This straightforward 98.5-mile drive from Cordova to Huntsville, Alabama, can comfortably be completed in about 2 hours, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes Heroes Highway and AL 69 before merging onto I-565 for the final stretch. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, this journey offers an economical way to travel within the Southeast region. You'll find this drive offers a mixed landscape, not overly demanding, perfect for a single-day excursion. Consider this a practical option for a quick hop between these two Alabama locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.2 miles from Cordova, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Heroes Highway
39.7 mi
42m
AL 69
28.2 mi
39m
I 565
18.9 mi
20m
I 22
4.5 mi
4m
Industrial Parkway
3.1 mi
4m
County Road 20
1.3 mi
2m
Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
1m
1st Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Heroes Highway
— 39.7 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cordova, AL and Huntsville, 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 65Toward JasperUse the right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
354 ft·8 sec
Exit 65Toward 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
40 mi·42 min·Heroes Highway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 340Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 340AToward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
18
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
19 mi·20 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
20
Continue on this road
395 ft·9 sec·this road
Exit 19CToward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
21
Keep slight right at fork
343 ft·8 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street North
23
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
4 ft·0 sec·Spring Street Southwest
24
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour duration for this 98.5-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility in when you depart. Leaving Cordova in the morning will get you to Huntsville with plenty of daylight. With only an estimated $15 in fuel costs, you won't need to worry too much about frequent refueling, though it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for the transition onto I-565; it's a clear indication you're nearing your destination and the highway speeds will increase.
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 49.2 miles from Cordova, AL, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.7 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.2 miles or 1h 6m 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 40m
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 Cordova, 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 Cordova, AL
This is one driving day of about 98.5 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 39.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 97.9 — 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
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
8
77.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate:...
7
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsv...
9
97.9 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.88 one way
$29.75 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.33
$32.66
premium
$4.56
$17.68
$35.36
diesel
$5.61
$21.75
$43.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.5
0
$10.34
$4.73
Efficient EV
24.6
0
$8.62
$3.94
EV Truck/SUV
39.4
0
$13.79
$6.30
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cordova, AL
Morning
in Cordova on Sunday
Local time
9:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Morning
in Huntsville on Sunday
Local time
9:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "mixed drive" experience on this 98.5-mile journey, with 55% of the travel occurring on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 39.7 miles on Heroes Highway, offering a good period of consistent travel. As you transition from local roads to the interstate, the pace will likely pick up, allowing for efficient progress towards Huntsville. This route balances open road cruising with sections that might feel more like traditional highway driving.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.7 mi on Heroes Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 98.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Cordova, AL to Huntsville, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Jasper along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 98.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.7 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 Huntsville, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Green Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Huntsville, AL before heading back.
