Embark on a 182.5-mile journey from Gadsden, AL, to Eufaula, AL, a trip that will take approximately 4 hours and 14 minutes. This drive is well-suited for a single day, with an estimated fuel cost of around $28. You'll primarily be on US 431, making it a highway-focused experience through the heart of Alabama. Given its manageable length, you can easily complete this route in one go, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and pacing. The drive covers a significant portion of the state, offering a straightforward passage from one point to another.
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
91.2 miles from Gadsden, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 431
128 mi
2h 51m
AL 169
23.1 mi
38m
Chastain Boulevard East
18.8 mi
22m
West Meighan Boulevard
5.2 mi
8m
South Uniroyal Road
3.2 mi
5m
Golden Springs Road
1.5 mi
2m
Columbus Parkway
0.8 mi
1m
Leon Smith Parkway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 431
— 128 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gadsden, AL and Eufaula, AL.
1
Start on South 6th Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto US 278; US 431
5.2 mi·8 min·West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 431
19 mi·22 min·Chastain Boulevard East
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 431
0.4 mi·33 sec·US 431
5
Continue on US 431
0.4 mi·34 sec·US 431
6
Continue on US 431
7.2 mi·9 min·US 431
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 431
1.5 mi·2 min·Golden Springs Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 431
0.8 mi·1 min·Leon Smith Parkway
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 431
3.5 mi·4 min·US 431
Toward I 20 East, US 431 South: AtlantaUse the left lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 431
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 431
Toward US 431 SouthUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 431
27 mi·36 min·US 431
Toward US 431 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 431
57 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 431
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 431
0.8 mi·1 min·Columbus Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto South Uniroyal Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Uniroyal Road
15
Continue on South Uniroyal Road
3.0 mi·5 min·South Uniroyal Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto AL 169
13 mi·21 min·AL 169
17
Continue on US 80; AL 169
0.6 mi·55 sec·US 80; AL 169
18
Turn right onto AL 169
9.7 mi·17 min·AL 169
19
Turn right onto US 431
32 mi·39 min·US 431
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 431
0.1 mi·28 sec·South Eufaula Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 431
0.1 mi·30 sec·South Eufaula Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
US 431
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 14-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Gadsden to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point of the 182.5 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a town or services is 128 miles on US 431, so plan to refuel before embarking on that segment. This route is easily manageable in a single day, so you have the advantage of flexibility in when you start and how long you linger at any brief pauses.
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 91.2 miles from Gadsden, AL, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128 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 40 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.2 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eufaula, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gadsden, 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 Gadsden, AL
This is one driving day of about 182.5 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Gadsden, 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 US 431 for about 128 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 122.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard
Turn right onto US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
34.6 mi into trip|~46m in|US 431
Take the exit onto US 431 toward I 20 East, US 431 South: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 20 East, US 431 South: Atlanta
6
38.1 mi into trip|~50m in|US 431
Take the exit onto US 431 toward US 431 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 431 South
7
38.3 mi into trip|~50m in|US 431
Keep slight right at fork onto US 431 toward US 431 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 431 South
6
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 47m in|US 431 / Columbus Parkway
Turn left onto US 431 / Columbus Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.56 one way
$55.12 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.26
$60.51
premium
$4.56
$32.76
$65.51
diesel
$5.61
$40.29
$80.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.8
0
$19.16
$8.76
Efficient EV
45.6
0
$15.97
$7.30
EV Truck/SUV
73
0
$25.55
$11.68
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Gadsden, AL
Night
in Gadsden on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Eufaula, AL
Night
in Eufaula on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
4h 14m 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.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 25.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the mileage on faster roads. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of your trip, including a substantial stretch of 128 miles on US 431 without interruption. While the profile suggests a focus on efficient travel, be prepared for a mix of road types that may include some local road transitions, especially as you near your destination. The character of the drive is geared towards getting you there smoothly and directly.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128 mi on US 431.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 431 and AL 169. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
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 182.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles (US 431): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.1 miles (US 431): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 182.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128 miles on US 431. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles (US 431): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.1 miles (US 431): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Eufaula, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
