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Trip from Hanceville, AL to Madison, AL

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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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 3m ★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m

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

Downtown Hanceville, AL, AL

Hanceville, AL

Andrius La Rotta

city in Alabama, United States

Madison, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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.

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Heroes Highway — 31.7 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hanceville, AL and Madison, AL.

1

Start on Church Avenue

75 ft · 9 sec · Church Avenue
2

Turn left onto Blountsville Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Blountsville Street
3

Turn right onto US 31

9.2 mi · 14 min · Main Street
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn left onto US 278

0.3 mi · 32 sec · 3rd Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on US 278

1.5 mi · 2 min · 4th Street Southwest
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
7

Merge onto I 65

32 mi · 33 min · Heroes Highway
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 340 Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 340A Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
10

Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate

8.4 mi · 9 min · I 565; US 72 Alternate
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Exit 9 Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
12

Keep slight left at fork

467 ft · 9 sec
Exit 9 Toward Madison Use the left lane.
13

Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Continue on Sullivan Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · Sullivan Street
15

Turn right onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Main Street
16

Continue on Church Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Church Street
17

Arrive at destination

Church Street

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Falkville, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Falkville, AL

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Cullman, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hartselle, AL

Meal break

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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

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.

6
9.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest

Turn left onto US 278 / 3rd Street Southwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
43.1 mi into trip | ~52m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 340 Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate:...
7
43.4 mi into trip | ~53m in

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

Exit 340A Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsv...
6
52.4 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway

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

Exit 9 Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
9
52.6 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Madison

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Exit 9 Toward Madison

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.26 one way

$16.52 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Hanceville, AL

Late night in Hanceville on Tuesday

Local time

4:26 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Madison, AL

Late night in Madison on Tuesday

Local time

4:26 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

Very similar conditions

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

Road read

1h 8m 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 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.

Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.7 mi on Heroes Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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.

Driving Effort 8/10

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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

43.1 mi in | ~52m

About the Cities

Starting in Hanceville, AL

Full guide →

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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 31.7 miles on Heroes Highway. 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 Madison, 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: 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.

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.

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