Traveling from Centre to Huntsville covers 96.7 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. Because this is a relatively short distance, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $13 on fuel for the entire journey, making this an affordable transit between these two Southeast Alabama locations. Since the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should plan for a steady pace rather than a high-speed cruise. This drive is a straightforward, practical link between the two cities that favors local navigation over highway bypasses.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.7 miles from Centre, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
John T Reid Parkway
40 mi
47m
Tammy Little Drive
12.7 mi
17m
East Main Street
8.9 mi
12m
North Valley Avenue
5.6 mi
7m
County Road 83
5.5 mi
9m
Glenn Boulevard Southwest
4.7 mi
6m
Gault Avenue South
3.4 mi
5m
Sand Rock Avenue
3.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
John T Reid Parkway
— 40 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centre, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on AL 283
314 ft·5 sec·Cedar Bluff Road
2
Turn slight left
109 ft·6 sec
3
Turn left onto AL 283
408 ft·10 sec·North River Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 411 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·West Main Street
5
Continue on US 411; AL 68
3.3 mi·3 min·US 411; AL 68
6
Turn right onto AL 68
2.7 mi·4 min·Industrial Boulevard
7
Turn right onto Sand Rock Avenue
3.3 mi·5 min·Sand Rock Avenue
8
Continue on County Road 83
5.5 mi·9 min·County Road 83
9
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
5.6 mi·7 min·North Valley Avenue
10
Continue on US 11
3.4 mi·5 min·Gault Avenue South
11
Turn left
0.2 mi·17 sec
12
Turn straight onto AL 35
4.7 mi·6 min·Glenn Boulevard Southwest
13
Continue on AL 35
8.9 mi·12 min·East Main Street
14
Continue on AL 35
13 mi·17 min·Tammy Little Drive
15
Turn left
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward US 72, AL 279
16
Merge onto US 72; AL 279
40 mi·47 min·John T Reid Parkway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
18
Turn straight onto Washington Street Northwest
332 ft·6 sec·Washington Street Northwest
19
Continue on Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street North
20
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
4 ft·0 sec·Spring Street Southwest
21
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 45 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time to avoid local congestion. Since there are no designated stops included in this 96.7-mile itinerary, make sure you are fueled up and ready to drive the entire distance in one go. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is approximately $13, so it is wise to fill your tank before you leave Centre to avoid needing a stop along the way. Focus on the frequent turns required by the local road layout to ensure you stay on course. Ultimately, the lack of mandatory stops is a major advantage here, allowing you to reach your destination in Huntsville as quickly as the road conditions permit.
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 46.7 miles from Centre, AL, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.7 miles or 1h 8m 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 44m
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 Centre, 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 Centre, AL
This is one driving day of about 93.4 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Centre, 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 40 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 92.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 283 / North River Street
Turn left onto AL 283 / North River Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 411 Business / West Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 411 Business / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
16.8 mi into trip|~26m in|US 11 / North Valley Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 11 / North Valley Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
52.4 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
92.6 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.11 one way
$28.21 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.48
$30.97
premium
$4.56
$16.76
$33.53
diesel
$5.61
$20.62
$41.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28
0
$9.81
$4.48
Efficient EV
23.4
0
$8.17
$3.74
EV Truck/SUV
37.4
0
$13.08
$5.98
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 13, 2026
Origin
Centre, AL
Night
in Centre on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Night
in Huntsville on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph3% chanceLive 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
19 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 5m 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.
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 51.5
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 as you navigate your way toward Huntsville. You will spend your time on North River Street, West Main Street, and Industrial Boulevard, with the route maintaining a 0% highway share throughout the trip. Because the longest stretch on North River Street is 0 miles, you will find yourself frequently transitioning between local roads rather than settling into a long, monotonous stint behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by these technical, turn-by-turn maneuvers, requiring you to stay alert and engaged with your navigation. Unlike a typical interstate commute, this path offers a more hands-on experience through the local landscape.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40 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 0.1 miles in near AL 283 / North River Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 5m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AL 283 / North River Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 411 Business / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (US 11 / North Valley Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40 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 0.1 miles (AL 283 / North River Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 411 Business / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (US 11 / North Valley Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 Huntsville, AL before heading back.
