Spanning 348.6 miles from Loxley to Huntsville, this trip across Alabama takes roughly 5 hours and 17 minutes of driving time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, you should plan on this being a full-day commitment. You will navigate through local roads like Rabun Road and Washington Street, eventually finishing on I-565 East, so keep your focus sharp for the duration of the journey. Budgeting approximately $47 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the costs ahead. While the trip is manageable in a single day, the winding nature of the roads means you should prioritize comfort and frequent hydration. It is an honest, practical trek through the Southeast that connects the southern reaches of the state to the north.
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
173.9 miles from Loxley, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
301.3 mi
5h 27m
I 565
18.9 mi
20m
US 31
12.5 mi
17m
Hickory Street
9 mi
11m
Rabun Road
4.2 mi
6m
Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
1m
Spring Street Southwest
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 301.3 mi, about 5h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loxley, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on US 90; AL 59
9.0 mi·11 min·Hickory Street
2
Continue on US 31; AL 59
13 mi·17 min·US 31; AL 59
3
Continue on AL 287
4.2 mi·6 min·Rabun Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
5
Merge onto I 65
301 mi·5 hr 27 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 340Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 340AToward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
8
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
19 mi·20 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
10
Continue on this road
395 ft·9 sec·this road
Exit 19CToward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
11
Keep slight right at fork
343 ft·8 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street North
13
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
4 ft·0 sec·Spring Street Southwest
14
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 348.6-mile journey, aim for a morning departure to avoid navigating unfamiliar turns after dark. Since you only have one planned stop, use that break strategically to stretch your legs and check your fuel levels, especially given the $47 cost estimate. Stay alert on the local roads where the heavy concentration of turns can lead to driver fatigue faster than a straight highway. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so do not feel pressured to rush through the winding sections. My best advice for this specific route is to keep a physical or offline map handy, as the reliance on local roads like Washington Street and Rabun Road can make navigation trickier than simply following a single interstate sign.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.9 miles from Loxley, AL, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 301.3 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 76 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.9 miles or 3h 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 5h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Huntsville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Loxley, 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 Loxley, AL
This is one driving day of about 347.7 miles and 6h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Loxley, 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 301.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.9 and 347.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
25.9 mi into trip|~36m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
327.2 mi into trip|~6h 3m 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
327.5 mi into trip|~6h 4m 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...
5
346.9 mi into trip|~6h 26m in
Take the exit toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Do...
9
347.2 mi into trip|~6h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.51 one way
$105.02 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$57.64
$115.29
premium
$4.56
$62.41
$124.82
diesel
$5.61
$76.77
$153.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.3
1
$36.51
$16.69
Efficient EV
86.9
0
$30.42
$13.91
EV Truck/SUV
139.1
1
$48.68
$22.25
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Loxley, AL
Evening
in Loxley on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Evening
in Huntsville on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
22 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
6h 27m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 251.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a significantly different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway share for the majority of the trip. The road personality is defined by technical, turn-heavy local segments that require your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches—with the longest segment on Rabun Road measuring 0 miles—you will find yourself navigating constant shifts in direction and terrain. This is not a route for cruising on autopilot; it is a hands-on drive that demands engagement with the local infrastructure. As you transition from the southern landscape toward Huntsville, the road character remains consistently local, keeping the pace steady but deliberate.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 301.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 565. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25.9 miles in near I 65.
Driving Effort6/10
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 347.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 25.9 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 327.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 327.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6h 27m. Total distance: 347.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 301.3 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 Huntsville, 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 25.9 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 327.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 327.5 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Huntsville, AL before the return drive.
