Origin
Guntersville, AL
Late night in Guntersville on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Guntersville, AL to Madison, 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 3m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Guntersville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Guntersville to Madison, Alabama, expect a straightforward journey covering 47.4 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 1 hour and 3 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your route will take you through the Southeast region using a combination of the Florida Short Route, US 431, and I-565. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, the trip is quite economical. This trek serves as a practical connection between these two Alabama communities, offering a predictable travel time for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Short Route | 22.4 mi | 26m |
| US 431 | 15.6 mi | 22m |
| I 565 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Madison Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Hughes Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Blount Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Mill Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Paddle Wheel Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Florida Short Route
— 22.4 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Guntersville, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on US 431; AL 79
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Gunter Avenue
2
Turn left onto Ringold Street
295 ft
·
15 sec
·
Ringold Street
3
Turn left onto US 431; AL 79
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Blount Avenue
4
Continue on US 431; AL 79
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Paddle Wheel Drive
5
Continue on US 431; AL 79
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Florida Short Route
6
Continue on US 431
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Florida Short Route
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 431
16 mi
·
22 min
·
US 431
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I-565 West: Decatur
9
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13
Toward Madison Boulevard
11
Continue on Madison Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Madison Boulevard
12
Turn right onto Hughes Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Hughes Road
13
Turn left onto Mill Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Mill Road
14
Turn left onto Church Street
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
Church Street
15
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Guntersville, 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 0.1 and 47.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Ringold Street
Turn left onto Ringold Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 431; AL 79 / Blount Avenue
Turn left onto US 431; AL 79 / Blount Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
38.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the ramp toward I-565 West: Decatur
Navigation decision point
Toward I-565 West: Decatur
5
42.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 13
Toward Madison Boulevard
4
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
Church Street
Turn left onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.16 one way
$14.32 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.51 | $17.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Madison, AL
Late night in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
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
1h 3m 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 47.4-mile trek offers a mixed driving profile that transitions from local roads to major highways. You will spend roughly 40% of your time on highways, providing a balanced experience behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted section spans 22.4 miles along the Florida Short Route, allowing for a steady pace before you merge onto the interstate system. As you progress from the initial local stretches onto I-565, the character of the road shifts from a slower, more deliberate flow to the faster, high-capacity environment of an interstate. Expect a functional drive that moves efficiently between your starting point and destination.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.4 mi on Florida Short Route.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ringold Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Guntersville, AL to Madison, AL is easy. At 1h 3m with 40% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ringold Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 431; AL 79 / Blount Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 38.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Guntersville, AL
Full guide →Guntersville is a town in the mountains of Alabama.
Arriving in Madison, AL
Full guide →Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
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 3m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.4 miles on Florida Short Route. 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 0.1 miles (Ringold Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 431; AL 79 / Blount Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 38.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Madison, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Madison, AL
More trips to Madison, AL
Explore more options from Guntersville, AL or browse trips ending in Madison, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.