Origin
Gadsden, AL
Afternoon in Gadsden on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gadsden, AL to Guntersville, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
36 mi
58 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gadsden, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Guntersville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 36-mile drive from Gadsden to Guntersville, Alabama, is easily manageable in under an hour, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend about 56 minutes behind the wheel, with a modest estimated fuel cost of $5. The route primarily utilizes US 278, West Meighan Boulevard, and Blount Avenue, offering a highway-focused experience. Given its short distance and straightforward nature, this trip requires no overnight stops and can be completed with plenty of time for exploration at your destination. It's a simple, direct connection within the Southeast region of Alabama.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 278 | 28.1 mi | 40m |
| West Meighan Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Blount Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue Northeast | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Gunter Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street Northwest | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| May Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 278
— 28.1 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gadsden, AL and Guntersville, AL.
1
Start on South 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South 6th Street
2
Turn left onto US 278; US 431
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 278; US 431
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
5th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
4th Street Northwest
5
Turn slight right onto US 278; US 431
28 mi
·
40 min
·
US 278; US 431
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 431; AL 79
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Gunter Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto US 431; AL 79
319 ft
·
6 sec
·
May Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn slight left onto US 431; AL 79
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Blount Avenue
9
Turn left onto Worth Street
291 ft
·
20 sec
·
Worth Street
10
Turn left onto US 431; AL 79
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
Gunter Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
US 431; AL 79
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 36 — 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.
4
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
4th Street Northwest
Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
6
34.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
US 431; AL 79 / May Street
Turn right onto US 431; AL 79 / May Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
36 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Worth Street
Turn left onto Worth Street
Navigation decision point
5
36 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
US 431; AL 79 / Gunter Avenue
Turn left onto US 431; AL 79 / Gunter Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.44 one way
$10.87 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $5.97 | $11.94 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.46 | $12.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.95 | $15.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 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 | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
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
Guntersville, AL
Afternoon in Guntersville on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
56m 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 journey, with 78% of it on higher-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.1 miles along US 278. While primarily a highway experience, the initial sections on West Meighan Boulevard and Blount Avenue in Gadsden will offer a more local feel before transitioning to the main highway. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic detours, prioritizing getting you to Guntersville directly.
78% 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: 28.1 mi on US 278.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 278 and West Meighan Boulevard. 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 56m drive. You will face about 6 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 5.3 miles (4th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 34.4 miles (US 431; AL 79 / May Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Gadsden, AL
Full guide →Gadsden is a city in the Appalachian foothills of Alabama.
Arriving in Guntersville, AL
Full guide →Guntersville is a town in the mountains 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 56m. Total distance: 36 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.1 miles on US 278. 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 5.3 miles (4th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 34.4 miles (US 431; AL 79 / May Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Guntersville, 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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