Origin
East Florence, AL
Morning in East Florence on Friday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Florence, AL to Decatur, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Florence, AL
Efrem Efre
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
East Florence, AL to Decatur, AL is 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 3m via Joe Wheeler Highway and US 72 Alternate, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward hop between two cities within Alabama, staying within the Southeast region. The route offers a mix of highway speeds and surface road cruising, making it a practical option for a short trip. You'll find it's an easy drive with minimal commitment, perfect for a quick transit or a leisurely afternoon.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wheeler Highway | 20.2 mi | 24m |
| Wheeler Highway | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| US 72 Alternate | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| AL 157 | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| Huntsville Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lee Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Midway Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Joe Wheeler Highway
— 20.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Florence, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on Midway Street
60 ft
·
2 sec
·
Midway Street
2
Turn right onto CR 32
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Huntsville Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Turn left onto AL 157
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
AL 157
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Joe Wheeler Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.5 mi
·
12 min
·
US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
302 ft
·
6 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight right onto US 31
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from East Florence, AL, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 48 — 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
|
CR 32 / Huntsville Road
Turn right onto CR 32 / Huntsville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
AL 157
Turn left onto AL 157
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
10.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
5
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
48 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
Lee Street Northeast
Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.08 one way
$14.15 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $7.86 | $15.71 |
| premium | $4.49 | $8.53 | $17.06 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $10.65 | $21.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Decatur, AL
Morning in Decatur on Friday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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 48.3-mile trip features a 34% highway share. You'll spend about 20.2 miles on Joe Wheeler Highway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a blend of higher-speed driving and local road navigation. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 20.2 miles, so be prepared for a change of pace as you move between different road types.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.2 mi on Joe Wheeler Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 32 / Huntsville Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 48.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 (CR 32 / Huntsville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (AL 157): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
639 ft
516 ft
Total Climb
186 ft
Total Descent
158 ft
Highest Point
639 ft
~41.4 mi in
Elevation Range
123 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from East Florence, AL to Decatur, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Joe Wheeler State Park along the way.
Joe Wheeler State Park
10.6 mi in
|
~15m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
About the Cities
Arriving in Decatur, AL
Full guide →Founded 1821
Decatur is a city in Alabama. It is called The Ballooning Capital of Alabama.
Top landmarks
- • Princess Theatre — theater in Decatur, Alabama, United States
- • Cotaco Opera House — theater in Decatur, Alabama
- • Bank Street–Old Decatur Historic District — historic district in Alabama, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.2 miles on Joe Wheeler Highway. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Decatur, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (CR 32 / Huntsville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (AL 157): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Decatur, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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