Origin
Cullman, AL
Late night in Cullman on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cullman, 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
45m
Distance
35.4 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cullman, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick trek through Northern Alabama, the 35.4-mile trip from Cullman to Decatur is an efficient way to move between these two Southeast hubs. You can easily complete this journey in about 45 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. Budgeting about $5 for fuel is plenty for this short distance, as you won't be spending much time on the road. The route transitions you smoothly through the region, utilizing Heroes Highway, Point Mallard Parkway Southeast, and 6th Avenue Southeast to reach your destination. Because the trip is so compact, you have the flexibility to plan your arrival around your specific schedule without worrying about long-haul fatigue.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heroes Highway | 25.2 mi | 27m |
| Point Mallard Parkway Southeast | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | 3 mi | 5m |
| 4th Street Southwest | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Street Southwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lee Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heroes Highway
— 25.2 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cullman, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on US 31; AL 69
49 ft
·
8 sec
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
2
Turn left onto US 278
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
3rd Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 278
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Street Southwest
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
5
Merge onto I 65
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Heroes Highway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 334
Toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
7
Turn left onto AL 67
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto US 31
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.7 miles from Cullman, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 35.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest
Turn left onto US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
27.3 mi into trip
|
~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
4
27.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
AL 67 / Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
Turn left onto AL 67 / Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
32.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
35.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
Lee Street Northeast
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.35 one way
$10.69 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $5.87 | $11.74 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.35 | $12.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.82 | $15.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.10 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Late night in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
45m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While the route is relatively short, only about 13% of the distance involves typical highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating local roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 25.2 miles along Heroes Highway. As you transition from the highway segments onto Point Mallard Parkway and eventually 6th Avenue, the character of the road shifts from faster transit to a more localized feel. Navigating these turns keeps the drive engaging, so be prepared for a bit more steering input than you would experience on a straight-line highway path.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.2 mi on Heroes Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 45m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.7 miles (AL 67 / Point Mallard Parkway Southeast): 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 Cullman, AL and Decatur, AL, road signs point toward 67: Decatur, Priceville and Somerville.
67: Decatur
27.3 mi in
|
~30m
Priceville
27.3 mi in
|
~30m
Somerville
27.3 mi in
|
~30m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 35.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on Heroes Highway. 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 (US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.7 miles (AL 67 / Point Mallard Parkway Southeast): 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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