This 265.2-mile drive from Evergreen to Huntsville, Alabama, is a straightforward journey primarily on major highways, taking approximately 4 hours and 52 minutes. Given its manageable length and highway-focused profile, it's well-suited as a single-day trip. You can expect a fuel cost of around $40 for this route. The drive remains within the Southeast region, offering a consistent regional feel as you travel north through Alabama. With 99% of the route on highways, it's a practical choice for those prioritizing efficiency over leisurely exploration.
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
132.6 miles from Evergreen, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
242.5 mi
4h 24m
I 565
18.9 mi
20m
AL 83
1.8 mi
3m
Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
1m
Court Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Rural Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Cooper Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Spring Street Southwest
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 242.5 mi, about 4h 24m
Traffic on I-565
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 150 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,094 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,711
Quietest
1 AM
~200 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.5×
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 Evergreen, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on Cooper Street
21 ft·3 sec·Cooper Street
2
Turn right onto Court Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Court Street
3
Turn left onto AL 83
355 ft·8 sec·Rural Street
4
Turn right onto AL 83
1.8 mi·3 min·AL 83
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
6
Merge onto I 65
242 mi·4 hr 24 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 340Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 340AToward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
9
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
19 mi·20 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
11
Continue on this road
395 ft·9 sec·this road
Exit 19CToward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
12
Keep slight right at fork
343 ft·8 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street North
14
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
4 ft·0 sec·Spring Street Southwest
15
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
With a duration of under 5 hours, this 265.2-mile trip is easily completed in one day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You'll want to factor in the estimated $40 fuel cost and plan for at least one stop, though the longest stretch of 242.5 miles on I-65 might encourage an earlier break. Consider starting your journey earlier in the day to maximize daylight for driving and to arrive in Huntsville with time to spare. Pay attention to your fuel gauge as you approach the middle of the longest stretch on I-65, as services can 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 132.6 miles from Evergreen, AL, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 242.5 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 58 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.6 miles or 2h 26m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Huntsville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Evergreen, 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 Evergreen, AL
This is one driving day of about 265.2 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Evergreen, 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 242.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 264.6 — 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|Court Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
244.7 mi into trip|~4h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate:...
7
245 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsv...
9
264.6 mi into trip|~4h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.28 one way
$82.57 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.51
$91.02
premium
$4.71
$49.19
$98.37
diesel
$6.18
$64.51
$129.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.6
0
$27.85
$12.73
Efficient EV
66.3
0
$23.21
$10.61
EV Truck/SUV
106.1
1
$37.13
$16.97
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Evergreen, AL
Morning
in Evergreen on Sunday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Sunny
N 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 2:23AM EDT until October 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 12:30AM CDT until October 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Morning
in Huntsville on Sunday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 2:23AM EDT until October 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 12:30AM CDT until October 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
20 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 52m 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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 164.6
Park Closure: A.G Gaston Motel Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 99% of the 265.2 miles on interstates and major roadways like I-65 and I-565. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 242.5 miles on I-65, meaning extended periods of consistent travel. This profile suggests a route designed for moving efficiently between destinations, rather than one offering frequent scenic diversions. The character of the drive is largely consistent, prioritizing forward momentum on well-maintained highways.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 242.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 565. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.
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 265.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Huntsville is in northern Alabama, about 20 miles (32 km) from the border with Tennessee. The city is a center for missile defense and aerospace technologies, with companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman having major operations here. Cummings Research Park, the second largest research park in the country, is home to many of these companies.
Top landmarks
•U.S. Space & Rocket Center — science museum in Huntsville, Alabama
•Episcopal Church of the Nativity — church building in Alabama, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 265.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 242.5 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Huntsville, 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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.7 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Huntsville, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
