Origin
Cedar Bluff, AL
Late night in Cedar Bluff on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Bluff, AL to Madison, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
102.7 mi
165 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Bluff, AL
Tom Fisk
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 102.7-mile drive from Cedar Bluff, AL to Madison, AL takes approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of the US for the entire journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, this route is quite economical for a single day's adventure. The road profile is mixed, suggesting a blend of driving experiences rather than a constant interstate cruise. Given its duration and distance, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing for flexibility without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Cedar Bluff, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John T Reid Parkway | 46.1 mi | 54m |
| Canyon Drive | 19 mi | 27m |
| Tammy Little Drive | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| East Main Street | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Glenn Boulevard Southwest | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Madison Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Hughes Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
John T Reid Parkway
— 46.1 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Bluff, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on Old Hwy 9
44 ft
·
3 sec
·
Old Hwy 9
2
Turn left onto AL 68
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Weiss Lake Drive
3
Continue on AL 68
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto AL 35
19 mi
·
27 min
·
Canyon Drive
5
At end of road, turn right onto AL 35
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
5th Street Northeast
6
Turn left onto US 11; AL 35
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gault Avenue North
7
Turn right onto AL 35
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Glenn Boulevard Southwest
8
Continue on AL 35
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
East Main Street
9
Continue on AL 35
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Tammy Little Drive
10
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 72, AL 279
11
Merge onto US 72; AL 279
46 mi
·
54 min
·
John T Reid Parkway
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13
Toward Madison Boulevard
13
Continue on Madison Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Madison Boulevard
14
Turn right onto Hughes Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Hughes Road
15
Turn left onto Mill Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Mill Road
16
Turn left onto Church Street
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
Church Street
17
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Trip Plan
Consider departing Cedar Bluff in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for the 2-hour, 18-minute drive. With no planned stops and a relatively short distance, you have the flexibility to add spontaneous breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $16 for the 102.7 miles. A specific tip for this route: be aware that John T Reid Parkway accounts for the longest continuous driving segment, so plan any brief pauses before or after this stretch for optimal pacing.
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 51.3 miles from Cedar Bluff, AL, or about 1h 14m 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 23 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 14m 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 53m
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 Cedar Bluff, 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 Cedar Bluff, AL
This is one driving day of about 102.7 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Cedar Bluff, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on John T Reid Parkway for about 46.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.3 miles from Cedar Bluff, 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
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 23.6 and 102.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
23.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
AL 35 / 5th Street Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto AL 35 / 5th Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
23.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 11; AL 35 / Gault Avenue North
Turn left onto US 11; AL 35 / Gault Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
51.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Turn left toward US 72, AL 279
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 72, AL 279
5
97.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 13
Toward Madison Boulevard
4
102.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
Church Street
Turn left onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.51 one way
$31.02 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $17.03 | $34.05 |
| premium | $4.56 | $18.43 | $36.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.67 | $45.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.78 | $4.93 |
| Efficient EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.99 | $4.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.1 | 0 | $14.38 | $6.57 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Madison, AL
Late night in Madison on Sunday
Local time
2:57 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
31 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 18m 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.
Russell Cave National Monument
National Monument
Russell Cave National Monument is an archeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast. In the 1950s, archeologists uncovered a large quantity of artifa...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 49.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
The drive features a mixed profile, with about 45% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate along John T Reid Parkway, Canyon Drive, and Tammy Little Drive, experiencing varied road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 46.1 miles on John T Reid Parkway, offering a significant segment of consistent travel. This blend means you'll likely experience both faster highway sections and potentially more winding or local road segments, keeping the driving engaging.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.1 mi on John T Reid Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 23.6 miles in near AL 35 / 5th Street Northeast.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.6 miles (AL 35 / 5th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles (US 11; AL 35 / Gault Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 51.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 102.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.1 miles on John T Reid Parkway. 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 23.6 miles (AL 35 / 5th Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles (US 11; AL 35 / Gault Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 51.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Russell Cave 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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