Origin
Madison, AL
Morning in Madison on Sunday
Local time
11:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, AL to Bear Creek, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
64.8 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Bear Creek, AL
Yuanpang Wa
Trip Overview
This 64.8-mile journey from Madison to Bear Creek, Alabama, is an easy day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 28 minutes. Primarily following US 72 Alternate and I-565, with a stretch on the Huntsville-Decatur Highway, this drive stays within the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of around $10, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward and efficient trip. You can comfortably complete this drive in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 72 Alternate | 44.7 mi | 56m |
| I 565 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| Huntsville-Decatur Highway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Underwood Mountain Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Bee Line Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Frankfort Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 72 Alternate
— 44.7 mi, about 56m
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 right at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
45 mi
·
56 min
·
US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left
143 ft
·
4 sec
13
At end of road, turn right
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
14
Turn left onto Frankfort Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Frankfort Road
15
Turn slight left onto CR 51
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Underwood Mountain Road
16
Turn left
80 ft
·
3 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.4 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 60.5 — 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
3
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 565; US 72 Alt
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alt
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
15.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.79 one way
$19.57 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.74 | $21.49 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.63 | $23.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.31 | $28.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.07 | $4.15 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Bear Creek, AL
Morning in Bear Creek on Sunday
Local time
11:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Trinity, AL
32 mi in
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
30 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 28m 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 for most of this 64.8-mile route, with 82% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 44.7 miles on US 72 Alternate, offering a good opportunity to maintain a steady pace. The drive transitions between interstates and well-maintained highways, providing a mix of faster travel and slightly more varied scenery. This isn't a winding backroad adventure, but rather a practical and efficient transit.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.7 mi on US 72 Alternate.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 72 Alternate 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 0.6 miles in near Sullivan Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 64.8 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 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 565; US 72 Alt): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 64.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.7 miles on US 72 Alternate. 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 2.2 miles (I 565; US 72 Alt): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bear Creek, 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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