Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
41.6 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Arab, AL
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Madison, AL to Arab, AL covers 41.6 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Memorial Parkway Southwest, I 565, Madison Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.1 miles on Memorial Parkway Southwest. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.09 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Parkway Southwest | 27.1 mi | 35m |
| I 565 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Madison Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| North Brindlee Mountain Parkway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Hughes Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Mill Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Church Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 90 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,957 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~217 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Arab, AL.
Start on Church Street
Turn right onto Mill Road
Turn right onto Hughes Road
At end of road, turn left onto Madison Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto US 231; US 431
Keep slight left at fork onto US 231
Continue on US 231
Turn left
Continue on North Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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.
A short stop after about 41.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.8 miles from Madison, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 39.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Mill Road
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward US 231 South, US 431 South: Memorial Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto US 231; US 431 / Memorial Parkway Southwest
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 231 / Memorial Parkway Southwest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.09 one way
$12.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $6.77 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.49 | $7.35 | $14.69 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $9.17 | $18.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Madison on Saturday
Local time
10:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Arab on Saturday
Local time
10:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
41.6 mi in 55m, mostly highway — 27.1 mi of that is on Memorial Parkway Southwest.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Memorial Parkway Southwest and I 565. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mill Road.
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 41.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (Mill Road): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.3 miles (US 231; US 431 / Memorial Parkway Southwest): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
874 ft
Total Descent
476 ft
Highest Point
1,263 ft
~26.7 mi in
Elevation Range
679 ft
Founded 1818
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.
Top landmarks
Founded 1882
Arab (pronounced AY-rab) is a small town in North Alabama.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 41.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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