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Trip from Hackleburg, AL to Huntsville, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 46m

Distance

87.5 mi

141 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Marion County, Alabama, United States of America

Hackleburg, AL

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Madison County, Alabama, United States

Huntsville, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 87.5-mile drive from Hackleburg, AL to Huntsville, AL is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 46 minutes. You'll primarily be on AL 24 and I-565, with a portion on Andrew Jackson Highway, making it a highway-focused experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, this route is budget-friendly for a short excursion. Given its brevity, no overnight stays are necessary, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This journey stays within the Southeast region and within Alabama, offering a straightforward transition between two points.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

43.8 miles from Hackleburg, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
AL 24 43.2 mi 51m
I 565 19.3 mi 20m
Andrew Jackson Highway 13.7 mi 15m
Huntsville-Decatur Highway 3 mi 3m
U.S. Highway 43 2.8 mi 3m
6th Avenue Northeast 2.3 mi 3m
Moulton Street West 2.2 mi 4m
Jefferson Street North 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: AL 24 — 43.2 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hackleburg, AL and Huntsville, AL.

1

Start on AL 172

59 ft · 3 sec · Cedar Tree Street
2

Turn right onto AL 172

189 ft · 4 sec · Main Street
3

Turn right onto US 43; AL 17

0.5 mi · 34 sec · Andrew Jackson Highway
4

Continue on US 43; AL 17

2.8 mi · 3 min · U.S. Highway 43
5

Continue on US 43; AL 17

6.6 mi · 7 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
6

At end of road, turn left onto US 43; AL 13; AL 17

6.6 mi · 7 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
7

Turn left

0.2 mi · 30 sec
8

Merge onto AL 24

36 mi · 42 min · AL 24
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Continue on AL 24

7.5 mi · 9 min · AL 24
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on Moulton Street West

2.2 mi · 4 min · Moulton Street West
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11

Turn left onto US 31

2.3 mi · 3 min · 6th Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
12

Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20

3.0 mi · 3 min · Huntsville-Decatur Highway
Toward Huntsville Use the left lane.
13

Continue on I 565; US 72 Alternate

19 mi · 20 min · I 565; US 72 Alternate
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
15

Continue on this road

395 ft · 9 sec · this road
Exit 19C Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
16

Keep slight right at fork

343 ft · 8 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
17

Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Jefferson Street North
18

Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest

4 ft · 0 sec · Spring Street Southwest
19

Arrive at destination

Spring Street Southwest

Trip Plan

Since this is a short drive of under two hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, though an early start can help you maximize your time in Huntsville. There are no mandatory stops suggested, but plan for a brief break midway if needed, especially during the 43.2-mile stretch on AL 24. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $13, and it’s always wise to top off before heading out. This route is straightforward, so focus on enjoying the direct path to your destination.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.8 miles from Hackleburg, AL, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.2 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 19 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 43.8 miles or 51m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Huntsville, AL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hackleburg, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hackleburg, AL

This is one driving day of about 87.5 miles and 1h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hackleburg, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on AL 24 for about 43.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Moulton, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Moulton, AL

44 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

Russellville, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Moulton, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.8 miles from Hackleburg, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 87 — 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 | AL 172 / Main Street

Turn right onto AL 172 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
16.8 mi into trip | ~19m in | AL 24

Merge onto AL 24

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
62.1 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast

Turn left onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
86.7 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in

Take the exit toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Do...
9
87 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Jefferson Street, Downtown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.21 one way

$26.43 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $14.51 $29.01
premium $4.56 $15.71 $31.41
diesel $5.61 $19.32 $38.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.3 0 $9.19 $4.20
Efficient EV 21.9 0 $7.66 $3.50
EV Truck/SUV 35 0 $12.25 $5.60

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Hackleburg, AL

Night in Hackleburg on Saturday

Local time

11:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Huntsville, AL

Night in Huntsville on Saturday

Local time

11:51 PM

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 46m 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 predominantly highway drive, with 75% of the route utilizing higher-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43.2 miles on AL 24, offering a good period of steady travel. This route transitions from two-lane highway driving to interstate conditions as you progress towards Huntsville. The character is largely functional, designed for efficient travel rather than extensive scenic engagement.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.2 mi on AL 24.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 24 and I 565. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AL 172 / Main Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 87.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (AL 172 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (AL 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.1 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in Huntsville, AL

Full guide →

Huntsville is in northern Alabama, about 20 miles (32 km) from the border with Tennessee. The city is a center for missile defense and aerospace technologies, with companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman having major operations here. Cummings Research Park, the second largest research park in the country, is home to many of these companies.

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 46m. Total distance: 87.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 43.2 miles on AL 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Huntsville, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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: near the start (AL 172 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (AL 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.1 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Huntsville, 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.

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