Origin
Athens, AL
Night in Athens on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Athens, AL to Florence, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
43 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Athens, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Florence, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 43-mile drive from Athens to Florence, Alabama, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour. Primarily using United States Highway 72, this route is almost entirely highway driving, with 94% of the journey on this main artery. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $6, making it an economical option. Given its brevity, this drive is perfectly suited as a day trip, allowing you ample time to explore both ends of your journey. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of the US, staying within the state of Alabama for the entire duration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| United States Highway 72 | 18.9 mi | 24m |
| US Highway 72 | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| US 72 | 7.8 mi | 12m |
| Washington Street West | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East Tennessee Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Lucas Ferry Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Pine Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
United States Highway 72
— 18.9 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Athens, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on Jefferson Street South
10 ft
·
4 sec
·
Jefferson Street South
2
Turn right onto Washington Street West
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street West
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto Lucas Ferry Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Lucas Ferry Road
4
Turn right onto US 72
14 mi
·
17 min
·
US Highway 72
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 72
19 mi
·
24 min
·
United States Highway 72
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 72
7.8 mi
·
12 min
·
US 72
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on East Tennessee Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Tennessee Street
8
Turn right onto North Pine Street
74 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Pine Street
9
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Athens, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Washington Street West
Turn right onto Washington Street West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Lucas Ferry Road
Turn left onto Lucas Ferry Road
Navigation decision point
6
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 72 / US Highway 72
Turn right onto US 72 / US Highway 72
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
42.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
North Pine Street
Turn right onto North Pine Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.49 one way
$12.99 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.72 | $15.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.49 | $18.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Florence, AL
Night in Florence on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for nearly the entire 43 miles between Athens and Florence. With 94% of the route on US Highway 72, you'll encounter consistent, relatively fast-paced driving conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 18.9 miles, which means you won't be dealing with frequent slowdowns or complex intersections for extended periods. This profile suggests a drive where you can maintain a steady pace, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B without many diversions.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.9 mi on United States Highway 72.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on United States Highway 72 and US Highway 72. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street West.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Athens, AL to Florence, AL is easy. At 1h with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street West): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (Lucas Ferry Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (US 72 / US Highway 72): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Athens, AL
Full guide →Athens is a city of 27,000 people (2016) in northern Alabama, USA about 15 miles south of the Tennessee border and 20 miles west of Huntsville. It is the county seat of Limestone county. The city’s proximity to transportation, recreational facilities, and educational centers make it a vibrant spot today. The rich soil has provided for a strong agricultural base, and for recreational opportunities. The Swan Creek Greenway offers hiking, a covered bridge, and access to an archery course.
Arriving in Florence, AL
Full guide →Florence is a city in northwest Alabama near Mississippi and Tennessee.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 43 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.9 miles on United States Highway 72. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street West): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (Lucas Ferry Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (US 72 / US Highway 72): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Florence, AL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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