Hokes Bluff to Decatur is 86.5 miles and takes about 2h 7m via AL 67, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a relatively short drive, mostly on surface roads with a significant portion on AL 67. You'll find this trip straightforward, with minimal planning needed for a single-day excursion. Consider this a convenient option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two locations without a long commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.3 miles from Hokes Bluff, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 67
39 mi
54m
Thompson Bridge Road
21.9 mi
30m
East Meighan Boulevard
6.4 mi
11m
US 278
6.3 mi
8m
Herman Nelson Highway
6.2 mi
8m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
5th Avenue Northeast
1.4 mi
3m
Alford Bend Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
AL 67
— 39 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hokes Bluff, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on Main Street
11 ft·2 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto CH 65
0.9 mi·1 min·Alford Bend Road
3
Turn right onto US 278
6.2 mi·8 min·Herman Nelson Highway
4
Turn right onto US 278; US 431
6.4 mi·11 min·East Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 278; US 431
1.4 mi·3 min·5th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·50 sec·4th Street Northwest
7
Turn slight right onto US 278; US 431
1.8 mi·2 min·US 278; US 431
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 278
2.9 mi·4 min·US 278
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 278
516 ft·8 sec·Thompson Bridge Road
10
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278
11
Continue on US 278
22 mi·30 min·Thompson Bridge Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 231
0.7 mi·1 min·US 231
13
Take the exit
139 ft·7 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto AL 67
20 mi·27 min·AL 67
15
Continue on AL 67
6.9 mi·9 min·AL 67
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on AL 67
12 mi·16 min·AL 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 31
3.0 mi·5 min·6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi·14 sec·6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi·38 sec·Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right
82 ft·6 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, this is easily a single-day trip, so you can leave any time that suits your schedule. There are no explicitly listed stops, so consider this a drive where you can take breaks as needed, perhaps at one of the many towns along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 39-mile stretch on AL 67 where services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, so plan accordingly. Since it's a shorter drive, you have the flexibility to depart later in the morning or even early afternoon.
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 43.3 miles from Hokes Bluff, AL, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 miles or 1h 5m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hokes Bluff, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hokes Bluff, AL
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hokes Bluff, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on AL 67 for about 39 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 86.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
7 mi into trip|~10m in|US 278; US 431 / East Meighan Boulevard
Turn right onto US 278; US 431 / East Meighan Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
17 mi into trip|~28m in|US 278
Turn left onto US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
44.2 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
83.2 mi into trip|~2h in|US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
86.3 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|Lee Street Northeast
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.06 one way
$26.13 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.34
$28.68
premium
$4.56
$15.53
$31.05
diesel
$5.61
$19.10
$38.20
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: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.08
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.54
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 15, 2026
Origin
Hokes Bluff, AL
Morning
in Hokes Bluff on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Decatur, AL
Morning
in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
2h 7m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About half of this 86.5-mile drive, specifically 53%, is on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 39 miles on AL 67. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads as you progress toward Decatur. Expect a mixed driving experience, with sections of higher-speed cruising followed by more local traffic and intersections.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on AL 67.
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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in near US 278; US 431 / East Meighan Boulevard.
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 86.5 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: at 7 miles (US 278; US 431 / East Meighan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 86.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39 miles on AL 67. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles (US 278; US 431 / East Meighan Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Decatur, AL before heading back.
