Traveling from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley covers 363.8 miles across the state of Alabama. You should budget approximately 6 hours and 53 minutes of drive time, making this a long but manageable single-day trip for most drivers. With a fuel estimate of $56, it is a relatively straightforward journey that stays within the Southeast region. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates, transitioning from the coastal environment of Foley toward the northern, inland geography of Huntsville. While one stop is recommended to break up the drive, the route is efficient enough that you can easily complete it in one day without needing an overnight stay.
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
181.9 miles from Foley, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
301.3 mi
5h 27m
McKenzie Street
32.2 mi
45m
I 565
18.9 mi
20m
Bay Minette Bypass
5.3 mi
9m
Rabun Road
4.2 mi
6m
Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
1m
East Laurel Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Spring Street Southwest
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 301.3 mi, about 5h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Foley, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on US 98
67 ft·5 sec·East Laurel Avenue
2
Turn right onto AL 59
32 mi·45 min·McKenzie Street
3
Continue on US 31; AL 59
5.3 mi·9 min·Bay Minette Bypass
4
Continue on AL 287
4.2 mi·6 min·Rabun Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 65
301 mi·5 hr 27 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
To make this 363.8-mile journey more comfortable, consider departing early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion near major urban centers. Since the route is dominated by a 301.3-mile stretch on I-65, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keeping your $56 fuel budget in mind, try to time your pit stops strategically to avoid refueling in high-traffic areas where prices might fluctuate. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this highway-heavy route, as the predictable road conditions allow you to adjust your pace based on your personal comfort level. Be mindful that the long duration requires consistent focus, so rotate drivers if possible to keep everyone fresh.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.9 miles from Foley, AL, or about 3h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 301.3 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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.9 miles or 3h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 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 Foley, 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 Foley, AL
This is one driving day of about 363.8 miles and 6h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Foley, 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 301.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 42 and 363.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
42 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
343.2 mi into trip|~6h 29m 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
343.5 mi into trip|~6h 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...
5
362.9 mi into trip|~6h 51m in
Take the exit toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Do...
9
363.2 mi into trip|~6h 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
$54.94 one way
$109.88 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$60.31
$120.63
premium
$4.56
$65.30
$130.60
diesel
$5.61
$80.32
$160.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.1
1
$38.20
$17.46
Efficient EV
91
1
$31.83
$14.55
EV Truck/SUV
145.5
1
$50.93
$23.28
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Foley, AL
Evening
in Foley on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Evening
in Huntsville on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
21 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
6h 53m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 263.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 88% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will start by navigating local routes like McKenzie Street before merging onto the primary artery of the trip, I-65. Expect a significant, monotonous stretch of 301.3 miles where you remain on I-65 for the bulk of your journey. As you approach your destination, you will transition onto I-565 to reach Huntsville. The drive feels like a standard interstate grind, prioritizing speed and directness over technical or scenic detours, so prepare for a consistent pace behind the wheel.
88% 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: 301.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and McKenzie Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 42 miles in near I 65.
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 363.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 42 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 343.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 343.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 53m. Total distance: 363.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 301.3 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 42 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 343.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 343.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 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.
