Origin
Florala, AL
Night in Florala on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Florala, AL to Decatur, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 31m
Distance
285.4 mi
459 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 18m
★
6 AM
5h 31m
8 AM
5h 58m
10 AM
5h 41m
12 PM
5h 38m
3 PM
5h 42m
5 PM
5h 57m
8 PM
5h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florala, AL
Earth Photart
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 285.4-mile drive from Florala, AL to Decatur, AL is a straightforward journey that can be comfortably completed in about 5 hours and 31 minutes. It's definitely manageable as a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $43, making it a budget-friendly option for covering ground. You'll primarily be on major highways, making for an efficient transit through the Southeast region of Alabama. This route is designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
142.7 miles from Florala, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 218.5 mi | 3h 58m |
| Lockala Avenue | 21.7 mi | 30m |
| AL 55 | 19.9 mi | 23m |
| Mobile Road | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| Point Mallard Parkway Southeast | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| River Falls Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | 3 mi | 5m |
| Western Bypass | 2.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 218.5 mi, about 3h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florala, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on Wall Street
98 ft
·
11 sec
·
Wall Street
2
Turn sharp left onto US 331; SR 55
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
5th Avenue
3
Continue on AL 55
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Lockhart Boulevard
4
Continue on AL 55
22 mi
·
30 min
·
Lockala Avenue
5
Turn left onto AL 55
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
AL 55
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 29; AL 55
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Western Bypass
7
Continue on US 29; AL 55
469 ft
·
16 sec
·
River Falls Street
8
Continue on US 84; AL 55
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
River Falls Street
9
Turn right onto AL 55
18 mi
·
20 min
·
AL 55
10
Continue on US 31; AL 55
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Mobile Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 65
218 mi
·
3 hr 58 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 334
Toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
14
Turn left onto AL 67
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto US 31
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Florala to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically during that longest stretch on I 65. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as long highway stretches mean fewer immediate services. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule as needed. A helpful tip: utilize your GPS's real-time traffic updates to navigate any unexpected slowdowns, especially as you approach the Decatur area.
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 142.7 miles from Florala, AL, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 218.5 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 63 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.7 miles or 2h 49m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Florala, 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 Florala, AL
This is one driving day of about 285.4 miles and 5h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Florala, 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 218.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
143 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 142.7 miles from Florala, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 218.5 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 277.2 — 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
|
US 331; SR 55 / 5th Avenue
Turn sharp left onto US 331; SR 55 / 5th Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
24.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 29; AL 55 / Western Bypass
At end of road, turn right onto US 29; AL 55 / Western Bypass
Navigation decision point
5
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
277.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 16m in
Take the exit toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 334
Toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.76 one way
$77.53 round trip
$3.45/gal
25.4 MPG avg
100 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $43.26 | $86.52 |
| premium | $4.15 | $46.63 | $93.26 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $42.14 | $84.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85.6 | 1 | $29.97 | $13.70 |
| Efficient EV | 71.4 | 0 | $24.97 | $11.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.2 | 1 | $39.96 | $18.27 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Decatur, AL
Night in Decatur on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live 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
2 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
5h 31m 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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 206.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 85% of the route utilizing major roadways. The vast majority of your time will be spent on I 65, which forms the backbone of this journey. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 218.5 miles on I 65, so be prepared for extended periods of highway cruising. While the overall profile is highway-centric, the initial and final segments will involve local roads like Lockala Avenue and AL 55, offering a slight change of pace before and after the interstate portion.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 218.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Lockala Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 331; SR 55 / 5th Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 31m drive. You will face about 11 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 (US 331; SR 55 / 5th Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 24.6 miles (US 29; AL 55 / Western Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 58.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 31m. Total distance: 285.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 218.5 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.
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 (US 331; SR 55 / 5th Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 24.6 miles (US 29; AL 55 / Western Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 58.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Decatur, AL before the return drive.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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