Crossing Alabama from Glencoe to Florence covers 127.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 53 minutes. This trip is well-suited for a single day of travel, making it an efficient way to navigate the Southeast. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily utilizes AL 157, Thompson Bridge Road, and East Meighan Boulevard to connect these two points. Because the drive is straightforward and manageable, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.9 miles from Glencoe, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 157
61.5 mi
1h 15m
Thompson Bridge Road
37.6 mi
52m
East Meighan Boulevard
9 mi
15m
US 278
6.3 mi
8m
Woodward Avenue
4.2 mi
7m
Wheeler Highway
4.2 mi
5m
US 43
1.8 mi
3m
5th Avenue Northeast
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
AL 157
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glencoe, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on East Railroad Avenue
70 ft·8 sec·East Railroad Avenue
2
Turn left onto North College Street
166 ft·11 sec·North College Street
3
Turn right onto US 431
1.0 mi·1 min·Chastain Boulevard East
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on US 431
9.0 mi·15 min·East Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 278; US 431
1.4 mi·3 min·5th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·50 sec·4th Street Northwest
7
Turn slight right onto US 278; US 431
1.8 mi·2 min·US 278; US 431
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 278
2.9 mi·4 min·US 278
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 278
516 ft·8 sec·Thompson Bridge Road
10
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278
11
Continue on US 278
37 mi·52 min·Thompson Bridge Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto AL 157
62 mi·1 hr 15 min·AL 157
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
4.2 mi·5 min·Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4.2 mi·7 min·Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.8 mi·3 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft·15 sec·West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Pine Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that avoids peak local traffic. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the nearly three-hour duration. Because your total fuel cost is estimated at $20, it is helpful to fill up your tank before leaving Glencoe to avoid searching for stations during the longer 61.5-mile stretch on AL 157. Use that single planned stop to check your tire pressure or grab a quick snack to stay refreshed. Keeping a flexible pace will make the 127.9-mile journey much more comfortable as you head toward Florence.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.9 miles from Glencoe, AL, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 28 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.9 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glencoe, 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 Glencoe, AL
This is one driving day of about 127.9 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Glencoe, 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 AL 157 for about 61.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 127.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North College Street
Turn left onto North College Street
Navigation decision point
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 431 / Chastain Boulevard East
Turn right onto US 431 / Chastain Boulevard East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
13.7 mi into trip|~23m in|US 278
Turn left onto US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
55.8 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|AL 157
Turn right onto AL 157
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
127.6 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.32 one way
$38.63 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.20
$42.41
premium
$4.56
$22.96
$45.91
diesel
$5.61
$28.24
$56.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
Efficient EV
32
0
$11.19
$5.12
EV Truck/SUV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Glencoe, AL
Morning
in Glencoe on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Morning
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
9:17 AM
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
1 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
2h 53m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between local roads and state highways. With a highway share of 54%, the route balances faster stretches with more deliberate navigation through regional corridors. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 61.5 miles while traveling on AL 157, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The road personality shifts from the local feel of East Meighan Boulevard to the more consistent pace found on the state highway segments. This variety ensures the drive remains engaging without becoming a monotonous interstate grind.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 mi on AL 157.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North College Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North College Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 431 / Chastain Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on AL 157. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (North College Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 431 / Chastain Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Florence, AL before heading back.
