East Florence, AL to Fairfield, AL is 296.4 miles and takes about 5h 54m via I 65 and University of North Alabama Highway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traveling through Alabama for its entirety. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a practical choice if you need to get between these two points efficiently. With a recommended one-day drive time, you'll have a good amount of flexibility in your schedule.
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
148.2 miles from East Florence, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
150.2 mi
2h 45m
University of North Alabama Highway
55.1 mi
1h 5m
Heroes Highway
43.8 mi
46m
Crum Foshee Highway
12.3 mi
14m
AL 106
9.4 mi
11m
Loango Road
8.5 mi
20m
AL 157
7.9 mi
11m
Ealum Mill Road
2.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 150.2 mi, about 2h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Florence, AL and Fairfield, 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 right at fork onto AL 157
55 mi·1 hr 5 min·University of North Alabama Highway
Toward Moulton, CullmanUse the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I-65 South: Birmingham
7
Merge onto I 65
44 mi·46 min·Heroes Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 265Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, FultondaleUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 65
150 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward 106, 55: Georgiana, Starlington
13
Turn left onto AL 106; AL 55
9.4 mi·11 min·AL 106; AL 55
14
Continue on AL 55
12 mi·14 min·Crum Foshee Highway
15
Turn right onto County Road 82
0.3 mi·58 sec·County Road 82
16
At end of road, turn left onto CR 107
204 ft·10 sec·County Road 107
17
Turn right onto CR 7
2.3 mi·5 min·Ealum Mill Road
18
Continue on CR 7
8.5 mi·20 min·Loango Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto CR 7
1.9 mi·4 min·Judge Smith Road
20
Arrive at destination
CR 7
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 54m duration, starting your drive in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. While this route is feasible in one day, the 150.2-mile longest stretch on I 65 means you'll cover substantial ground between potential stops. Plan for at least one fuel and rest break, perhaps around the halfway point, to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer highway segments, as services can sometimes be spaced out.
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 148.2 miles from East Florence, AL, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.2 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 65 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.2 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Florence, 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 East Florence, AL
This is one driving day of about 296.4 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from East Florence, 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 65 for about 150.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 110.8 — 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.
8
10.6 mi into trip|~15m in|AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway toward Moulton, Cullman
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Moulton, Cullman
8
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
110.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.76 one way
$89.53 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$49.14
$98.28
premium
$4.56
$53.20
$106.40
diesel
$5.61
$65.44
$130.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.9
1
$31.12
$14.23
Efficient EV
74.1
0
$25.93
$11.86
EV Truck/SUV
118.6
1
$41.50
$18.97
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
East Florence, AL
Night
in East Florence on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairfield, AL
Night
in Fairfield on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Columbiana, AL
148 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
3 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
5h 54m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 112.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 56% of the route on highways. You'll encounter stretches on I 65, University of North Alabama Highway, and Heroes Highway, providing a blend of faster travel and potentially more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 150.2 miles on I 65, so expect a significant portion of your journey to be on this interstate. As you progress, the highway share suggests a transition from potentially more rural or suburban approaches to more developed areas as you near your destination.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 150.2 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 32 / Huntsville Road.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 296.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 32 / Huntsville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Florence, AL and Fairfield, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery, 55: Georgiana and Starlington.
Fultondale
109.7 mi in|~2h 8m
Montgomery
110.8 mi in|~2h 9m
55: Georgiana
261.3 mi in|~4h 55m
Starlington
261.3 mi in|~4h 55m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 296.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 150.2 miles on I 65. 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.
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 Fairfield, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 32 / Huntsville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fairfield, AL before the return drive.
