Origin
Hanceville, AL
Late night in Hanceville on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
54.7 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hanceville, AL
Andrius La Rotta
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
This 54.7-mile journey from Hanceville, AL to Madison, AL is a straightforward, one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 8 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate local roads like Heroes Highway and Main Street before merging onto I-565 for a portion of the drive. With a modest fuel cost of around $8, this route is an easy addition to your travel plans. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaging local experience rather than a long-haul interstate cruise. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical boundaries.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heroes Highway | 31.7 mi | 33m |
| Main Street | 9.5 mi | 15m |
| I 565 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| 4th Street Southwest | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street Southwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Wall Triana Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hanceville, AL and Madison, AL.
Start on Church Avenue
Turn left onto Blountsville Street
Turn right onto US 31
Turn left onto US 278
Continue on US 278
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
Continue on Sullivan Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Continue on Church Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Hanceville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 52.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.26 one way
$16.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.07 | $18.14 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.82 | $19.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.08 | $24.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Hanceville on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 54.7-mile trip. While only 15% of the route involves highway driving, the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 31.7 miles on Heroes Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent speed. As you transition from local streets to I-565, you'll notice a change in pace, but the overall character remains one of varied road conditions and frequent changes in direction. This isn't a monotonous interstate grind; it's a drive that keeps you engaged with the road.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in near US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.7 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 9.3 miles (US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hanceville, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.
Huntsville
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 54.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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