Decatur to Hokes Bluff is 86.8 miles and takes about 2 hours and 8 minutes via Point Mallard Drive and US 278, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a manageable drive, mostly on surface roads with a good portion on main highways, making it a straightforward option for a single day. If you're looking for a short, uncomplicated trip between these two points, this route offers a direct path without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.4 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Point Mallard Drive
34.8 mi
48m
US 278
28.1 mi
39m
West Meighan Boulevard
6.3 mi
11m
Herman Nelson Highway
4.8 mi
6m
Point Mallard Parkway
4.1 mi
6m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
Piedmont Cutoff Highway
1.4 mi
2m
5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Point Mallard Drive
— 34.8 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Hokes Bluff, 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
4.1 mi·6 min·Point Mallard Parkway
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on AL 67
35 mi·48 min·Point Mallard Drive
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto US 231
0.8 mi·1 min·US 231
9
Turn left onto US 278
2.3 mi·3 min·US 278
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 278
19 mi·27 min·US 278
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278
12
Continue on US 278
516 ft·8 sec·Thompson Bridge Road
13
Continue on US 278
2.9 mi·4 min·US 278
14
Turn right onto US 278; US 431
1.8 mi·2 min·US 278; US 431
15
Turn slight left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·53 sec·4th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi·3 min·5th Avenue Northwest
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 278; US 431
6.3 mi·11 min·West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto US 278
1.4 mi·2 min·Piedmont Cutoff Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 278
4.8 mi·6 min·Herman Nelson Highway
20
Turn left onto CH 65
0.9 mi·1 min·Alford Bend Road
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Main Street
11 ft·0 sec·Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 86.8-mile drive, which takes just over 2 hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and arrive with ample time to settle in. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, filling up before you depart should be sufficient. Since the longest stretch before a change is 34.8 miles, you won't need to worry too much about frequent fuel or rest stops, but it's always wise to be aware of your surroundings and pull over if needed. The relatively short duration means you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 43.4 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.8 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 19 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.4 miles or 1h 3m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hokes Bluff, 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 86.8 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Decatur, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Point Mallard Drive for about 34.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 85.9 — 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
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Lee Street Northeast
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
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.
6
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|5th Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
85.9 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|CH 65 / Alford Bend Road
Turn left onto CH 65 / Alford Bend Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.11 one way
$26.22 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.39
$28.78
premium
$4.56
$15.58
$31.16
diesel
$5.61
$19.16
$38.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.11
$4.17
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
EV Truck/SUV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.56
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Decatur, AL
Morning
in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hokes Bluff, AL
Morning
in Hokes Bluff on Sunday
Local time
6:37 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
2h 8m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 83.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is a mixed bag of highway and surface roads, with about 38% of the total distance on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 34.8 miles on Point Mallard Drive, so expect a significant portion of your travel to be on this single road before transitioning. After the highway segments, you'll be navigating more typical surface road conditions for the remainder of your trip. Pay attention as you merge from highway to surface roads, as the driving pace will change noticeably.
38% 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: 34.8 mi on Point Mallard Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ferry Street Northeast.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Ferry Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Lee Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 86.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.8 miles on Point Mallard Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ferry Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Lee Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hokes Bluff, AL before heading back.
