This 223.2-mile drive from Dothan, Alabama, to Bayou La Batre, Alabama, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 24 minutes. The majority of your journey, 86%, will be on highways, making it a fairly direct route through the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, this trip is budget-friendly for a single day's adventure. You'll primarily be navigating via I-10 and local roads like South Oates Street and FL 273. This route offers a straightforward way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
111.6 miles from Dothan, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
174.3 mi
3h 9m
South Oates Street
17.3 mi
21m
FL 273
14.5 mi
20m
Padgett Switch Road
5.9 mi
10m
CR 39
3.3 mi
4m
Main Street
3 mi
6m
South Saint Andrews Street
1.8 mi
4m
Wintzell Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 174.3 mi, about 3h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dothan, AL and Bayou La Batre, AL.
1
Start on US 84 Business; AL 52
111 ft·11 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto South Saint Andrews Street
1.8 mi·4 min·South Saint Andrews Street
3
Turn left onto US 231 Business
17 mi·21 min·South Oates Street
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on US 231
400 ft·10 sec·US 231
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto FL 273
15 mi·20 min·FL 273
6
Turn left onto FL 77
3.0 mi·6 min·Main Street
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: Pensacola
8
Merge onto I 10
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·29 sec
Toward CR 39: Bayou La Batre, Dawes
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward CR 39 North: Dawes
11
Turn straight onto CR 39
0.1 mi·24 sec·McDonald Road
12
Continue on CR 39
0.3 mi·41 sec·McDonald Road
13
Continue on CR 39
1.9 mi·2 min·CR 39
14
Continue on CR 39
459 ft·7 sec·McDonald Road
15
Continue on CR 39
1.3 mi·1 min·CR 39
16
Continue on Padgett Switch Road
5.9 mi·10 min·Padgett Switch Road
17
Turn left onto AL 188
1.4 mi·3 min·Wintzell Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
AL 188
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 24 minute duration for 223.2 miles, this trip is comfortably done in a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Dothan to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one suggested stop, you have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 174.3 miles on I-10, as services can be spaced out. A good tip is to plan your fuel stop before you get too low, perhaps around the halfway point of that long interstate segment.
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 111.6 miles from Dothan, AL, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.3 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 49 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.6 miles or 2h 15m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bayou La Batre, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dothan, 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 Dothan, AL
This is one driving day of about 223.2 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Dothan, 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 I 10 for about 174.3 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 and 211.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Saint Andrews Street
Turn left onto South Saint Andrews Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|US 231 Business / South Oates Street
Turn left onto US 231 Business / South Oates Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
37.2 mi into trip|~54m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
211.6 mi into trip|~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward CR 39: Bayou La Batre, Dawes
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR 39: Bayou La Batre, Dawes
6
211.9 mi into trip|~4h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 39 North: Dawes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CR 39 North: Dawes
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.71 one way
$67.42 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$37.00
$74.01
premium
$4.56
$40.06
$80.12
diesel
$5.61
$49.28
$98.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67
0
$23.44
$10.71
Efficient EV
55.8
0
$19.53
$8.93
EV Truck/SUV
89.3
1
$31.25
$14.28
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Dothan, AL
Night
in Dothan on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bayou La Batre, AL
Night
in Bayou La Batre on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Milton, FL
112 mi in
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
25 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 24m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 223.2-mile trip, with 86% of the route on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 174.3 miles primarily on I-10, offering a consistent pace. While the bulk of the journey is on major highways, you'll encounter local roads such as South Oates Street and FL 273, which will break up the interstate travel. This mix provides a dynamic driving experience, shifting between efficient highway cruising and more local road navigation.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 174.3 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and South Oates Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Saint Andrews Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Saint Andrews Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (US 231 Business / South Oates Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
321 ft-4 ft
Total Climb
491 ft
Total Descent
806 ft
Highest Point
321 ft
Elevation Range
326 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dothan, AL and Bayou La Batre, AL, road signs point toward Cr 39: Bayou La Batre, Dawes and Cr 39 North: Dawes.
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.
The longest stretch is about 174.3 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (South Saint Andrews Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (US 231 Business / South Oates Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bayou La Batre, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
