Centre to Pennsylvania is 304.6 miles and takes about 5h 55m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, entirely within Alabama, making it a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration and the fact that it's a same-day trip, it's a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. The route is a mix of interstate and surface roads, so expect some variation in driving conditions. Plan for about 6 hours of actual wheel time, plus any time for stops.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
152.3 miles from Centre, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
152.8 mi
2h 44m
Broadway Avenue
54.5 mi
1h 2m
East Grand Avenue
37 mi
52m
Western Bypass
22.7 mi
26m
US 411
19.9 mi
22m
Northern Boulevard
6.3 mi
8m
Rainbow Drive
4 mi
6m
North Albert Rains Boulevard
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 152.8 mi, about 2h 44m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~825 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,223
Quietest
1 AM
~118 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centre, AL and Pennsylvania, 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
20 mi·22 min·US 411; AL 68
6
Continue on Ewing Avenue
0.4 mi·27 sec·Ewing Avenue
7
Continue on US 411
2.3 mi·3 min·North Albert Rains Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 411
4.0 mi·6 min·Rainbow Drive
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto AL 77
37 mi·52 min·East Grand Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto AL 21
23 mi·26 min·Western Bypass
11
Continue on AL 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Rockford Highway
12
Continue on US 231; AL 21
54 mi·1 hr 2 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward Birmingham, MobileUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto AL 152
6.3 mi·8 min·Northern Boulevard
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-65 South: Mobile
16
Merge onto I 65; US 82
153 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 65; US 82
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
18
Turn right onto US 43
0.5 mi·47 sec·US 43
19
Turn slight right
190 ft·8 sec
20
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·58 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5h 55m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive with plenty of time. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with stops, but consider a break around the halfway point, perhaps after the 152.8-mile stretch on I 65. Fuel costs are estimated at $48, so ensure your tank is full before you depart, and be aware of fuel availability as you transition off the interstate. The mixed highway and surface road profile means you'll encounter different speed limits and traffic patterns, so stay alert.
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 152.3 miles from Centre, AL, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.8 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 67 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.3 miles or 3h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pennsylvania, 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 304.6 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Centre, 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 I 65 for about 152.8 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 303.7 — 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
5
28.5 mi into trip|~35m in|AL 77 / East Grand Avenue
Turn left onto AL 77 / East Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
143.9 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward Birmingham, Mobile
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Birmingham, Mobile
5
150.4 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-65 South: Mobile
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-65 South: Mobile
5
303.7 mi into trip|~5h 53m in
Take the exit toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.28 one way
$84.57 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$47.31
$94.62
premium
$4.29
$51.43
$102.87
diesel
$4.80
$57.51
$115.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.4
1
$31.98
$14.62
Efficient EV
76.2
0
$26.65
$12.18
EV Truck/SUV
121.8
1
$42.64
$19.49
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Centre, AL
Late night
in Centre on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 5 mph46% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:08PM CDT by NWS Huntsville AL
Destination
Pennsylvania, AL
Late night
in Pennsylvania on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
N 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:08PM CDT by NWS Huntsville 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
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
5h 55m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 52.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 57% of this 304.6-mile drive on highways, primarily I 65. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 152.8 miles, offering a good opportunity for consistent cruising. After that, you'll transition to surface roads, including Broadway Avenue and East Grand Avenue, for the remainder of your trip. This profile means you'll experience both the efficiency of the interstate and the more varied scenery and traffic of local roads.
57% 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: 152.8 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near AL 283 / North River Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 304.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AL 283 / North River Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.5 miles (AL 77 / East Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 143.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
709 ft21 ft
Total Climb
583 ft
Total Descent
1,224 ft
Highest Point
709 ft
~115.8 mi in
Elevation Range
688 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Centre, AL and Pennsylvania, AL, road signs point toward Birmingham and Mobile.
Pennsylvania is a state in the eastern United States. It is known for its Revolutionary War-era historical sites like Valley Forge, its large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, its farming regions (some occupied by the Amish), and a (once)-strong industrial history. With equally large swaths of cities and towns as fields and mountains, Pennsylvania is a rich and varied state, as well as a worthy travel destination.
Top landmarks
•Susquehanna River — river in the northeastern United States
•Appalachian Trail — 2,198.4-mile (3,538 km) trail going through fourteen US states managed by the Na...
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 304.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152.8 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AL 283 / North River Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.5 miles (AL 77 / East Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 143.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pennsylvania, AL before the return drive.
