This 112.4-mile drive from Anniston, AL to Madison, AL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via US 431 and US 278, with a section known as the Florida Short Route. With 69% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $17, making it an economical option for exploring within the Southeast region. This route offers a practical way to cover the distance, fitting well into a relaxed travel schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.2 miles from Anniston, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 431
46.1 mi
1h 5m
US 278
28.1 mi
40m
Florida Short Route
22.4 mi
26m
I 565
3.3 mi
3m
Madison Boulevard
2.5 mi
3m
Noble Street
2.1 mi
3m
Blount Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Saks Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 431
— 46.1 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anniston, AL and Madison, 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
16 mi·22 min·US 431
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I-565 West: Decatur
18
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
3.3 mi·3 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13Toward Madison Boulevard
20
Continue on Madison Boulevard
2.5 mi·3 min·Madison Boulevard
21
Turn right onto Hughes Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Hughes Road
22
Turn left onto Mill Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·Mill Road
23
Turn left onto Church Street
70 ft·1 sec·Church Street
24
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Trip Plan
Given this route's manageable 2-hour 39-minute duration, you have the flexibility to leave Anniston anytime that suits you. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $17, planning is straightforward. Focus on making steady progress, particularly during the longest stretch on US 431. Consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for arrival and any activities in Madison. This short drive means you can easily adjust your schedule on the fly.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 56.2 miles from Anniston, AL, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.1 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.2 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, 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 112.4 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Anniston, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 431 for about 46.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 107.4 — 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
4
4.1 mi into trip|~8m in|US 431
Turn left onto US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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
107.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 13
Toward Madison Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.98 one way
$33.95 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.63
$37.27
premium
$4.56
$20.17
$40.35
diesel
$5.61
$24.82
$49.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.7
0
$11.80
$5.40
Efficient EV
28.1
0
$9.83
$4.50
EV Truck/SUV
45
0
$15.74
$7.19
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Madison, AL
Late night
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
3:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
20 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 39m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with nearly 70% of your journey on faster roads. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 46.1 miles on US 431, allowing for steady progress. While primarily highway, the route incorporates other main roads like US 278 and the Florida Short Route, which may offer a slightly different driving experience. Expect a consistent pace for most of this 112.4-mile trip.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.1 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 13 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 112.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 4.1 miles (US 431): 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.
Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 112.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.1 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 4.1 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Madison, AL before heading back.
