Traveling from the coast to the northern reaches of Alabama covers 380.6 miles and takes approximately 5 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. You will start in Bayou La Batre and navigate through local roads like Padgett Switch Road and CR 39 before transitioning to I-65 North toward Huntsville. This journey is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, though you should budget about $58 for fuel to make the trek. Because you are crossing the entire state from the Southeast region, expect a significant shift in the landscape as you trade coastal proximity for the northern interior. It is a straightforward haul, but the turn-heavy local segments at the start require a bit more focus than a typical interstate-only route.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.9 miles from Bayou La Batre, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
338.7 mi
6h 8m
I 565
18.9 mi
20m
I 10
9.2 mi
10m
Padgett Switch Road
5.9 mi
10m
CR 39
3.1 mi
4m
South Wintzell Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
1m
Spring Street Southwest
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 338.7 mi, about 6h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bayou La Batre, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on AL 188
1.4 mi·3 min·South Wintzell Avenue
2
Turn right onto Padgett Switch Road
5.9 mi·10 min·Padgett Switch Road
3
Continue on CR 39
3.1 mi·4 min·CR 39
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
5
Merge onto I 10
9.2 mi·10 min·I 10
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·43 sec
Toward I 65 North: Montgomery
7
Continue on I 65
339 mi·6 hr 8 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 340Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 340AToward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
10
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
19 mi·20 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
12
Continue on this road
395 ft·9 sec·this road
Exit 19CToward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
13
Keep slight right at fork
343 ft·8 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street North
15
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
4 ft·0 sec·Spring Street Southwest
16
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 43-minute journey, aim to depart early in the morning to beat potential congestion on the interstate segments. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs, as the mix of local turns and highway miles can lead to driver fatigue. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge; while $58 is the estimated cost, having a buffer for traffic delays is a smart move. Given the turn-heavy nature of the roads near Bayou La Batre, ensure your GPS is updated before you leave to navigate the local turns accurately. Since this is a one-day trip, the flexibility of your departure time is your biggest asset for a smooth arrival in Huntsville.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.9 miles from Bayou La Batre, AL, or about 3h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 338.7 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 84 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.9 miles or 3h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 55m
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 Bayou La Batre, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bayou La Batre, AL
This is one driving day of about 379.8 miles and 7h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Bayou La Batre, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 338.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.9 and 379.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
19.9 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Montgomery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 65 North: Montgomery
8
359.2 mi into trip|~6h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate:...
7
359.5 mi into trip|~6h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsv...
5
378.9 mi into trip|~7h in
Take the exit toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Do...
9
379.2 mi into trip|~7h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.36 one way
$114.72 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$62.97
$125.93
premium
$4.56
$68.17
$136.34
diesel
$5.61
$83.86
$167.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.9
1
$39.88
$18.23
Efficient EV
95
1
$33.23
$15.19
EV Truck/SUV
151.9
1
$53.17
$24.31
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Bayou La Batre, AL
Evening
in Bayou La Batre on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Evening
in Huntsville on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
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
16 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
7h 2m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a dynamic driving experience that transitions from technical local navigation to a steady interstate pace. You begin on turn-heavy local roads, requiring your full attention as you maneuver through the initial sections. Once you connect to I-65 North, the character of the drive shifts into a more consistent highway rhythm. With a highway share of 0% for the local segments, you will find that the early portion of the trip demands more frequent adjustments behind the wheel. The route offers a distinct contrast between the winding local paths and the more predictable, high-speed flow of the interstate as you head north.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 338.7 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 565. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.9 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 379.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 359.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 359.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 7h 2m. Total distance: 379.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 338.7 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Huntsville, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 359.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 359.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Huntsville, AL before the return drive.
