Origin
Gadsden, AL
Late night in Gadsden on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gadsden, AL to Fort Payne, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gadsden, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Payne, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 38-mile drive from Gadsden, AL to Fort Payne, AL takes about 47 minutes and is an easy, single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimate of $6, it's an affordable journey through the Southeast region. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward drive. You won't need to split this into multiple days; it's perfect for a morning excursion or an afternoon arrival. Plan for a smooth, efficient trip with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 30.2 mi | 32m |
| Noccalula Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Glenn Boulevard Southwest | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Gault Avenue South | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Meighan Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North 12th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Gault Avenue North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 30.2 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gadsden, AL and Fort Payne, AL.
1
Start on South 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South 6th Street
2
Turn left onto US 278; US 431
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn slight right onto AL 211
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
North 12th Street
4
Continue on AL 211
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Noccalula Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
6
Merge onto I 59
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 59
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 218
Toward 35: Fort Payne, Rainsville
8
Turn right onto AL 35
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Glenn Boulevard Southwest
9
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 35
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Glenn Boulevard Southwest
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 11; AL 35
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Gault Avenue South
11
Arrive at destination
US 11; AL 35
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Gadsden, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 36.9 — 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 left onto US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
5.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
35.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward 35: Fort Payne, Rainsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 218
Toward 35: Fort Payne, Rainsville
4
36.8 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
AL 35 / Glenn Boulevard Southwest
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 35 / Glenn Boulevard Southwest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
36.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
US 11; AL 35 / Gault Avenue South
At end of road, turn left onto US 11; AL 35 / Gault Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.74 one way
$11.48 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.30 | $12.60 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.82 | $13.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Fort Payne, AL
Late night in Fort Payne on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Collinsville, AL
19 mi in
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
2 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
47m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 79% of the journey on major roadways like I-59. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 30.2 miles on I-59, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While much of the drive is on the interstate, you will also navigate segments on Noccalula Road and Glenn Boulevard Southwest, providing a slight change of pace. This route balances efficient highway travel with brief transitions onto local roads.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.2 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and Noccalula Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 5.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 35.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gadsden, AL and Fort Payne, AL, road signs point toward 35: Fort Payne and Rainsville.
35: Fort Payne
35.6 mi in
|
~42m
Rainsville
35.6 mi in
|
~42m
About the Cities
Starting in Gadsden, AL
Full guide →Gadsden is a city in the Appalachian foothills of Alabama.
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 47m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.2 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 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 35.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — 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 Fort Payne, 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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