If you are looking to travel between Attalla and Huntsville, Alabama, you are looking at a manageable 67.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel, making this an affordable transit option within the Southeast region. The path utilizes a combination of 3rd Street Northwest, Florida Short Route, and US 431 to navigate between these two Alabama cities. Because the duration is quite short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever it best fits your plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.8 miles from Attalla, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
3rd Street Northwest
28.6 mi
41m
Florida Short Route
22.4 mi
26m
US 431
13.2 mi
18m
Blount Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Madison Street
0.7 mi
1m
Gunter Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Paddle Wheel Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
East Side Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
3rd Street Northwest
— 28.6 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Attalla, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on US 11; US 278; US 431
29 mi·41 min·3rd Street Northwest
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 431; AL 79
0.5 mi·58 sec·Gunter Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto US 431; AL 79
319 ft·6 sec·May Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn slight left onto US 431; AL 79
1.9 mi·3 min·Blount Avenue
5
Continue on US 431; AL 79
0.1 mi·14 sec·Paddle Wheel Drive
6
Continue on US 431; AL 79
4.7 mi·5 min·Florida Short Route
7
Continue on US 431
18 mi·20 min·Florida Short Route
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 431
13 mi·18 min·US 431
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn right onto Madison Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Madison Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto South Side Square
369 ft·16 sec·South Side Square
11
Turn left onto East Side Square
371 ft·16 sec·East Side Square
12
Continue on North Side Square
367 ft·18 sec·North Side Square
13
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 1-hour and 33-minute drive, you do not need to over-plan your stops or rest breaks. You have the luxury of departing at your convenience, though keeping an eye on traffic patterns along US 431 is always a smart move for a smoother arrival. Budgeting about $10 for fuel should cover your needs, but having a little extra set aside is never a bad idea. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, try to pace your driving to match the local road conditions rather than rushing. A concrete tip for this specific trip: since the longest stretch occurs early on 3rd Street Northwest, ensure you are comfortable with your route navigation before you leave the Attalla area.
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 33.8 miles from Attalla, AL, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.8 miles or 49m 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 18m
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 Attalla, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Attalla, AL
This is one driving day of about 67.7 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Attalla, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 3rd Street Northwest for about 28.6 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 11; US 278; US 431 / 3rd Street Northwest
Depart onto US 11; US 278; US 431 / 3rd Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
29.1 mi into trip|~42m 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
66.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|Madison Street
Turn right onto Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
67.5 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|South Side Square
Turn right onto South Side Square
Navigation decision point
5
67.5 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|East Side Square
Turn left onto East Side Square
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.22 one way
$20.45 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$11.22
$22.45
premium
$4.56
$12.15
$24.30
diesel
$5.61
$14.95
$29.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.3
0
$7.11
$3.25
Efficient EV
16.9
0
$5.92
$2.71
EV Truck/SUV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 14, 2026
Origin
Attalla, AL
Night
in Attalla on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Night
in Huntsville on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 14 at 2:14AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
13 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 33m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 67.7-mile trek. With only 19% of the route consisting of highway driving, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 28.6-mile stretch on 3rd Street Northwest, which serves as the primary backbone of the trip. The road’s personality is defined by these technical turns, requiring your full attention as you transition between the different road segments. It is a practical, functional drive that requires you to stay alert through the various transitions.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.6 mi on 3rd Street Northwest.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 11; US 278; US 431 / 3rd Street Northwest.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 33m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 11; US 278; US 431 / 3rd Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.1 miles (US 431; AL 79 / May Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.7 miles (Madison Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.6 miles on 3rd Street Northwest. 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 (US 11; US 278; US 431 / 3rd Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.1 miles (US 431; AL 79 / May Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.7 miles (Madison Street): 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 Huntsville, AL before heading back.
