Origin
Chalkville, AL
Afternoon in Chalkville on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chalkville, AL to Decatur, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 48m
Distance
87.1 mi
140 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chalkville, AL
Tara Winstead
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 87.1-mile drive from Chalkville, AL to Decatur, AL will take you about 1 hour and 48 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on I-65, with a portion on Carson Road and Point Mallard Parkway Southeast. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, which is quite manageable for a journey within the Southeast region. This route is primarily highway-focused, offering a straightforward path between these two Alabama cities. It’s an efficient option if you're looking for a direct connection without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.5 miles from Chalkville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 65.4 mi | 1h 10m |
| Carson Road | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| Point Mallard Parkway Southeast | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Sweeny Hollow Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | 3 mi | 5m |
| Pinson Valley Parkway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| New Castle Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Walker Chapel Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 65.4 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chalkville, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on Old Springville Road Northeast
74 ft
·
6 sec
·
Old Springville Road Northeast
2
Turn right onto Brewster Road
523 ft
·
23 sec
·
Brewster Road
3
Turn left onto Sweeny Hollow Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Sweeny Hollow Road
4
Turn left onto AL 79
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Pinson Valley Parkway
5
Turn right onto Carson Road
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Carson Road
6
Continue on New Castle Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
New Castle Road
7
Continue on CR 120
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Walker Chapel Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 65
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 334
Toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
11
Turn left onto AL 67
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto US 31
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this route offers flexibility for when you depart. Consider leaving Chalkville in the morning to arrive in Decatur with plenty of daylight for any activities. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch is on I-65, plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you begin that segment. Given the short duration and manageable fuel cost of $13, you won't need to break this trip into multiple days. A practical tip: keep an eye on your GPS for the transition from I-65 onto Carson Road, as this is where the road character shifts.
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 43.5 miles from Chalkville, AL, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.4 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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.5 miles or 56m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chalkville, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chalkville, AL
This is one driving day of about 87.1 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Chalkville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 65.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.5 miles from Chalkville, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.4 miles.
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 0 and 83.8 — 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
|
Brewster Road
Turn right onto Brewster Road
Navigation decision point
5
13.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 North: Huntsville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
78.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 334
Toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
5
83.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.15 one way
$26.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $14.44 | $28.88 |
| premium | $4.56 | $15.63 | $31.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.23 | $38.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.15 | $4.18 |
| Efficient EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.19 | $5.57 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Decatur, AL
Afternoon in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 65.4 miles on I-65 without interruption, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. As you transition off the interstate, you'll navigate segments of Carson Road and Point Mallard Parkway Southeast, introducing a slightly different road feel. The overall character is one of efficient travel, largely characterized by the high-speed environment of the interstate.
83% 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: 65.4 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Carson Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Brewster Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 87.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Brewster Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chalkville, AL and Decatur, AL, road signs point toward 67: Decatur, Priceville and Somerville.
67: Decatur
78.9 mi in
|
~1h 34m
Priceville
78.9 mi in
|
~1h 34m
Somerville
78.9 mi in
|
~1h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 87.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.4 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Brewster Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Decatur, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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