Decatur to Evergreen is 246.6 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 65 and Point Mallard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward drive with a high percentage of highway miles, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. The route is efficient, designed for covering ground with minimal fuss.
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
123.3 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
234.8 mi
4h 16m
Point Mallard Parkway
4.2 mi
6m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
AL 83
1.9 mi
3m
Lee Street Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Court Street
0.1 mi
<1m
6th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Rural Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 234.8 mi, about 4h 16m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,299 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,947
Quietest
2 AM
~253 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 32 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Evergreen, 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
168 mi·3 hr 4 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 96Toward 83: Evergreen, Midway
14
Turn left onto AL 83
1.9 mi·3 min·AL 83
15
Turn left onto AL 83
355 ft·9 sec·Rural Street
16
Turn right onto Court Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Court Street
17
Turn left onto Cooper Street
21 ft·1 sec·Cooper Street
18
Arrive at destination
Cooper Street
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Decatur to maximize daylight and avoid any potential afternoon traffic. With a total drive time under five hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your schedule. The longest stretch without a significant change in roads is 234.8 miles on I 65, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Evergreen, as the final leg on surface roads might have fewer services than the interstate.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 123.3 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.8 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 54 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.3 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evergreen, 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 246.6 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 234.8 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
$38.39 one way
$76.78 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.32
$84.64
premium
$4.71
$45.74
$91.48
diesel
$6.18
$59.99
$119.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74
0
$25.89
$11.84
Efficient EV
61.7
0
$21.58
$9.86
EV Truck/SUV
98.6
1
$34.52
$15.78
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Decatur, AL
Morning
in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Sunny
N 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 2:23AM EDT until October 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 12:30AM CDT until October 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Evergreen, AL
Morning
in Evergreen on Sunday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Sunny
N 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 2:23AM EDT until October 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 12:30AM CDT until October 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
5 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
4h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 85
Park Closure: A.G Gaston Motel Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 98% of your time on highways, with the bulk of the driving, 234.8 miles, occurring on I 65. The transition to surface roads will happen near the end of your trip. Expect a consistent cruising experience for most of the drive, with a notable stretch of uninterrupted highway driving.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 234.8 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Point Mallard Parkway. 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 Effort7/10
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 246.6 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
781 ft221 ft
Total Climb
713 ft
Total Descent
1,004 ft
Highest Point
781 ft
~88.1 mi in
Elevation Range
560 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 Evergreen, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale and Montgomery.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 246.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 234.8 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Evergreen, 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. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Evergreen, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
