State Route 261 or SR-261 is a 6-mile (9.7 km) state highway that connects Helena with Pelham in northern Shelby County, as part of the Birmingham/Hoover metropolitan area. SR-261 is two lanes wide for the entirety of its route. It serves as a feeder route to numerous subdivisions in Helena and Pelham.

The southern terminus of the route is at the intersection with Shelby County Roads 17, 52 and 91 in Helena. The northern terminus is at the intersection with U.S. Highway 31 in Pelham. North of US-31, the route is designated as Shelby County Road 17 and continues to U.S. Highway 280 in the Inverness area of Hoover. Mileage is measured from Helena; miles are marked by roadside green metal mile markers. Throughout its length Route 261 is also known as and commonly appears on maps and street signs as Helena Road. The majority of the route is relatively level through suburban housing and commercial businesses, the steepest grades occur approaching and departing the Buck Creek floodplain.

It is expected that as work will begin to widen the highway to five lanes between US-31 and Shelby County Road 105 (Bearden Road) as soon as 2012. Long range plans call for routing SR-261 around historic Old Town Helena via a new bypass that will intersect with Shelby County Road 52 west of the current terminus.

Route 261 crosses the Vulcan Materials Helena quarry on a concrete deck bridge (MP 2.2) east of Old Town Helena. The route crosses Buck Creek on a concrete pier supported steel W-shape girder bridge with a concrete deck (MP 1.3). Steel railings provide vehicle protection, a narrow sidewalk is present on the downstream side of the bridge. Route 261 crosses three railroad tracks at grade consisting of the CSX Transportation Lineville Subdivision east of Buck Creek (MP 1.4) and the CSX Transportation S&NA Subdivision (and connected siding) west of Buck Creek (MP 1.2). The Lineville Subdivision crossing is equipped with flashing lights, the S&NA South Subdivision crossing is equipped with flashing lights and crossing arms.

A historic marker for the Central Iron Works rolling mill, built in 1865 and since destroyed, is at the intersection of Lake Davidson Road and Route 261 in Helena at milepost 1.2.

On March 27, 1994 a F2 tornado touched down on the northern edge of Helena at the Bearden Farm on the west side of the route, then moved across the road near Pelham High School and continued into Pelham and other communities to the east causing damage to many business buildings.

Alabama Highway 261 southern terminus in Helena.

Alabama 261 bridge across Buck Creek in Helena.