The drive from Florence, AL to Trussville, AL covers 123.7 miles and takes about 2h 39m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on University of North Alabama Highway, Heroes Highway, Gadsden Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly surface roads.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.1 miles on University of North Alabama Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61.8 miles from Florence, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
University of North Alabama Highway
55.1 mi
1h 5m
Heroes Highway
42.1 mi
45m
Gadsden Highway
5.3 mi
8m
Wheeler Highway
4.3 mi
5m
Woodward Avenue
3.2 mi
5m
US 43
2.5 mi
4m
Black Creek Road
1.5 mi
3m
Lawson Road
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
University of North Alabama Highway
— 55.1 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, AL and Trussville, AL.
1
Start on North Pine Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Pine Street
2
Turn left onto Crest Street
131 ft·11 sec·Crest Street
3
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
1.5 mi·2 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4
Turn left onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
3.2 mi·5 min·Woodward Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.0 mi·1 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
4.3 mi·5 min·Wheeler Highway
Use the left lane.
7
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.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I-65 South: Birmingham
9
Merge onto I 65
42 mi·45 min·Heroes Highway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 267Toward Walkers Chapel RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
272 ft·9 sec
Toward FultondaleUse the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Walker Chapel Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Walker Chapel Road
Use the left / right lanes.
13
Continue on New Castle Road
0.5 mi·55 sec·New Castle Road
14
Turn right onto Black Creek Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Black Creek Road
15
Continue on Pinehill Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Pinehill Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto AL 79
0.7 mi·1 min·Pinson Valley Parkway
17
Turn slight right
193 ft·7 sec
18
Turn right onto Lawson Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Lawson Road
19
Turn right onto Airport Road
0.3 mi·49 sec·Airport Road
20
Continue on Zion City Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Zion City Road
21
Turn left onto Tarrant Huffman Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Tarrant Huffman Road
22
Continue on 96th Street North
0.4 mi·41 sec·96th Street North
23
Continue on Red Lane Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Red Lane Road
24
Turn right onto AL 75
414 ft·10 sec·Parkway East
25
Continue on AL 75
226 ft·5 sec·Parkway East
26
Continue on AL 75
525 ft·13 sec·Roebuck Parkway
27
Turn left onto US 11
5.3 mi·8 min·Gadsden Highway
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 11
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
29
Turn left onto Glenn Avenue
379 ft·18 sec·Glenn Avenue
30
Turn right onto Linden Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Linden Street
31
Turn right
197 ft·14 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.8 miles from Florence, AL, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.1 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 27 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.8 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Trussville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving 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 Florence, AL
This is one driving day of about 123.7 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from 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 University of North Alabama Highway for about 55.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.7 and 123.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.7 mi into trip|~16m 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
7
108.2 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward Walkers Chapel Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 267
Toward Walkers Chapel Road
7
108.6 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Fultondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Fultondale
5
108.6 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|Walker Chapel Road
Turn left onto Walker Chapel Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
5
123.6 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.68 one way
$37.36 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$20.51
$41.02
premium
$4.56
$22.20
$44.41
diesel
$5.61
$27.31
$54.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.1
0
$12.99
$5.94
Efficient EV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.95
EV Truck/SUV
49.5
0
$17.32
$7.92
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Florence, AL
Morning
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Trussville, AL
Morning
in Trussville on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
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
1 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
2h 39m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 115.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
123.7 mi in 2h 39m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.1 mi on University of North Alabama Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.7 miles in near AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 123.7 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: at 10.7 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 108.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Florence, AL and Trussville, AL, road signs point toward Moulton, Cullman and Fultondale.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 123.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.1 miles on University of North Alabama Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Trussville, 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 10.7 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 108.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Trussville, AL before heading back.
