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Trip from Kimberly, 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 21m

Distance

72 mi

116 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 15m ★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m

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

Downtown Kimberly, AL, AL

Kimberly, AL

Muhammad Nabeel

city in Alabama, United States

Madison, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 72-mile drive from Kimberly, Alabama to Madison, Alabama is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. The route is predominantly highway, with 95% of it utilizing major interstates like I-65 and I-565, making for a quick and efficient journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this is an economical option for connecting these two Alabama locations. The drive is focused on getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, suitable for those prioritizing speed and directness. You'll be staying within the Southeast region for the entirety of this trip.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 59 mi 1h 3m
I 565 8.4 mi 9m
Sullivan Street 1.1 mi 2m
US 31 0.9 mi 1m
Church Street 0.3 mi <1m
Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
Wall Triana Highway 0.3 mi <1m
Service Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 59 mi, about 1h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 31

109 ft · 6 sec · US 31
2

Continue on US 31

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 31
3

Turn straight

0.1 mi · 23 sec
4

Turn left onto Service Road

401 ft · 12 sec · Service Road
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec
6

Merge onto I 65

59 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 65
7

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.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 340A Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
9

Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate

8.4 mi · 9 min · I 565; US 72 Alternate
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Exit 9 Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
11

Keep slight left at fork

467 ft · 9 sec
Exit 9 Toward Madison Use the left lane.
12

Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
13

Continue on Sullivan Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · Sullivan Street
14

Turn right onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Main Street
15

Continue on Church Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Church Street
16

Arrive at destination

Church Street

Where to Stop

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

city and county seat of Cullman County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cullman, AL

36 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

Smoke Rise, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cullman, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36 miles from Kimberly, 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 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 70 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
1 mi into trip | ~1m in | Service Road

Turn left onto Service Road

Navigation decision point

8
60.5 mi into trip | ~1h 6m 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
60.8 mi into trip | ~1h 6m 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
69.7 mi into trip | ~1h 17m 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
70 mi into trip | ~1h 17m 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

$10.87 one way

$21.75 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $11.94 $23.87
premium $4.56 $12.92 $25.85
diesel $5.61 $15.90 $31.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.6 0 $7.56 $3.46
Efficient EV 18 0 $6.30 $2.88
EV Truck/SUV 28.8 0 $10.08 $4.61

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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

Kimberly, AL

Late night in Kimberly on Tuesday

Local time

4:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Madison, AL

Late night in Madison on Tuesday

Local time

4:11 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

1 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

1h 21m 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-focused experience on this trip, as 95% of the journey is on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59 miles on I-65, offering a consistent pace. The route progresses primarily along high-speed interstates, including a segment on I-565 as you approach your destination. This profile means you'll be dealing with typical interstate conditions, characterized by smooth pavement and the potential for higher traffic volumes during peak times. It’s a drive designed for covering distance efficiently.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59 mi on I 65.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 565. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Service Road.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72 miles you will encounter 10 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 1 miles (Service Road): Navigation decision point; at 60.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.8 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 Kimberly, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.

Huntsville

60.5 mi in | ~1h 6m

About the Cities

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 21m. Total distance: 72 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 59 miles on I 65. 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 1 miles (Service Road): Navigation decision point; at 60.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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