Attalla to Florence is 116.4 miles and takes about 2h 33m via AL 157 and US 278, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a mixed driving experience with a significant portion on highways, making it a straightforward trip. With only one recommended stop and a total duration under three hours, this route is ideal for a single-day journey, offering flexibility for when you depart and how much time you spend at your stop.
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
58.2 miles from Attalla, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 157
61.5 mi
1h 15m
Thompson Bridge Road
37.6 mi
52m
US 278
4.5 mi
6m
Woodward Avenue
4.2 mi
7m
Wheeler Highway
4.2 mi
5m
3rd Street Northwest
2.2 mi
3m
US 43
1.8 mi
3m
South Pine Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AL 157
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Attalla, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on US 11; US 278; US 431
2.2 mi·3 min·3rd Street Northwest
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto US 278
2.9 mi·4 min·US 278
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 278
516 ft·8 sec·Thompson Bridge Road
4
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278
5
Continue on US 278
37 mi·52 min·Thompson Bridge Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto AL 157
62 mi·1 hr 15 min·AL 157
Use the straight lane.
7
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
4.2 mi·5 min·Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4.2 mi·7 min·Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.8 mi·3 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft·15 sec·West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Pine Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 33 minutes, this is a perfect route for a same-day trip. You can easily leave Attalla in the morning and arrive in Florence with plenty of daylight remaining. Plan for just one stop to break up the drive; with the longest stretch being just over 60 miles, you won't feel the need for frequent pauses. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $18, and consider topping off before you leave Attalla to ensure you have ample range for the 116.4 miles ahead, especially since US 278 can sometimes have fewer services than major interstates.
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 58.2 miles from Attalla, AL, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.2 miles or 1h 18m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Attalla, 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 Attalla, AL
This is one driving day of about 116.4 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Attalla, 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 AL 157 for about 61.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 116.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.2 mi into trip|~3m in|US 278
Turn left onto US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
44.3 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|AL 157
Turn right onto AL 157
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
105.9 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
110.1 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17 / Woodward Avenue
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17 / Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.58 one way
$35.16 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.30
$38.60
premium
$4.56
$20.89
$41.78
diesel
$5.61
$25.70
$51.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.9
0
$12.22
$5.59
Efficient EV
29.1
0
$10.19
$4.66
EV Truck/SUV
46.6
0
$16.30
$7.45
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Attalla, AL
Late night
in Attalla on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
29 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
2h 33m 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 route offers a mixed drive, with 58% of it being highway. You'll encounter stretches on AL 157 and US 278, providing a varied driving experience. The longest continuous section you'll navigate is 61.5 miles on AL 157, so be prepared for a solid block of driving on this particular road. Thompson Bridge Road also plays a role in connecting these main arteries. The character of the drive shifts between faster highway speeds and potentially more localized travel on other segments.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 mi on AL 157.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near US 278.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 33m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles (AL 157): Lane positioning matters here; at 105.9 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on AL 157. 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 2.2 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles (AL 157): Lane positioning matters here; at 105.9 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Florence, AL before heading back.
