This 156.7-mile journey from Cedar Bluff to Montgomery, Alabama, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 17 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of around $24, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes local roads, with only 14% on highways, suggesting a more connected-to-the-landscape experience rather than a fast-paced interstate cruise. Given its relatively short duration and the presence of only one suggested stop, this drive is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to arrive in Montgomery with plenty of time to spare.
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
78.4 miles from Cedar Bluff, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Broadway Avenue
54.6 mi
1h 2m
East Grand Avenue
37 mi
52m
Western Bypass
22.7 mi
26m
US 411
19.9 mi
22m
Rainbow Drive
4 mi
6m
Cedar Bluff Road
3 mi
3m
State Route 9
2.5 mi
2m
Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Broadway Avenue
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Bluff, AL and Montgomery, AL.
1
Start on Old Hwy 9
44 ft·7 sec·Old Hwy 9
2
Turn right onto AL 68
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Weiss Lake Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto AL 9; AL 68
2.5 mi·2 min·State Route 9
4
Continue on AL 9; AL 68
3.0 mi·3 min·Cedar Bluff Road
5
Turn right onto US 411; AL 68
2.2 mi·2 min·Clarence E Chestnut Jr Bypass
6
Turn right onto US 411; AL 68
20 mi·22 min·US 411; AL 68
7
Continue on Ewing Avenue
0.4 mi·27 sec·Ewing Avenue
8
Continue on US 411
2.3 mi·3 min·North Albert Rains Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 411
4.0 mi·6 min·Rainbow Drive
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto AL 77
37 mi·52 min·East Grand Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto AL 21
23 mi·26 min·Western Bypass
12
Continue on AL 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Rockford Highway
13
Continue on US 231; AL 21
55 mi·1 hr 2 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
2.4 mi·4 min·Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on Federal Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Federal Drive
16
Turn slight right
208 ft·9 sec
17
Turn slight right onto Crestview Street
439 ft·17 sec·Crestview Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto Upper Wetumpka Road
1.9 mi·3 min·Upper Wetumpka Road
19
Continue on Columbus Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·Columbus Street
20
Turn left onto North Decatur Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·North Decatur Street
21
Continue on South Decatur Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Decatur Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Turn left onto Winnie Street
440 ft·24 sec·Winnie Street
23
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
187 ft·3 sec·South Union Street
24
Arrive at destination
South Union Street
Trip Plan
This drive is easily accomplished in a single day, so you have the flexibility to depart when you're ready. Leaving Cedar Bluff in the morning will get you to Montgomery with ample daylight. Since the drive is just over 3 hours and involves one stop, you can easily cover the 156.7 miles without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before you get onto the longer 54.6-mile stretch on Broadway Avenue, as fuel availability can vary on local roads. The $24 fuel cost estimate is a helpful guide for budgeting.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.4 miles from Cedar Bluff, AL, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 42m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montgomery, 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 156.7 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Cedar Bluff, 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 Broadway Avenue for about 54.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 156.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive
Turn right onto AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive
Navigation decision point
5
34.5 mi into trip|~41m in|AL 77 / East Grand Avenue
Turn left onto AL 77 / East Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
153.4 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|Upper Wetumpka Road
At end of road, turn left onto Upper Wetumpka Road
Navigation decision point
5
155.5 mi into trip|~3h 14m in|North Decatur Street
Turn left onto North Decatur Street
Navigation decision point
6
156.7 mi into trip|~3h 17m in|South Union Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.67 one way
$47.33 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.98
$51.96
premium
$4.56
$28.13
$56.25
diesel
$5.61
$34.60
$69.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
Efficient EV
39.2
0
$13.71
$6.27
EV Truck/SUV
62.7
0
$21.94
$10.03
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 19, 2026
Origin
Cedar Bluff, AL
Late night
in Cedar Bluff on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Montgomery, AL
Late night
in Montgomery on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Vincent, AL
78 mi in
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
5 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
3h 17m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy' local drive for much of this trip. While 14% of the route includes highway driving, the bulk of your time will be spent on roads like Broadway Avenue and East Grand Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.6 miles on Broadway Avenue, which offers a chance to settle in before navigating more local segments. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be more engaged with your surroundings, making frequent turns and experiencing the varied landscape of Alabama.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on Broadway Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 17m 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: near the start (AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive): Navigation decision point; at 34.5 miles (AL 77 / East Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 153.4 miles (Upper Wetumpka Road): Navigation decision point.
Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, in the River Heritage region of the state. Montgomery has also been recognized nationally for its downtown revitalization and new urbanism projects.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on Broadway Avenue. 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.
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: near the start (AL 68 / South Weiss Lake Drive): Navigation decision point; at 34.5 miles (AL 77 / East Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 153.4 miles (Upper Wetumpka Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Montgomery, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
