;7 departs from the street. It is a short stretch until US&nbsp;31 hits an intersection with Bear Creek Pike. This is the northern terminus of [[U.S. Route 43|US&nbsp;43]], and also the point at which US&nbsp;412/SR&nbsp;99 resumes its eastern trajectory, away from US&nbsp;31. US&nbsp;31 also picks up the path of SR&nbsp;6 here, in addition to the historical significance of being the former warpath of the [[Military of the Confederate States of America|Confederate forces]] during 1863 and 1864, during the [[American Civil War]].

Upon leaving Columbia, US&nbsp;31 develops a median and a speed limit not too dissimilar from that on I-65, which is still only a few miles to the east of the highway. On the way up to [[Spring Hill, Tennessee|Spring Hill]], US&nbsp;31 passes straight through a small, corner town little-known to be called Neapolis. At this location, there is an on-ramp onto Saturn Pkwy (SR&nbsp;396), named as such because it was once a highway connecting I-65 to the assembly plant belonging to [[Saturn Corporation]], which no longer acts independently from its parent company, [[General Motors]]. No more than two miles further up the highway, Saturn Pkwy has looped back around to begin its trajectory toward I-65, and there are more on and off ramps between [[Tennessee State Route 396|SR&nbsp;396]] and US&nbsp;31.

At this point, US&nbsp;31 returns to its original two-lane, narrow road format, and has entered the rapidly-growing city of Spring Hill, where it serves as Main Street, then as Columbia Pike in the adjacent [[Thompson's Station, Tennessee|Thompson's Station]].

North of Thompson's Station, US&nbsp;31 intersects [[Interstate 840 (Tennessee)|I-840]], serving as exit&nbsp;28 for the southern loop around Nashville. Further up the highway, US&nbsp;31 shares an interchange with Goose Creek Pike, a direct route to I-65. US&nbsp;31 continues up through historic [[Franklin, Tennessee|Franklin]], as Columbia Avenue. In the middle of Franklin, US&nbsp;31 comes to a five-point intersection with the routes of [[U.S. Route 431|US&nbsp;431]] and [[Tennessee State Route 96|SR&nbsp;96]], and a [[roundabout]] two blocks further north which continues the route of SR&nbsp;96 to the east. US&nbsp;31 then proceeds out of Franklin and to the northeast.

As US&nbsp;31 passes through [[Brentwood, Tennessee|Brentwood]], the road widens, again to two lanes per side, and intersects with [[Tennessee State Route 254|SR&nbsp;254]] at the point where it reaches less than a half of a mile from I-65 once again. At this point, US&nbsp;31 remains within this distance from I-65 until reaching its split in downtown Nashville, traveling through the sites of the [[Battle of Franklin (1864)|Battle of Franklin]] and the [[Battle of Nashville]] in the process.

Entering [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], US&nbsp;31 first shares an interchange with [[Tennessee State Route 155|SR&nbsp;155]] (at this point Thompson Lane / Woodmont Boulevard), and, immediately afterwards, travels under an interchange between I-65 and [[Interstate 440 (Tennessee)|I-440]]. After passing through Berry Hill, US&nbsp;31 yet again travels under an interchange, this time between I-65 and [[Interstate 40|I-40]]. Then, US&nbsp;31 reaches another [[roundabout]], where it intersects with [[U.S. Route 41|US41]], [[US&nbsp;31A (TN)|US&nbsp;31A]], and [[US-70S (TN)|US&nbsp;70S]]. Going through Nashville, US&nbsp;31 retains several names: 8th Avenue South, Rosa L Parks Boulevard, James Robertson Pkwy, and 4th Avenue North, respectively as US&nbsp;31 progresses northward. After making a semi-circle, crossing the [[Cumberland River]], and passing under [[Interstate 24|I-24]], US&nbsp;31 makes the split into [[U.S. Route 31W|US&nbsp;31W]] and [[U.S. Route 31E|US&nbsp;31E]].

===Kentucky===
{{main|U.S. Route 31E|U.S. Route 31W}}
{{Attached KML|from=U.S. Route 31 in Kentucky}}
[[U.S. Route 31E|US&nbsp;31E]] stays east of [[Interstate 65 in Kentucky|I-65]], passing through [[Glasgow, Kentucky|Glasgow]] and [[Bardstown, Kentucky|Bardstown]]. It enters [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] from the southeast, where it is named Bardstown Road for most of its length in the city, while [[U.S. Route 31W|US&nbsp;31W]] closely follows I-65 from the Tennessee state line, through [[Bowling Green, Kentucky|Bowling Green]], to [[Elizabethtown, Kentucky|Elizabethtown]]. From here, it diverges to the west and passes through [[Fort Knox]]. North of Fort Knox, US 31W joins with [[U.S. Route 60|US&nbsp;60]] in Kentucky and it roughly follows the [[Ohio River]] into Louisville. In southwestern Louisville, US 31W is called [[Dixie Highway]]. It is the major commercial street in this area.

In [[Downtown Louisville]] at Second Street, US&nbsp;31E and US&nbsp;31W rejoin to form US&nbsp;31 and immediately crosses the Ohio River on the [[George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge|Clark Memorial Bridge]] only traveling {{Convert|0.912|mi|km}} before the route crosses into Indiana.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HIS Official Milepoint Route Log Report |url=https://apps.transportation.ky.gov/dmi_reports/Official_MP_RL_Report1.aspx?param=JEFFERSON |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Kentucky Transportation Cabinet}}</ref>

===Indiana===
{{main|U.S. Route 31 in Indiana}}

US&nbsp;31 travels concurrent with I-65 in [[Jeffersonville, Indiana|Jeffersonville]], after having crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky. It splits off north of [[Jeffersonville, Indiana|Jeffersonville]] at [[Clarksville, Indiana|Clarksville]] and proceeds to [[Indianapolis]]. At [[Interstate 465|I-465]] on the south side of [[Indianapolis]], US&nbsp;31 is now routed onto I-465 on the east side of the city. US&nbsp;31 exits I-465 in extreme southern [[Hamilton County, Indiana|Hamilton County]], and continues northward. US&nbsp;31 then passes through or near [[Carmel, Indiana|Carmel]], [[Kokomo, Indiana|Kokomo]], [[Rochester, Indiana|Rochester]], [[Plymouth, Indiana|Plymouth]] and [[Lakeville, Indiana|Lakeville]], often following a historic Native American trail to what was once a French fur-trading outpost on [[Mackinac Island]] and later the British [[Fort Holmes]]. As it passes [[Potato Creek State Park]] and approaches southern [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]], US 31 travels concurrent with [[U.S. Route 20|US 20]] in Indiana and proceeds west then northward on the [[St. Joseph Valley Parkway]], bypassing South Bend and proceeding into [[Michigan]].

===Michigan===
{{main|U.S. Route 31 in Michigan}}
[[File:U.S. Route 31 northern terminus.jpg|thumb|right|Northern terminus of US 31 in [[Mackinaw Township, Michigan|Mackinaw Township]]|alt= Photograph showing US 31 northern terminus]]
US&nbsp;31 follows the St. Joseph Valley Parkway northward into southern Michigan to an interchange with [[Interstate 94|I-94]] near [[Benton Harbor, Michigan|Benton Harbor]]–[[St. Joseph, Michigan|St. Joseph]], then [[concurrency (road)|runs concurrently]] north to [[Interstate 196|I-196]]. US&nbsp;31 then runs concurrently with I-196 along the shore of [[Lake Michigan]] north to the [[Holland, Michigan|Holland]] area. US&nbsp;31 departs from I-196 as a [[divided highway]] with many [[Michigan left]]s north to [[Grand Haven, Michigan|Grand Haven]], where it becomes a freeway again. This freeway continues northward through the [[Muskegon, Michigan|Muskegon]] area until [[Ludington, Michigan|Ludington]], where the freeway ends and US&nbsp;31 turns east concurrently with [[U.S. Route 10|US&nbsp;10]] to [[Scottville, Michigan|Scottville]] before turning northward again toward [[Manistee, Michigan|Manistee]].<ref name=MDOT15>{{cite MDOT map |year= 2015 |sections= E10–G8, G7–N8}}</ref>

At [[Beulah, Michigan|Beulah]], US&nbsp;31 runs eastward into [[Grand Traverse County, Michigan|Grand Traverse County]]. South of [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]], US&nbsp;31 turns northward along [[M-37 (Michigan highway)|M-37]], running concurrently into the city. Next to [[Grand Traverse Bay]], US&nbsp;31/M-37 turns easterly along [[M-72 (Michigan highway)|M-72]]; the three highways run together along the bay before separating. M-37 turns northward up the Old Mission Peninsula, and M-72 turns easterly at [[Acme, Michigan|Acme]]. US&nbsp;31 continues northward along the eastern shore of Grand Traverse Bay, running eastward through [[Charlevoix, Michigan|Charlevoix]] and along [[Little Traverse Bay]] into [[Petoskey, Michigan|Petoskey]]. There, US&nbsp;31 intersects the northern end of [[U.S. Route 131|US&nbsp;131]] before rounding the bay and heading northward and inland toward [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City]]. US&nbsp;31 ends at a directional interchange with [[Interstate 75|I-75]] south of Mackinaw City.<ref name=MDOT15/>

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2007}}
In the 1930s, US&nbsp;31 continued from [[St. Ignace, Michigan|St. Ignace]] across the [[Straits of Mackinac]], and intersected [[U.S. Route 2|US&nbsp;2]] (Mackinac Trail and what later became [[M-123 (Michigan highway)|M-123]]).

Before the Interstate era, US&nbsp;31 was a major north–south highway. I-65 supplanted US&nbsp;31 and either US&nbsp;31W or US&nbsp;31E as a through route between [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] and [[Indianapolis]]. South of Indianapolis, all segments of US&nbsp;31 not traveling concurrently with I-65 have been reduced to roads largely of local use. [[Interstate 196|I-196]] now carries the route of US&nbsp;31 between [[Holland, Michigan|Holland]], and [[St. Joseph, Michigan]]. All of US&nbsp;31 between Indianapolis and [[Ludington, Michigan]], is divided highway—some of it is freeway, including a [[bypass (road)|bypass route]] of [[South Bend, Indiana]]. The segment between Indianapolis and South Bend is scheduled for upgrade or replacement with Interstate-standard freeway. Environmental impact studies have shown that the fifth phase of the then-to-be-constructed freeway segment between Napier Avenue near [[Benton Harbor, Michigan]], and [[Interstate 94|I-94]] would be completed in mid-November 2022; the segment officially opened on November 9.

The portion of [[Interstate 75|I-75]] north of US&nbsp;31's northern terminus toward the [[Mackinac Bridge]] was designated part of US&nbsp;31 prior to the 1990s and was US&nbsp;31's northernmost portion to be built to [[Controlled-access highway|freeway]] status. Since its truncation at the I-75 interchange, however, the northernmost segment of the US&nbsp;31 freeway ends near Ludington.

Until 1975, the split of US&nbsp;31 into US&nbsp;31E and US&nbsp;31W took place in [[Sellersburg, Indiana]] about {{Convert|10|mi}} north of its current split at the Kentucky end of the Clark Memorial Bridge.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Officials |first=American Association of State Highway and Transportation |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/U.S._Route_Numbering_Committee_Agenda_1975-11-15 |title=U.S. Route Numbering Committee Agenda}}</ref>

In Alabama, US&nbsp;31 follows portions of the Pulaski Pike beginning at the Alabama–Tennessee State line at Ardmore, and was originally routed on what is now called [[Alabama State Route 251]] (SR-251). It follows roughly along the Decatur Stage Road to the site of Rhodes Ferry in Decatur, and also intersected and follows portions of the Stouts Road to Birmingham. From Birmingham, it follows portions of the Columbiana Road and roughly parallels it in Hoover along the present widened route and intersects with the Ashville-Montevallo Road or the Cahaba Trail (SR-119) and follows it on a branch to Calera. US&nbsp;31, beginning in Chilton County, follows a branch of the Talladega-Montgomery Stage Road, a road that went from Talladega and went south from Columbiana to near present-day Clanton, Verbena, and Montgomery, and was operated by Jemison, Ficklin, & Powell, who operated stagecoaches on the road. US&nbsp;31 in Prattville came to the site of Reese's Ferry on the Alabama River, where it was replaced by the present bridge near Prattville. From Montgomery, US&nbsp;31 follows parts of the Federal Road, and is presently routed on the Greenville Branch of the Federal Road, and follows the Montgomery-Mobile Road through Conecuh, and Escambia Counties and also intersects with the Pensacola Trading Path or the "Old Wolf Trail" from Burnt Corn.

At its southern end, US&nbsp;31 originally traveled further west than it currently does, passing through [[Spanish Fort, Alabama]]. It crossed [[Mobile Bay]] via several narrow bridges, including the Admiral Raphael Semmes Bridge, a drawbridge spanning the [[Tensaw River]]. It turned north along the east bank of the [[Mobile River]], crossing the river into [[Plateau, Alabama|Plateau]], over the former Cochrane Bridge, another old drawbridge where the current [[Cochrane–Africatown USA Bridge]] is now located. It then turned south to end at US&nbsp;90. It now officially ends at US&nbsp;98 in Spanish Fort.

==Major intersections==
{{Columns-start}}
;Southern segment
:;Alabama
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|90|US|98}}<!--US90/98?--> in [[Spanish Fort, Alabama|Spanish Fort]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|29}} in [[Flomaton, Alabama|Flomaton]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Brewton, Alabama|Brewton]].
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|84}} southwest of [[Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama|Evergreen]]. The highways travel concurrently to east of Evergreen.
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} on the [[Hope Hull, Alabama|Hope Hull]]-[[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] line
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|80}} in Montgomery.  
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|82}} in [[Prattville, Alabama|Prattville]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} north of Prattville
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in [[Clanton, Alabama|Clanton]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in [[Calera, Alabama|Calera]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in [[Alabaster, Alabama|Alabaster]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|459}} in [[Hoover, Alabama|Hoover]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} on the Hoover-[[Vestavia Hills, Alabama|Vestavia Hills]] city line
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|280}} in [[Homewood, Alabama|Homewood]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]].
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|78}} in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|11}} in Birmingham
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|20|I|59|US|280}} in Birmingham
:: {{jct|country=usa|I|22}} near [[Fultondale, Alabama|Fultondale]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in Birmingham
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in [[Smoke Rise, Alabama|Smoke Rise]]. The highways travel concurrently through the town.
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|278}} in [[Cullman, Alabama|Cullman]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} south-southeast of [[Lacon, Alabama|Lacon]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|72}} in [[Athens, Alabama|Athens]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in Athens. The highways travel concurrently to [[Ardmore, Tennessee]].
:;Tennessee
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|64}} in [[Pulaski, Tennessee|Pulaski]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|31A}} in Pulaski
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|412}} in [[Columbia, Tennessee|Columbia]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|43}} in Columbia
:: {{jct|state=TN|I|840}} in [[Thompson's Station, Tennessee|Thompson's Station]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|431}} in [[Franklin, Tennessee|Franklin]]. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|41|US|70S|US|31A}} in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]. US 31A joins US 41 and US 70S to intersect with US 31. US 41 and US 70S travel concurrently through the city.
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|70|US|70S|US|431}} in Nashville. US&nbsp;31/US&nbsp;431 travels concurrently through the city.
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|31E|US|31W|US|41|US|431}} in Nashville
<ref name=randmcnally>{{cite book |author = Rand McNally |year = 2014 |title = The Road Atlas |edition = Walmart |location = Chicago |publisher = Rand McNally |pages = 4–5, 36–37, 42, 50–51, 94–95|isbn = 978-0-528-00771-2}}</ref>
{{Column}}
;Northern segment
:;Kentucky
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|31E|US|31W|US|60}}<!--US150?--> in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]]
:;Indiana
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in [[Jeffersonville, Indiana|Jeffersonville]]. The highways travels concurrently to west of Jeffersonville.
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} south-southeast of [[Crothersville, Indiana|Crothersville]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|50}} in [[Seymour, Indiana|Seymour]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in [[Taylorsville, Indiana|Taylorsville]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|69|I|74|I|465|US|36|US|40}} in [[Indianapolis]]. I-69/I-74/US&nbsp;31/US&nbsp;36/US&nbsp;40 travels concurrently through the city. I-465/US&nbsp;31 travels concurrently to [[Carmel, Indiana|Carmel]].
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|65}} in Indianapolis
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|74|US|421}} in Indianapolis. US&nbsp;31/US&nbsp;421 travels concurrently to Carmel.
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|52}} in Indianapolis. The highways travel concurrently to Carmel.
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|70}} in Indianapolis
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|69}} in Indianapolis
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|465|US|52|US|421}} in Carmel
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|35}} east of [[Kokomo, Indiana|Kokomo]]. The highways travel concurrently to north-northeast of Kokomo.
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|24}} in [[Peru, Indiana|Peru]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|30}} east of [[Plymouth, Indiana|Plymouth]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|6}} southeast of [[La Paz, Indiana|La Paz]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|20}} in [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]]. The highways travel concurrently through the city.
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|80|I|90}} in South Bend
:;Michigan
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|12}} in [[Bertrand Township, Michigan|Bertrand Township]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|94}} in [[Benton Charter Township, Michigan|Benton Township]]. The highways travel concurrently through the township.
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|196}} in Benton Township. I-196/US&nbsp;31 travels concurrently to [[Laketown Township, Michigan|Laketown Township]].
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|96}} in [[Norton Shores, Michigan|Norton Shores]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|10}} in [[Amber Township, Michigan|Amber Township]]. The highways travel concurrently through the township.
:: {{jct|country=USA|US|131}} in [[Petoskey, Michigan|Petoskey]]
:: {{jct|country=USA|I|75}} in [[Mackinaw Township, Michigan|Mackinaw Township]]
<ref name=randmcnally/>
{{Columns-end}}

==Special routes==
{{Main|Special routes of U.S. Route 31}}

==See also==
* [[St. Joseph Valley Parkway]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|U.S. Route 31}}
{{Attached KML}}
* [http://usends.com/31.html Endpoints of U.S. Highway 31]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111007193535/http://highwayexplorer.com/EndsPage.php?id=2031&section=1 Indiana Highway Ends: US 31]

{{US Highways}}
{{US 31}}
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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:U.S. Route 31| ]]
[[Category:United States Numbered Highway System|31]]