Enterprise, AL to Florence, AL is 288.6 miles and takes about 5h 50m via I 65 and US 231, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With 67% of the drive on highways, expect a good amount of cruising on major roads. This route is a solid choice for a single-day drive, offering a straightforward path between two points in the state. Plan for a mostly highway experience with a brief transition to surface roads as you approach 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
144.3 miles from Enterprise, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
138.3 mi
2h 31m
University of North Alabama Highway
55.4 mi
1h 6m
US 231
43.2 mi
52m
Neil Metcalf Road
22.8 mi
34m
AL 167
7.6 mi
11m
Woodward Avenue
4.2 mi
7m
Wheeler Highway
4.2 mi
5m
I 85
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 138.3 mi, about 2h 31m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,487 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,460
Quietest
2 AM
~362 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Enterprise, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on West Lee Street
153 ft·14 sec·West Lee Street
2
Turn left onto AL 88; AL 134
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi·36 sec·Boll Weevil Circle
4
Turn left onto AL 167
1.9 mi·2 min·Neal Metcalf Road
5
Continue on AL 167
23 mi·34 min·Neil Metcalf Road
6
Turn slight left onto AL 167
7.6 mi·11 min·AL 167
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto US 231; AL 10
0.6 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 231; AL 10
9
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.2 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.8 mi·2 min·US 231; AL 10
11
Continue on US 231
3.4 mi·3 min·US 231
12
Continue on US 231
36 mi·42 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on McGehee Road
1.5 mi·2 min·McGehee Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Carter Hill Road
15
Continue on Zelda Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Zelda Road
16
Turn right onto Ann Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Ann Street
17
Turn left
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 3Toward Ann Street SouthUse the left lane.
18
Merge onto I 85
2.5 mi·3 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
20
Merge onto I 65; US 82
138 mi·2 hr 31 min·I 65; US 82
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 310Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
22
Turn left onto AL 157
200 ft·3 sec·Section Line Road
23
Continue on AL 157
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·University of North Alabama Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
4.2 mi·5 min·Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4.2 mi·7 min·Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
26
Take the exit onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.8 mi·3 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the slight right lane.
27
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft·15 sec·West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Pine Street
29
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
For this 5h 50m drive, leaving Enterprise, AL in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Florence, AL. With a total distance of 288.6 miles, you might consider a single stop around the halfway point for fuel and a break. The longest stretch on I 65 is 138.3 miles, so be sure to top off your tank before entering that segment if you're concerned about fuel availability. The estimated fuel cost is around $42, which is a helpful budget guideline for this trip. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 65 to US 231 as you'll be on this highway for a portion of your journey.
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 144.3 miles from Enterprise, AL, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.3 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 63 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.3 miles or 3h 1m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Enterprise, 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 Enterprise, AL
This is one driving day of about 288.6 miles and 5h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Enterprise, 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 138.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 80.9 and 288.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
80.9 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Turn left toward Ann Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 3
Toward Ann Street South
5
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
83.7 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-65 North: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
6
222.4 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 310
Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
6
288.3 mi into trip|~5h 49m in|West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.28 one way
$84.56 round trip
$3.72/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.13
$46.94
$93.87
premium
$4.49
$50.97
$101.94
diesel
$5.60
$63.62
$127.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.6
1
$30.30
$13.85
Efficient EV
72.2
0
$25.25
$11.54
EV Truck/SUV
115.4
1
$40.40
$18.47
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Aug 10, 2026
Origin
Enterprise, AL
Afternoon
in Enterprise on Friday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Afternoon
in Florence on Friday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 5 mph22% chanceLive 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 50m 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 169.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 67% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 138.3 miles on I 65, offering a significant period of consistent cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely occur as you get closer to Florence, potentially around the University of North Alabama Highway. Expect to notice the changing pace from faster highway speeds to more local traffic flow as you near your destination.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and University of North Alabama Highway. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 80.9 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 288.6 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 80.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
963 ft260 ft
Total Climb
1,110 ft
Total Descent
910 ft
Highest Point
963 ft
~228.6 mi in
Elevation Range
703 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Enterprise, AL and Florence, AL, road signs point toward Ann Street South and Moulton.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 50m. Total distance: 288.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 138.3 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 Florence, 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: at 80.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Florence, AL before the return drive.
