Origin
Forestdale, AL
Late night in Forestdale on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forestdale, AL to Gadsden, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
69 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forestdale, AL
Lauri Poldre
Gadsden, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Forestdale, AL to Gadsden, AL is 69 miles and takes about 1 hour 22 minutes via I 59, I 20, and Forestdale Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience that makes for an efficient journey. Given the short duration and low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or a day trip without much planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 51.7 mi | 55m |
| I 20 | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Forestdale Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| I 759 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Bankhead Highway West | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South 11th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Walnut Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Arkadelphia Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 51.7 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forestdale, AL and Gadsden, AL.
1
Start on Heflin Avenue East
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Heflin Avenue East
2
Turn left onto US 78; AL 5
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Forestdale Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 78; AL 5
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Bankhead Highway West
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 78; AL 5
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Arkadelphia Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 78; AL 5
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Arkadelphia Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I-20 East, I-59 North: Downtown
7
Merge onto I 20; I 59
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
52 mi
·
55 min
·
I 59
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 182
Toward I 759: Gadsden
10
Continue on I 759
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 759
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 2
Toward Black Creek Parkway
12
Turn slight left onto Black Creek Parkway
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Black Creek Parkway
13
Turn slight right onto South 11th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South 11th Street
14
Turn right onto Walnut Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Walnut Street
15
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 6th Street
16
Arrive at destination
South 6th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.5 miles from Forestdale, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 63.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard
Turn left onto US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 East, I-59 North: Downtown
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-20 East, I-59 North: Downtown
5
5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
11.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
5
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 759: Gadsden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 182
Toward I 759: Gadsden
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.42 one way
$20.84 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.44 | $22.88 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.38 | $24.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.23 | $30.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.04 | $2.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.66 | $4.42 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Gadsden, AL
Late night in Gadsden on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
1h 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway with an 88% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on fast-paced interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 51.7 miles on I 59, allowing for a sustained period of steady driving. You'll navigate initial local roads on Forestdale Boulevard before merging onto I 20 and then I 59. The character is consistently that of a functional, direct interstate route, designed for moving between locations efficiently rather than for leisurely sightseeing.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.7 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and I 20. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 69 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Gadsden, AL
Full guide →Founded 1867
Gadsden is a city in the Appalachian foothills of Alabama.
Top landmarks
- • United States Post Office — historic government building in Gadsden, Alabama
- • Mort Glosser Amphitheater — open-air theatre in Gadsden, Alabama, United States
- • Eleventh Street School — historic school building in Gadsden, Alabama, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 69 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.7 miles on I 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 78; AL 5 / Forestdale Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gadsden, AL before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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