Traveling from Madison to East Brewton covers 283.6 miles of Alabama landscape, a journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 22 minutes. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You will primarily utilize I-65, US 31, and I-565 to navigate across the state. Budgeting approximately $43 for fuel should keep you moving comfortably throughout the trip. Since both your start and end points are within the Southeast region, you will remain in familiar territory as you head south toward the Florida border. Overall, this route is highly efficient for those looking to reach their destination without the need for an overnight stop.
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
141.8 miles from Madison, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
245 mi
4h 27m
US 31
23.5 mi
35m
I 565
8.5 mi
9m
Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
2m
US 84
0.7 mi
<1m
Forrest Avenue
0.6 mi
<1m
Mildred Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Church Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 245 mi, about 4h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and East Brewton, 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
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1Toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 1Toward I 65 South: BirminghamUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 65
74 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 265Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, FultondaleUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 65
171 mi·3 hr 8 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 84: Evergreen, Monroeville
16
Turn left
97 ft·7 sec
17
Turn left onto US 84
0.7 mi·49 sec·US 84
18
Turn right onto Conecuh County 58
0.1 mi·9 sec·Conecuh County 58
19
Turn straight onto US 31
23 mi·35 min·US 31
20
Turn left onto US 29; AL 41
0.4 mi·34 sec·Mildred Street
21
Continue on US 29; AL 41
0.6 mi·52 sec·Forrest Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
US 29; AL 41
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 283.6-mile trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the route relies heavily on I-65, keep a close watch on traffic patterns near major urban intersections where congestion can suddenly shift your arrival time. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid peak traffic hours and ensure you reach East Brewton before the day ends. Given the $43 fuel estimate, it is wise to fill up before you hit the longest 245-mile stretch to avoid paying premium prices at remote service stations. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the lack of complex navigation allows you to easily adjust your departure based on local weather or traffic reports.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 141.8 miles from Madison, AL, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 245 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 62 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.8 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Brewton, 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.
+
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 283.6 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Madison, 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 245 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 86.3 — 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.
8
10.8 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
8
85.3 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
85.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.83 one way
$85.66 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$47.02
$94.03
premium
$4.56
$50.90
$101.81
diesel
$5.61
$62.62
$125.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.1
1
$29.78
$13.61
Efficient EV
70.9
0
$24.82
$11.34
EV Truck/SUV
113.4
1
$39.70
$18.15
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Madison, AL
Late night
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Brewton, AL
Late night
in East Brewton on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
6 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
5h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 98% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-65, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 245 miles that defines the character of the trip. While the drive is largely a highway-focused grind, the transition from the northern part of the state toward the southern region keeps the experience consistent. Because the road is designed for speed and directness, you can maintain a steady pace for nearly the entire duration of the 5-hour drive. Prepare for a predictable, straightforward experience that prioritizes travel time over winding backroads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 245 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 31. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Sullivan Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 283.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 East Brewton, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery and Monroeville.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 283.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 245 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 East Brewton, 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 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at East Brewton, AL before the return drive.
