Traveling from Anniston to Huntsville covers 106.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day trip. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the journey. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, you will remain in a familiar regional environment throughout the transit. Given the duration, you do not need to worry about overnight splits, allowing you to easily complete the round trip in a single day if your schedule permits. It is an efficient way to navigate between these two Alabama hubs without the stress of major highway traffic.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.1 miles from Anniston, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 431
43.6 mi
1h 1m
US 278
28.1 mi
40m
Florida Short Route
22.4 mi
26m
Noble Street
2.1 mi
3m
Blount Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Saks Road
1.4 mi
2m
Madison Street
0.7 mi
1m
Gunter Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 431
— 43.6 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anniston, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi·48 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Gurnee Avenue
0.1 mi·22 sec·Gurnee Avenue
3
Turn right onto West 14th Street
492 ft·20 sec·West 14th Street
4
Turn left onto Noble Street
2.1 mi·3 min·Noble Street
5
Continue on Old Gadsden Highway
0.3 mi·33 sec·Old Gadsden Highway
6
Turn right onto Saks Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Saks Road
7
Turn left onto US 431
30 mi·42 min·US 431
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·50 sec·4th Street Northwest
9
Turn slight right onto US 278; US 431
28 mi·40 min·US 278; US 431
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 431; AL 79
0.5 mi·58 sec·Gunter Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto US 431; AL 79
319 ft·6 sec·May Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn slight left onto US 431; AL 79
1.9 mi·3 min·Blount Avenue
13
Continue on US 431; AL 79
0.1 mi·14 sec·Paddle Wheel Drive
14
Continue on US 431; AL 79
4.7 mi·5 min·Florida Short Route
15
Continue on US 431
18 mi·20 min·Florida Short Route
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 431
13 mi·18 min·US 431
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto Madison Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Madison Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto South Side Square
369 ft·16 sec·South Side Square
19
Turn left onto East Side Square
371 ft·16 sec·East Side Square
20
Continue on North Side Square
367 ft·18 sec·North Side Square
21
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour and 14-minute journey, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan to head out during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the local streets that make up the entirety of your route. Because there are no scheduled stops in the itinerary, make sure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Anniston to cover the $15 expense comfortably. Stay focused on the navigation, as the turn-heavy profile means you will be making frequent adjustments to your course. Take advantage of the lack of highway miles to enjoy a more localized perspective of Alabama as you transition between these two cities.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.1 miles from Anniston, AL, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.1 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Huntsville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anniston, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anniston, AL
This is one driving day of about 102.3 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Anniston, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 431 for about 43.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 102.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Gurnee Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Gurnee Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|West 14th Street
Turn right onto West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
6
63.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|US 431; AL 79 / May Street
Turn right onto US 431; AL 79 / May Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
101.3 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|Madison Street
Turn right onto Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
102.1 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|East Side Square
Turn left onto East Side Square
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.45 one way
$30.90 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.96
$33.92
premium
$4.56
$18.36
$36.72
diesel
$5.61
$22.59
$45.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.95
$4.09
EV Truck/SUV
40.9
0
$14.32
$6.55
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Anniston, AL
Late night
in Anniston on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Late night
in Huntsville on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 24m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than your typical interstate road trip, as this route features zero highway driving. Instead, you will navigate through local streets, including Gurnee Avenue, West 14th Street, and Noble Street. The path is defined by its turn-heavy nature, meaning you will need to stay alert and engaged with the road rather than settling into a cruise-control rhythm. With the longest stretch being 0 miles on Gurnee Avenue, the drive requires constant attention to navigation and local signage. This is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you moving through the local landscape at a steady, manageable pace.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.6 mi on US 431.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 431 and US 278. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Gurnee Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.3 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gurnee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West 14th Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.7 miles (US 431; AL 79 / May Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Anniston is a town of 22,000 people (2018) on the slope of the Blue Mountain in Alabama. It has several historic sites from the civil rights campaign of the 1960s.
Huntsville is in northern Alabama, about 20 miles (32 km) from the border with Tennessee. The city is a center for missile defense and aerospace technologies, with companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman having major operations here. Cummings Research Park, the second largest research park in the country, is home to many of these companies.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 102.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.6 miles on US 431. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gurnee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West 14th Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.7 miles (US 431; AL 79 / May Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Huntsville, AL before heading back.
