Decatur to Jacksonville is 101.5 miles and takes about 2h 31m via Point Mallard Drive and US 278, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive, suitable for a single day, offering a mixed driving experience. Consider this route if you're looking for a manageable journey with a predictable travel time and cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Point Mallard Drive
34.8 mi
48m
US 278
28.1 mi
39m
AL 204
9.6 mi
16m
West Meighan Boulevard
9 mi
15m
Chastain Boulevard East
8.8 mi
10m
Point Mallard Parkway
4.1 mi
6m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
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 Jacksonville, 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
9.0 mi·15 min·West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 431
8.8 mi·10 min·Chastain Boulevard East
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto AL 204
9.6 mi·16 min·AL 204
20
Turn right onto AL 21
0.9 mi·2 min·Pelham Road North
21
Arrive at destination
AL 21
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over two hours, this route offers plenty of flexibility for departure. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should allow ample time to reach Jacksonville before dark. Given the relatively short distance, you'll likely only need one stop, perhaps to refuel or stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 34.8-mile stretch on Point Mallard Drive, to ensure a smooth continuation of your trip.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 50.8 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 1h 13m 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 22 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, 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 101.5 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 71.9 — 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.
5
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 278
Turn left onto US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.33 one way
$30.66 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.83
$33.65
premium
$4.56
$18.22
$36.44
diesel
$5.61
$22.41
$44.82
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: 35.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.5
0
$10.66
$4.87
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.88
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.21
$6.50
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 19, 2026
Origin
Decatur, AL
Late night
in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksonville, AL
Late night
in Jacksonville on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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 31m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 42% highway share, meaning you'll encounter a blend of faster roads and more local stretches. The longest uninterrupted segment is 34.8 miles on Point Mallard Drive, indicating a substantial portion where you can maintain a consistent pace. Expect a mixed drive profile, which suggests transitions between different types of roadways as you progress. This variety can make the journey more engaging than a pure interstate cruise.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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 9 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 101.5 miles you will encounter 9 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 101.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). 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 Jacksonville, AL before heading back.
