Demopolis to Dothan is 200.1 miles and takes about 4h 14m via US 231, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. The drive is mostly highway, making it a straightforward trip if you're looking for efficiency. Given the relatively short duration, it's a good option for a single-day excursion, allowing plenty of time for your 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
100.1 miles from Demopolis, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 231
62 mi
1h 22m
US 43
48.8 mi
1h
Troy Highway
34.7 mi
41m
Edmund Pettus Bridge
34.5 mi
40m
US 80
11.1 mi
14m
South Boulevard
5.4 mi
8m
Broad Street
1.8 mi
3m
North Cedar Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 231
— 62 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Demopolis, AL and Dothan, AL.
1
Start on North Strawberry Avenue
112 ft·10 sec·North Strawberry Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Washington Street
363 ft·20 sec·East Washington Street
3
Turn right onto US 43
0.9 mi·1 min·North Cedar Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 43; US 80
49 mi·1 hr·US 43; US 80
5
Turn right onto US 80 Business; AL 22
1.8 mi·3 min·Broad Street
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 80 Business
35 mi·40 min·Edmund Pettus Bridge
7
Continue on US 80; AL 21
9.9 mi·12 min·US 80; AL 21
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 80
1.2 mi·1 min·US 80
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 168Toward US 80, US 82
10
Turn right onto US 80; US 82; AL 21
5.4 mi·8 min·South Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto US 82; US 231
35 mi·41 min·Troy Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 231
7.7 mi·9 min·US 231
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 231; AL 10
14
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.0 mi·3 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 231; AL 10
7.6 mi·10 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 231; AL 10
38 mi·47 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on US 231
6.2 mi·11 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto West Powell Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Powell Street
19
Turn right onto North Saint Andrews Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Saint Andrews Street
20
Turn left onto US 84 Business; AL 52
111 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 84 Business; AL 52
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. With only one suggested stop and a fuel cost around $28, planning isn't overly complex. The longest stretch on US 231 is 62 miles, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering that segment, as services might be more spaced out. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best.
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 100.1 miles from Demopolis, AL, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 44 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.1 miles or 2h 4m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dothan, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Demopolis, 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 Demopolis, AL
This is one driving day of about 200.1 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Demopolis, 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 US 231 for about 62 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 97.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Washington Street
Turn left onto East Washington Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 43 / North Cedar Avenue
Turn right onto US 43 / North Cedar Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
49.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street
Turn right onto US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 80
Keep slight left at fork onto US 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
97.2 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward US 80, US 82
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 168
Toward US 80, US 82
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.15 one way
$62.30 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.34
$68.68
premium
$4.71
$37.11
$74.23
diesel
$6.18
$48.68
$97.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.51
$8.00
EV Truck/SUV
80
1
$28.01
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Demopolis, AL
Morning
in Demopolis on Tuesday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 7:08AM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Dothan, AL
Morning
in Dothan on Tuesday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
NE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 7:08AM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM 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
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
4h 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 61% of this 200.1-mile drive is on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 62 miles on US 231, offering a period of consistent cruising. The route transitions between highway segments and other main roads like US 43 and Troy Highway. Expect a generally highway-focused driving experience with some sections transitioning to less direct surface roads.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on US 231.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 231 and US 43. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Washington Street.
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 200.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (East Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 43 / North Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 49.8 miles (US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Dothan is a city in southeastern Alabama, serving as the county seat of Houston County, and the chief city of the western Wiregrass region, an area encompassing portions of southeastern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the panhandle of Florida. Its population in 2018 was about 68,000, making it the largest metropolitan area in southeastern Alabama.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 200.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62 miles on US 231. 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: near the start (East Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 43 / North Cedar Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 49.8 miles (US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Dothan, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
