Decatur to Whitesboro is 74.8 miles and takes about 1 hour and 57 minutes via Point Mallard Drive and AL 168, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a mixed drive that's manageable for a single day, offering a straightforward connection between these two points. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a relatively short haul with predictable travel times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.4 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Point Mallard Drive
34.8 mi
48m
AL 168
10.8 mi
18m
US 278
8 mi
11m
AL 75
5.8 mi
8m
Point Mallard Parkway
4.1 mi
6m
Sardis Drive
3.2 mi
7m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
Florida Short Route
2 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 Whitesboro, 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
5.7 mi·8 min·US 278
11
Turn left onto AL 75
5.8 mi·8 min·AL 75
12
Turn right onto AL 168
11 mi·18 min·AL 168
13
Turn sharp right onto US 431
2.0 mi·3 min·Florida Short Route
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Gamble Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Gamble Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto Sardis Drive
3.2 mi·7 min·Sardis Drive
16
Continue on Sardis Road
0.7 mi·2 min·Sardis Road
17
Turn slight right onto Leeth Gap Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Leeth Gap Road
18
Turn sharp right onto Whitesboro Road
213 ft·9 sec·Whitesboro Road
19
Arrive at destination
Whitesboro Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 2 hours, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You might want to start earlier in the day to make the most of daylight, especially if you plan any unscheduled stops. With a fuel cost estimated around $11, you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for the transition between different main roads like Point Mallard Drive and AL 168, as this is where the road character can change most noticeably.
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 37.4 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 54m 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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.4 miles or 54m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Whitesboro, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Decatur, AL
This is one driving day of about 74.8 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 67.9 — 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
67.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 431 / Florida Short Route
Turn sharp right onto US 431 / Florida Short Route
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.30 one way
$22.59 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.40
$24.80
premium
$4.56
$13.43
$26.85
diesel
$5.61
$16.51
$33.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.4
0
$7.85
$3.59
Efficient EV
18.7
0
$6.54
$2.99
EV Truck/SUV
29.9
0
$10.47
$4.79
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Morning
in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Whitesboro, AL
Morning
in Whitesboro on Tuesday
Local time
10:51 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
1h 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 39% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of varying road types, including a significant 34.8-mile segment on Point Mallard Drive. The drive progresses through different road classifications, so be prepared for shifts in speed limits and road conditions. It’s not a constant highway cruise, nor is it exclusively winding backroads; rather, it’s a blend that requires some attention to changing environments.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 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 74.8 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 74.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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. 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: 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Whitesboro, AL before heading back.
