Hazel Green to Florence is 77.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes via University Drive Northwest and US 72, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. The route offers a mix of driving experiences, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. If you're looking for a simple drive with minimal planning, this is a solid choice that won't eat up your whole day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Hazel Green, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
University Drive Northwest
31.8 mi
42m
United States Highway 72
18.9 mi
24m
US 72
7.8 mi
12m
U.S. 231
7.2 mi
8m
Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Expressway
3.2 mi
4m
Bob Wade Lane Northwest
2.8 mi
3m
AL 255
2.2 mi
2m
Providence Main Street Northwest
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
University Drive Northwest
— 31.8 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hazel Green, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on US 231; US 431
7.2 mi·8 min·U.S. 231
2
Turn right onto Bob Wade Lane Northwest
0.5 mi·35 sec·Bob Wade Lane Northwest
3
Take the exit onto Bob Wade Connector
526 ft·16 sec·Bob Wade Connector
4
Turn right onto Northern Bypass Eastbound Lanes (Planned)
3.2 mi·4 min·Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Expressway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 255
2.2 mi·2 min·AL 255
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
10
Turn straight onto Frontage Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Frontage Road
11
Turn right onto Oakwood Road Northwest
0.3 mi·37 sec·Oakwood Road Northwest
12
Continue on Old Monrovia Road Northwest
0.5 mi·51 sec·Old Monrovia Road Northwest
13
Enter roundabout onto Providence Main Street Northwest
188 ft·4 sec·Providence Main Street Northwest
14
Continue on Providence Main Street Northwest
0.7 mi·1 min·Providence Main Street Northwest
15
Turn right onto US 72
32 mi·42 min·University Drive Northwest
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 72
19 mi·24 min·United States Highway 72
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 72
7.8 mi·12 min·US 72
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on East Tennessee Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Tennessee Street
19
Turn right onto North Pine Street
74 ft·1 sec·North Pine Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 1 hour 45 minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with when you start. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to avoid the worst of any potential rush hour traffic. With only 77.5 miles, you won't need to make many stops, but it's always a good idea to take a break if you feel tired. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $12, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially if you're not familiar with the gas station availability along US 72. Because this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your plans on the fly if needed.
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 38.7 miles from Hazel Green, AL, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.8 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 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 27m
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 Hazel Green, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hazel Green, AL
This is one driving day of about 77.5 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Hazel Green, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on University Drive Northwest for about 31.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 18.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
7.8 mi into trip|~9m in|Northern Bypass Eastbound Lanes (Planned)
Turn right onto Northern Bypass Eastbound Lanes (Planned)
Navigation decision point
4
13.7 mi into trip|~16m in|AL 255
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 255
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
16.6 mi into trip|~20m in|Oakwood Road Northwest
Turn right onto Oakwood Road Northwest
Navigation decision point
4
17.5 mi into trip|~22m in|Providence Main Street Northwest
Enter roundabout onto Providence Main Street Northwest
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
18.2 mi into trip|~23m in|US 72 / University Drive Northwest
Turn right onto US 72 / University Drive Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.70 one way
$23.41 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.85
$25.70
premium
$4.56
$13.91
$27.82
diesel
$5.61
$17.11
$34.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.14
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 19, 2026
Origin
Hazel Green, AL
Morning
in Hazel Green on Tuesday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Morning
in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Athens, AL
39 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 45m 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?
This drive features a 51% highway share, meaning you'll spend roughly half the time on faster roads and the other half on surface streets. The longest continuous stretch on University Drive Northwest measures 31.8 miles, which will likely involve more exits and potentially slower speeds as you navigate through populated areas. You'll transition between these different road types, so be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic patterns. The profile is described as mixed highway and surface, so expect a blend of cruising and more stop-and-go driving.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.8 mi on University Drive Northwest.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in near Northern Bypass Eastbound Lanes (Planned).
Driving Effort5/10
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 77.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 7.8 miles (Northern Bypass Eastbound Lanes (Planned)): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles (AL 255): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.6 miles (Oakwood Road Northwest): Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 77.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.8 miles on University Drive Northwest. 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 7.8 miles (Northern Bypass Eastbound Lanes (Planned)): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles (AL 255): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 16.6 miles (Oakwood Road Northwest): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Florence, AL before heading back.
