Madison, AL to Bear Creek, AL is 78.9 miles and takes about 1h 41m via AL 24 and I-565, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a drive primarily on highways, making it a straightforward journey. With a duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick day trip or an easy leg of a longer adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Madison, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 24
35.4 mi
42m
Andrew Jackson Highway
17.1 mi
22m
I 565
8.5 mi
9m
Gordon Terry Parkway
7.5 mi
9m
Huntsville-Decatur Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Moulton Street East
2.2 mi
4m
Bee Line Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
AL 24
— 35.4 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Bear Creek, AL.
1
Start on Church Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·Church Street
2
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·18 sec·this road
3
Continue on Main Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Main Street
4
Turn sharp left onto Sullivan Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Sullivan Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on Wall Triana Highway
454 ft·11 sec·Wall Triana Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward 565: Decatur
7
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alt
8.5 mi·9 min·I 565; US 72 Alt
8
Continue on US 72 Alternate; SR 20
0.1 mi·8 sec·US 72 Alternate; SR 20
9
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
3.5 mi·4 min·Huntsville-Decatur Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20
1.6 mi·2 min·Bee Line Highway
11
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.
12
Turn right onto Moulton Street East
2.2 mi·4 min·Moulton Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on Gordon Terry Parkway
7.5 mi·9 min·Gordon Terry Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on AL 24
2.0 mi·2 min·AL 24
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on AL 24
33 mi·39 min·AL 24
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 43: Russellville, Muscle Shoals, Hamilton
17
Turn left onto US 43; AL 13; AL 17
17 mi·22 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
18
Turn right onto Grover Avenue
42 ft·1 sec·Grover Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Grover Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 41m duration, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart anytime, but an early start allows for a leisurely return. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, you won't need to worry excessively about refueling, though it's always wise to top off before leaving Madison. Plan for minimal stops, as the longest continuous stretch is manageable, but keep an eye out for services along AL 24 if needed.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from Madison, AL, or about 52m 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bear Creek, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Madison, AL
This is one driving day of about 78.9 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Madison, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 61.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Sullivan Street
Turn sharp left onto Sullivan Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward 565: Decatur
Navigation decision point
Toward 565: Decatur
6
15.9 mi into trip|~21m 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.
6
16.4 mi into trip|~22m in|Moulton Street East
Turn right onto Moulton Street East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
61.5 mi into trip|~1h 18m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.92 one way
$23.83 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.08
$26.16
premium
$4.56
$14.16
$28.32
diesel
$5.61
$17.42
$34.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 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
23.7
0
$8.28
$3.79
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.90
$3.16
EV Truck/SUV
31.6
0
$11.05
$5.05
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 18, 2026
Origin
Madison, AL
Late night
in Madison on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 10 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bear Creek, AL
Late night
in Bear Creek on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph79% chanceLive 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
3 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 41m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 65% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 35.4 miles on AL 24, offering a consistent pace. The route blends interstate travel with highway driving, providing a good mix of speed and accessibility. The character of the road remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over varied terrain.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 24 and Andrew Jackson Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Sullivan Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): 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 Madison, AL and Bear Creek, AL, road signs point toward Muscle Shoals and Hamilton.
Muscle Shoals
61.5 mi in|~1h 18m
Hamilton
61.5 mi in|~1h 18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 78.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 35.4 miles on AL 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bear Creek, AL before heading back.
