Clay to Florence is 124.5 miles and takes about 2h 40m via University of North Alabama Highway and I-65, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a relatively short drive, making it perfect for a single day trip. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, so expect a bit of everything as you travel.
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
62.2 miles from Clay, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
University of North Alabama Highway
55.4 mi
1h 6m
I 65
42.3 mi
45m
Carson Road
5.5 mi
9m
Woodward Avenue
4.2 mi
7m
Wheeler Highway
4.2 mi
5m
Pinson Valley Parkway
2.1 mi
3m
Dug Hollow Road
2.1 mi
5m
US 43
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
University of North Alabama Highway
— 55.4 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clay, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on Old Springville Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Old Springville Road
2
Turn right onto Dug Hollow Road
2.1 mi·5 min·Dug Hollow Road
3
Continue on Bud Holmes Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Bud Holmes Road
4
Continue on Main Street
1.4 mi·3 min·Main Street
5
Turn right onto Sweeny Hollow Road
264 ft·7 sec·Sweeny Hollow Road
6
Turn left onto AL 79
2.1 mi·3 min·Pinson Valley Parkway
7
Turn right onto Carson Road
5.5 mi·9 min·Carson Road
8
Continue on New Castle Road
0.8 mi·1 min·New Castle Road
9
Continue on CR 120
0.7 mi·1 min·Walker Chapel Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 65 North: HuntsvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 65
42 mi·45 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 310Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
13
Turn left onto AL 157
200 ft·3 sec·Section Line Road
14
Continue on AL 157
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·University of North Alabama Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
4.2 mi·5 min·Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4.2 mi·7 min·Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.8 mi·3 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft·15 sec·West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Pine Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility for when you depart. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize your daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. Since the longest stretch is over 55 miles, plan a brief stop around that point to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, especially since the fuel cost is estimated at $19. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the final leg into Florence, as this specific route has only one recommended stop.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.2 miles from Clay, AL, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 27 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.2 miles or 1h 21m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clay, 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 Clay, AL
This is one driving day of about 124.5 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Clay, 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 University of North Alabama Highway for about 55.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.6 and 124.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the ramp toward I 65 North: Huntsville
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
5
15.9 mi into trip|~31m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 310
Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
5
113.9 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
124.2 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.80 one way
$37.60 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$20.64
$41.28
premium
$4.56
$22.35
$44.69
diesel
$5.61
$27.49
$54.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.4
0
$13.07
$5.98
Efficient EV
31.1
0
$10.89
$4.98
EV Truck/SUV
49.8
0
$17.43
$7.97
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Clay, AL
Late night
in Clay on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Late night
in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
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
2h 40m 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.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 17.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed driving profile, with 37% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 55.4 miles along University of North Alabama Highway, which can feel like a good pace setter. The journey isn't a relentless interstate slog; expect a blend of faster highway sections and potentially more local road driving. This variety means the road's character can shift, keeping you engaged without being overly demanding.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.4 mi on University of North Alabama Highway.
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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.6 miles in.
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 124.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 15.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clay, AL to Florence, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 124.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). 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 55.4 miles on University of North Alabama Highway. 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 15.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights 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 Florence, AL before heading back.
