Origin
Cordova, AL
Morning in Cordova on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cordova, 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 44m
Distance
79.6 mi
128 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cordova, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 79.6-mile drive from Cordova to Decatur, Alabama, is easily managed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $12, this route offers a convenient way to travel within the Southeast region. The journey primarily utilizes Heroes Highway and AL-69 before merging onto I-22. Its mixed drive profile suggests a blend of road types, so don't expect a constant interstate pace. This route is ideal if you're looking for a short, efficient journey without significant time or budget commitments.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.8 miles from Cordova, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heroes Highway | 33.2 mi | 35m |
| AL 69 | 28.2 mi | 39m |
| I 22 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| Point Mallard Parkway Southeast | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Industrial Parkway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | 3 mi | 5m |
| County Road 20 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Heroes Highway
— 33.2 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cordova, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on Commerce Street
190 ft
·
8 sec
·
Commerce Street
2
Continue on Commerce Street
398 ft
·
11 sec
·
Commerce Street
3
Continue on 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
1st Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto Green Avenue
24 ft
·
6 sec
·
Green Avenue
5
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
1st Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto CR 20
500 ft
·
10 sec
·
Jog Road
7
Continue on CR 20
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road 20
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
9
Merge onto I 22; US 78
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
I 22; US 78
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 65
Toward Jasper
Use the right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
354 ft
·
8 sec
Exit 65
Toward Industrial Parkway
12
Turn slight right onto Industrial Parkway
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Industrial Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on AL 69
28 mi
·
39 min
·
AL 69
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Take the ramp onto AL 69
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
AL 69
15
Merge onto I 65; AL 69
33 mi
·
35 min
·
Heroes Highway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 334
Toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
17
Turn left onto AL 67
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto US 31
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a duration of just under two hours and a low fuel cost of around $12, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic in Cordova and arrive in Decatur with ample time for afternoon activities. Since the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 33.2 miles on Heroes Highway, plan your first break shortly after starting to maximize your comfort. There are no specific stop recommendations mentioned, so utilize rest areas on I-22 as needed for fuel and a quick stretch.
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 39.8 miles from Cordova, AL, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.2 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.8 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 25m
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 Cordova, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cordova, AL
This is one driving day of about 79.6 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Cordova, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Heroes Highway for about 33.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.8 miles from Cordova, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 71.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Green Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Green Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Street
Turn left onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward Jasper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 65
Toward Jasper
6
7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Industrial Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 65
Toward Industrial Parkway
6
71.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.02 one way
$24.04 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $13.20 | $26.39 |
| premium | $4.56 | $14.29 | $28.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.57 | $35.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.36 | $3.82 |
| Efficient EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Morning in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 44m 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?
The drive from Cordova to Decatur presents a mixed driving experience, with about 50% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Heroes Highway, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 33.2 miles, which likely offers a more local feel. As you transition to AL-69 and then I-22, expect the pace to pick up, providing a more typical highway driving experience. This variation means you'll experience different road surfaces and traffic patterns throughout the 1 hour and 44-minute trip.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.2 mi on Heroes Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Green Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.2 miles (Green Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Cordova, AL and Decatur, AL, road signs point toward Jasper, 67: Decatur, Priceville and Somerville.
Jasper
6.6 mi in
|
~9m
67: Decatur
71.5 mi in
|
~1h 30m
Priceville
71.5 mi in
|
~1h 30m
Somerville
71.5 mi in
|
~1h 30m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 79.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.2 miles on Heroes Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Decatur, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 0.2 miles (Green Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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