This 304-mile drive from Florala, AL to Huntsville, AL is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 47 minutes. It's a highway-focused journey, with 87% of the route on major roads, making it an efficient way to travel across Alabama. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $46, so plan accordingly. Given its manageable length and straightforward path, this drive is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entirety of this route.
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
152.1 miles from Florala, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
225 mi
4h 5m
Lockala Avenue
21.7 mi
30m
AL 55
19.9 mi
23m
I 565
18.9 mi
20m
Mobile Road
9.3 mi
11m
River Falls Street
3.9 mi
6m
Western Bypass
2.7 mi
4m
Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 225 mi, about 4h 5m
Traffic on I-565
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 75 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,144 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~205 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Florala, AL and Huntsville, 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
225 mi·4 hr 5 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 340AToward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
15
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
19 mi·20 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
17
Continue on this road
395 ft·9 sec·this road
Exit 19CToward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
18
Keep slight right at fork
343 ft·8 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street North
20
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
4 ft·0 sec·Spring Street Southwest
21
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour and 47-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Florala to avoid any potential traffic, especially as you approach Huntsville. With a longest stretch of 225 miles, plan for one main break around the halfway point to refuel and stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $46, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Florala. Since this is a single-day trip covering 304 miles, you have flexibility in your timing, but staying aware of I-65 conditions will be key for a smooth 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 152.1 miles from Florala, AL, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225 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 67 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.1 miles or 3h 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 46m
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 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 304.3 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 225 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 303.7 — 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
8
283.7 mi into trip|~5h 23m 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
284 mi into trip|~5h 24m 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
303.7 mi into trip|~5h 46m 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
$42.24 one way
$84.49 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$47.26
$94.52
premium
$4.29
$51.38
$102.77
diesel
$4.80
$57.46
$114.92
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: 106.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.3
1
$31.95
$14.61
Efficient EV
76.1
0
$26.63
$12.17
EV Truck/SUV
121.7
1
$42.60
$19.48
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Florala, AL
Afternoon
in Florala on Sunday
Local time
12:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Afternoon
in Huntsville on Sunday
Local time
12:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 mph35% 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
3 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 47m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 199.3
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 experience on this route, with 87% of your travel occurring on major roads like I-65 and AL-55. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 225 miles, primarily on I-65, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the majority is highway driving, the initial and final segments might involve more local road navigation, particularly on Lockala Avenue. This blend means you'll experience periods of steady highway travel interspersed with more varied road conditions as you enter and exit towns.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Lockala Avenue. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 331; SR 55 / 5th Avenue.
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 304.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 (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 283.7 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 5h 47m. Total distance: 304.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225 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 (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 283.7 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Huntsville, AL before the return drive.
