Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
102.7 mi
165 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Cedar Bluff, AL
Tom Fisk
This 102.7-mile drive from Madison, AL to Cedar Bluff, AL should take about 2 hours and 17 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on I-565, with some time on Wallace Avenue Northeast and Veterans Drive. The estimated fuel cost is around $16, which is quite budget-friendly for a journey of this length. Both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, so you'll stay within familiar territory. This route offers a mixed drive experience and is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Madison, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 565 | 46.3 mi | 54m |
| Wallace Avenue Northeast | 19 mi | 27m |
| Veterans Drive | 12.6 mi | 16m |
| West Main Street | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Love Road | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| AL 68 | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Madison Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Hughes Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Cedar Bluff, 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 onto AL 279
Turn right onto AL 35
Continue on AL 35
Continue on AL 35
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 35
At end of road, turn left onto US 11; AL 35
Turn right onto AL 35
Turn left onto AL 35
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto AL 68
Turn right onto Old Hwy 9
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of just over two hours, this trip is best undertaken as a single-day excursion. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Cedar Bluff and explore without feeling rushed. With no planned stops in the data, consider a brief break around the halfway point, perhaps after completing the 46.3-mile stretch on I-565. The $16 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it’s always wise to ensure you have enough gas before departing Madison, AL, as local road sections might have fewer services. Enjoy the straightforward journey!
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.
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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 2m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Bluff, AL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, AL
This is one driving day of about 102.7 miles and 2h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 51.3 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 78.7 — 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 onto AL 279 toward 35: Veterans Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 35 / Glenn Boulevard Southwest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto US 11; AL 35 / Gault Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto AL 35 / 5th Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$15.51 one way
$31.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $17.03 | $34.05 |
| premium | $4.56 | $18.43 | $36.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.67 | $45.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.78 | $4.93 |
| Efficient EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.99 | $4.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.1 | 0 | $14.38 | $6.57 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Late night in Madison on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Cedar Bluff on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 50% of your journey on highways. The bulk of your time will be spent on I-565, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46.3 miles. While the interstate provides efficiency, you'll also navigate local roads like Wallace Avenue Northeast and Veterans Drive. This combination means you'll experience periods of faster highway travel interspersed with more local road driving as you approach your destination. The road character shifts from primarily interstate to more varied segments.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mill Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Mill Road): Navigation decision point; at 51 miles (AL 279): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 77.5 miles (AL 35 / Glenn Boulevard Southwest): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 102.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Straightforward navigation.
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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