Embarking on the 361.6-mile journey from Decatur, AL to Bayou La Batre, AL will take you approximately 6 hours and 47 minutes of driving time. This route is designed as a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $55. You'll primarily be on major interstates, making it a highway-focused drive across the Southeast region of Alabama. The longest continuous stretch is a substantial 331 miles, so be prepared for a good amount of time on the road. This trip is best suited for those who prefer efficient travel on well-maintained highways to reach their destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
180.8 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
331 mi
6h
I 10
8.8 mi
9m
Padgett Switch Road
5.9 mi
10m
Point Mallard Parkway
4.2 mi
6m
CR 39
3.3 mi
4m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
Wintzell Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
McDonald Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 331 mi, about 6h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Bayou La Batre, AL.
1
Start on this road
426 ft·36 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Ferry Street Northeast
164 ft·8 sec·Ferry Street Northeast
3
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.3 mi·53 sec·Lee Street Northeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 31
0.1 mi·14 sec·6th Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on US 31
3.0 mi·5 min·6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto AL 67
4.2 mi·6 min·Point Mallard Parkway
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I-65 South: BirminghamUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 65
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 265Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, FultondaleUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 65
264 mi·4 hr 48 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·55 sec
Toward I 10 West: Mississippi
14
Merge onto I 10
8.8 mi·9 min·I 10
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·29 sec
Toward CR 39: Bayou La Batre, Dawes
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward CR 39 North: Dawes
17
Turn straight onto CR 39
0.1 mi·24 sec·McDonald Road
18
Continue on CR 39
0.3 mi·41 sec·McDonald Road
19
Continue on CR 39
1.9 mi·2 min·CR 39
20
Continue on CR 39
459 ft·7 sec·McDonald Road
21
Continue on CR 39
1.3 mi·1 min·CR 39
22
Continue on Padgett Switch Road
5.9 mi·10 min·Padgett Switch Road
23
Turn left onto AL 188
1.4 mi·3 min·Wintzell Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
AL 188
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour and 47-minute drive, departing early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With the longest stretch being 331 miles on I-65, plan for a significant period of continuous driving. Consider a mid-drive break around the halfway point to refuel and stretch. Given the highway-focused nature, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Bayou La Batre, as services can become more spread out. The estimated fuel cost is $55, so factor that into your budget.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.8 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 331 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.8 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bayou La Batre, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Decatur, 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 Decatur, AL
This is one driving day of about 361.6 miles and 6h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Decatur, 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 I 65 for about 331 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 76.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Ferry Street Northeast
At end of road, turn left onto Ferry Street Northeast
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.61 one way
$109.22 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$59.95
$119.90
premium
$4.56
$64.90
$129.81
diesel
$5.61
$79.84
$159.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.5
1
$37.97
$17.36
Efficient EV
90.4
1
$31.64
$14.46
EV Truck/SUV
144.6
1
$50.62
$23.14
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Decatur, AL
Evening
in Decatur on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bayou La Batre, AL
Evening
in Bayou La Batre on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
17 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
6h 47m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 87.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 96% of the route utilizing major interstate roads like I-65 and I-10. Expect long stretches of consistent speed and minimal traffic interruptions for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted segment spans 331 miles, indicating a significant portion of the drive will be on these high-speed corridors. While the bulk of the journey is on interstates, the final leg incorporates Padgett Switch Road, offering a slight change in pace as you approach Bayou La Batre.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 331 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ferry Street Northeast.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 361.6 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 0.1 miles (Ferry Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
856 ft6 ft
Total Climb
907 ft
Total Descent
1,471 ft
Highest Point
856 ft
~25.8 mi in
Elevation Range
850 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Decatur, AL and Bayou La Batre, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale and Montgomery.
Fultondale
75.2 mi in|~1h 26m
Montgomery
76.2 mi in|~1h 27m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 47m. Total distance: 361.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 47m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 331 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Bayou La Batre, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ferry Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bayou La Batre, AL before the return drive.
