Trip from Huntsville, AL to Winfield, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 31m

Distance

116.3 mi

187 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

2h 22m ★

6 AM

2h 32m

8 AM

2h 52m

10 AM

2h 39m

12 PM

2h 37m

3 PM

2h 40m

5 PM

2h 51m

8 PM

2h 26m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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county seat of Madison County, Alabama, United States

Huntsville, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Winfield, AL

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

This 116.3-mile drive from Huntsville, AL to Winfield, AL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 31 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 76% of the journey on major roads like AL 24 and I-565, making for a relatively efficient travel experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $18, this is an affordable excursion within the Southeast region. You'll find the drive straightforward, with only one main stop suggested along the way, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Consider this a practical and direct path between these two Alabama cities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

58.1 miles from Huntsville, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
AL 24	35.4 mi	42m
I 565	18.9 mi	20m
AL 129	14.7 mi	20m
Andrew Jackson Highway	11.4 mi	13m
AL 241	11.1 mi	15m
Gordon Terry Parkway	7.5 mi	9m
Huntsville-Decatur Highway	3.5 mi	4m
L C Lauderdale Sr Highway	3.4 mi	6m

Longest stretch: AL 24 — 35.4 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Huntsville, AL and Winfield, AL.

Start on Spring Street Southwest

4 ft · 3 sec · Spring Street Southwest

Turn right onto West Side Square

376 ft · 16 sec · West Side Square

Continue on South Side Square

369 ft · 16 sec · South Side Square

Turn left onto East Side Square

371 ft · 9 sec · East Side Square

Continue on Washington Street Southeast

364 ft · 9 sec · Washington Street Southeast

Continue on Washington Street Northeast

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Washington Street Northeast

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate

19 mi · 20 min · I 565; US 72 Alternate

Continue on US 72 Alternate; SR 20

0.1 mi · 8 sec · US 72 Alternate; SR 20

Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20

3.5 mi · 4 min · Huntsville-Decatur Highway

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20

1.6 mi · 2 min · Bee Line Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20

0.5 mi · 1 min · 6th Avenue Northeast

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Moulton Street East

2.2 mi · 4 min · Moulton Street East

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on Gordon Terry Parkway

7.5 mi · 9 min · Gordon Terry Parkway

Use the straight lane.

Continue on AL 24

2.0 mi · 2 min · AL 24

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on AL 24

33 mi · 39 min · AL 24

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward US 43: Russellville, Muscle Shoals, Hamilton

Turn left onto US 43; AL 13; AL 17

11 mi · 13 min · Andrew Jackson Highway

Turn slight right onto AL 237

2.0 mi · 3 min · Jackson Highway

Turn slight left onto AL 241

3.4 mi · 6 min · L C Lauderdale Sr Highway

Turn right onto AL 241

11 mi · 15 min · AL 241

At end of road, turn left onto US 278

0.6 mi · 53 sec · US 278

Turn right onto AL 129

11 mi · 15 min · AL 129

Continue on AL 129

3.8 mi · 5 min · AL 129

At end of road, turn right onto AL 118

1.4 mi · 2 min · Bankhead Avenue

Use the right lane.

Continue on AL 118

0.6 mi · 1 min · Bankhead Highway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

US 43; AL 118; AL 171

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 31-minute duration, this 116.3-mile journey is perfectly suited for a day trip. You can depart Huntsville at your leisure, perhaps after morning traffic has cleared. With only one suggested stop and a manageable fuel cost of $18, you have a lot of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without services is 35.4 miles on AL 24. Planning your fuel and rest stops around this longer segment will ensure a smooth drive to Winfield.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 58.1 miles from Huntsville, AL, or about 1h 12m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.4 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 26 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 58.1 miles or 1h 12m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winfield, 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 116.3 miles and 2h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 AL 24 for about 35.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Franklin County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Russellville, AL

58 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

Decatur, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Town Creek, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.1 miles from Huntsville, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

The Mallard Coffee Company

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Decatur, Alabama

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 24.9

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17706340731

Visit website

Tio Juan Mexican Grill

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Decatur, Alabama

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Luxapallila Coffee Company

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Winfield, Alabama

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 116.3

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+12054872696

Visit website

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Madison, Alabama

2 mi

The Mallard Coffee Company

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 24.9

Decatur, Alabama

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17706340731

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 8.3

Madison, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18008430468

Dublin Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 8.3

Madison, Alabama

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+12567729300

Visit website

Kids Kingdom

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 8.3

Madison, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12563872194

Visit website

Monte Sano State Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12565343757

Visit website

Fun Lab Party Place

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 116.3

Winfield, Alabama

Hours: Closed

+12054127755

Dismals Canyon

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 83.1

Phil Campbell, Alabama

Hours: 10 am–5:30 pm

+12059934559

Visit website

North Alabama Railroad Museum

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+12568516276

Visit website

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 0.1 and 114.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Side Square

Turn left onto East Side Square

Navigation decision point

25.2 mi into trip | ~29m in | US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast

Keep slight left at fork onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

25.7 mi into trip | ~31m in | Moulton Street East

Turn right onto Moulton Street East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

70.9 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in

Take the exit toward US 43: Russellville, Muscle Shoals, Hamilton

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

Toward US 43: Russellville, Muscle Shoals, Hami...

114.2 mi into trip | ~2h 28m in | AL 118 / Bankhead Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto AL 118 / Bankhead Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.56 one way

$35.13 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$19.28	$38.56
premium	$4.56	$20.87	$41.75
diesel	$5.61	$25.68	$51.36

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.9	$12.21	$5.58
Efficient EV	29.1	$10.18	$4.65
EV Truck/SUV	46.5	$16.28	$7.44

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% 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

Huntsville, AL

Afternoon in Huntsville on Sunday

Local time

3:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winfield, AL

Afternoon in Winfield on Sunday

Local time

3:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Russellville, AL

58 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

19 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

2h 31m 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 highway-centric experience for the majority of this 116.3-mile trip, as indicated by the 76% highway share. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I-565 and AL 24, which offer a steady pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35.4 miles on AL 24, providing a solid period of consistent driving. While the profile suggests a highway focus, be prepared for transitions between these main roads, offering a mix of faster travel and potentially more local road sections as you approach your destination. The overall feel is efficient rather than overtly scenic.

76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 35.4 mi on AL 24.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 24 and I 565. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Side Square.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 116.3 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 0.1 miles (East Side Square): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles (Moulton Street East): 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 Winfield, AL, road signs point toward Muscle Shoals and Hamilton.

Muscle Shoals

70.9 mi in | ~1h 27m

Hamilton

70.9 mi in | ~1h 27m

About the Cities

Starting in Huntsville, AL

Full guide →

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.

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 2h 31m. Total distance: 116.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.4 miles on AL 24. 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 Winfield, 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Winfield, 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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Explore more options from Huntsville, AL or browse trips ending in Winfield, AL.

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Trip from Huntsville, AL to Winfield, AL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

The Mallard Coffee Company

Luxapallila Coffee Company

The Mallard Coffee Company

Tio Juan Mexican Grill

Sonic Drive-In

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Luxapallila Coffee Company

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt

Dublin Park

Kids Kingdom

Monte Sano State Park

Fun Lab Party Place

Dismals Canyon

North Alabama Railroad Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Huntsville, AL

Winfield, AL

Same local time

19 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 31m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Huntsville, AL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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