Traveling from Huntsville to Brundidge covers 249.5 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 48 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay. Your path primarily utilizes I-565 and I-65 before transitioning onto the Troy Highway for the final leg. Budgeting roughly $38 for fuel should cover your transit across this portion of the Southeast. This route is ideal for those who prefer an efficient, highway-focused drive rather than a winding backroad adventure. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, the trip is straightforward and predictable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.7 miles from Huntsville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
166.8 mi
3h 2m
Troy Highway
34.7 mi
41m
I 565
18.9 mi
20m
US 231
17.8 mi
24m
I 85
2.7 mi
3m
McGehee Road
1.4 mi
2m
Zelda Road
1.1 mi
2m
Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 166.8 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Huntsville, AL and Brundidge, AL.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
4 ft·3 sec·Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn right onto West Side Square
376 ft·16 sec·West Side Square
3
Continue on South Side Square
369 ft·16 sec·South Side Square
4
Turn left onto East Side Square
371 ft·9 sec·East Side Square
5
Continue on Washington Street Southeast
364 ft·9 sec·Washington Street Southeast
6
Continue on Washington Street Northeast
0.5 mi·53 sec·Washington Street Northeast
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
8
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
19 mi·20 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1Toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 1Toward I 65 South: BirminghamUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 65
74 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 265Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, FultondaleUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 65
93 mi·1 hr 43 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
393 ft·9 sec
Exit 171Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
18
Continue on I 85
2.7 mi·3 min·I 85
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 3Toward Ann StreetUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto Ann Street
436 ft·8 sec·Ann Street
21
Keep slight left at fork onto Zelda Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Zelda Road
22
Continue on Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Carter Hill Road
23
Turn left onto McGehee Road
1.4 mi·2 min·McGehee Road
24
Continue on US 82; US 231
35 mi·41 min·Troy Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 231
7.7 mi·9 min·US 231
Use the right lane.
26
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 231; AL 10
27
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.0 mi·3 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
28
Continue on US 231; AL 10
7.6 mi·10 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.5 mi·44 sec·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto AL 10
0.6 mi·53 sec·South A. Graham Boulevard
31
Continue on AL 10
0.3 mi·25 sec·South A Graham Boulevard
32
Arrive at destination
AL 10
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel during the nearly five-hour trip. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential congestion on the interstate segments, particularly when passing through busier areas. Since the longest stretch spans over 166 miles, make sure to check your fuel levels before merging onto I-65 to avoid unnecessary stress. Being a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace, but try to time your arrival in Brundidge to avoid peak traffic hours on the Troy Highway. Keeping a consistent speed will help you stay within your $38 fuel budget while navigating this highway-heavy path.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 124.7 miles from Huntsville, AL, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.8 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.7 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brundidge, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Huntsville, 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 Huntsville, AL
This is one driving day of about 249.5 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Huntsville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 166.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.1 and 192.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
20.1 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
8
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
95.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
7
192.2 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward Ann Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward Ann Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.68 one way
$75.36 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$41.36
$82.73
premium
$4.56
$44.78
$89.56
diesel
$5.61
$55.09
$110.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.9
0
$26.20
$11.98
Efficient EV
62.4
0
$21.83
$9.98
EV Truck/SUV
99.8
1
$34.93
$15.97
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Huntsville, AL
Night
in Huntsville on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brundidge, AL
Night
in Brundidge on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Columbiana, AL
125 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
27 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 48m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed transit, as 83% of your journey is spent on major highways. You will settle in for a long haul during the 166.8-mile stretch on I-65, which serves as the backbone of your travel. While the interstate sections provide consistent, fast-paced driving, the final transition to the Troy Highway offers a shift in pace as you move toward your destination. This is a practical, no-nonsense route designed for getting from point A to point B efficiently. You will spend the vast majority of your time focused on highway navigation rather than navigating complex local turns.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.8 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Troy Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 249.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Huntsville, AL and Brundidge, AL, road signs point toward Nashville, Fultondale and Montgomery.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 249.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 166.8 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Brundidge, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Brundidge, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
