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Trip from Donalsonville, GA to Clayton, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 3m

Distance

91.4 mi

147 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 55m ★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Donalsonville, GA, GA

Donalsonville, GA

Dmitry Daltonik

Downtown Clayton, AL, AL

Clayton, AL

Taryn Elliott

Trip Overview

Donalsonville, GA to Clayton, AL is 91.4 miles and takes about 2h 3m via US 431 and US 84, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Southeast region, making for a straightforward journey between Georgia and Alabama. The route offers a highway-focused experience, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing for a relaxed pace.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

45.7 miles from Donalsonville, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 431 18 mi 20m
County Road 53 17.2 mi 28m
US 84 15.7 mi 18m
Hugh D. Broome Senior Parkway 14.7 mi 17m
AL 10 12.7 mi 18m
Reeves Street 6.6 mi 8m
Ross Clark Circle 3.4 mi 5m
Eufaula Avenue 1.7 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 431 — 18 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Donalsonville, GA and Clayton, AL.

1

Start on US 84; GA 38

1.3 mi · 2 min · East 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Continue on US 84; GA 38

15 mi · 17 min · Hugh D. Broome Senior Parkway
3

Continue on US 84

1.5 mi · 1 min · US 84
4

Continue on US 84

0.9 mi · 59 sec · US 84
5

Continue on US 84

0.7 mi · 47 sec · US 84
6

Continue on US 84

0.5 mi · 36 sec · US 84
7

Continue on US 84

2.4 mi · 2 min · US 84
8

Continue on US 84

2.4 mi · 2 min · US 84
Use the left lane.
9

Continue on US 84

7.3 mi · 9 min · US 84
Use the left lane.
10

Turn right onto US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck

3.4 mi · 5 min · Ross Clark Circle
Use the right lane.
11

Turn right onto US 431

6.6 mi · 8 min · Reeves Street
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on US 431

0.3 mi · 18 sec · US 431
13

Continue on US 431

1.5 mi · 1 min · US 431
Use the straight lane.
14

Continue on US 431; AL 134

16 mi · 18 min · US 431; AL 134
Use the left lane.
15

Turn left onto AL 10

13 mi · 18 min · AL 10
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto CR 53

13 mi · 21 min · County Road 53
17

Continue on County Road 53

4.2 mi · 7 min · County Road 53
18

At end of road, turn left onto AL 30

125 ft · 2 sec · AL 30
19

Turn slight right onto AL 198

1.7 mi · 2 min · Eufaula Avenue
20

Turn right onto AL 239

195 ft · 9 sec · AL 239
21

At end of road, turn left onto AL 239

75 ft · 1 sec · North Midway Street
22

Arrive at destination

AL 239

Trip Plan

Given this route is only about 2 hours long, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Clayton with plenty of daylight. You won't need extensive stops for this distance, but be aware that the longest stretch without a turn is 18 miles on US 431, so plan for fuel before you head out. The estimated fuel cost of $14 suggests a budget-friendly trip, but always check current prices. This is a straightforward drive, so focus on enjoying the efficient travel.

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 45.7 miles from Donalsonville, GA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18 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 20 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 45.7 miles or 56m 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clayton, AL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Donalsonville, GA 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 Donalsonville, GA

This is one driving day of about 91.4 miles and 2h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Donalsonville, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 431 for about 18 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Headland, AL

46 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Dothan, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Headland, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.7 miles from Donalsonville, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 31.7 and 91.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
31.7 mi into trip | ~38m in | US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle

Turn right onto US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
4
35.1 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 431 / Reeves Street

Turn right onto US 431 / Reeves Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
59.7 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | AL 10

Turn left onto AL 10

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
89.6 mi into trip | ~2h in | AL 30

At end of road, turn left onto AL 30

Navigation decision point

6
91.3 mi into trip | ~2h 3m in | AL 239 / North Midway Street

At end of road, turn left onto AL 239 / North Midway Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.29 one way

$28.59 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $15.63 $31.26
premium $4.70 $16.92 $33.83
diesel $5.61 $20.18 $40.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.4 0 $9.60 $4.39
Efficient EV 22.9 0 $8.00 $3.66
EV Truck/SUV 36.6 0 $12.80 $5.85

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (66% 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

Donalsonville, GA

Morning in Donalsonville on Sunday

Local time

6:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clayton, AL

Late night in Clayton on Sunday

Local time

5:11 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

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

24 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

2h 3m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 67% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience stretches of faster travel, including an uninterrupted 18-mile segment on US 431. Expect a mix of efficient travel on highways like US 431 and US 84, interspersed with segments on County Road 53. The road character is generally consistent, prioritizing direct travel over winding scenic byways.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18 mi on US 431.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 431 and County Road 53. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 31.7 miles in near US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 31.7 miles (US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles (US 431 / Reeves Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.7 miles (AL 10): Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 91.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18 miles on US 431. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 31.7 miles (US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles (US 431 / Reeves Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.7 miles (AL 10): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clayton, AL before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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