If you are planning to travel from Madison to Gadsden, Alabama, you are looking at a straightforward 83.7-mile journey. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 58 minutes behind the wheel for this trip. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting around $13 for fuel should cover your travel costs, keeping the trip quite affordable. Both cities are situated within the Southeast region, making this a localized transit between two Alabama hubs. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.9 miles from Madison, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Governors Drive Southwest
36.3 mi
45m
Florida Short Route
28.1 mi
40m
I 565
5.2 mi
5m
West Meighan Boulevard
3.7 mi
6m
Madison Boulevard
2.6 mi
3m
Gunter Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi
3m
Hughes Road
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Governors Drive Southwest
— 36.3 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Gadsden, AL.
1
Start on Church Street
70 ft·3 sec·Church Street
2
Turn right onto Mill Road
0.3 mi·47 sec·Mill Road
3
Turn right onto Hughes Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Hughes Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Madison Boulevard
2.6 mi·3 min·Madison Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
5.2 mi·5 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 231 South, US 431 South: Memorial Parkway
8
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·26 sec·this road
Exit 19AToward US 231 South, US 431 South: Memorial Parkway
9
Merge onto US 231; US 431
0.4 mi·32 sec·Memorial Parkway Southwest
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 431
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 431
Toward Governors DriveUse the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto US 431
36 mi·45 min·Governors Drive Southwest
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 431; AL 79
2.5 mi·4 min·Gunter Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 431
28 mi·40 min·Florida Short Route
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn slight left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·53 sec·4th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi·3 min·5th Avenue Northwest
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 278; US 431
3.7 mi·6 min·West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto North 6th Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North 6th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
South 6th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 83.7-mile stretch without needing scheduled stops for rest or refueling, provided you start with a full tank. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means your travel time might fluctuate based on local traffic conditions. Because the drive is under two hours, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid typical commuter rushes. Given the concentration of turns, ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent steering adjustments rather than long, straight-line highway cruising.
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 41.9 miles from Madison, AL, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.3 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.9 miles or 54m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gadsden, 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 83.7 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Madison, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Governors Drive Southwest for about 36.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.9 and 83.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.9 mi into trip|~13m in
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
Toward US 231 South, US 431 South: Memorial Par...
5
10.3 mi into trip|~14m in|US 231; US 431 / Memorial Parkway Southwest
Merge onto US 231; US 431 / Memorial Parkway Southwest
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
10.7 mi into trip|~14m in|US 431
Keep slight right at fork onto US 431 toward Governors Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Governors Drive
6
78.4 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|5th Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
83.5 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|North 6th Street
Turn right onto North 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.64 one way
$25.28 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.88
$27.75
premium
$4.56
$15.02
$30.05
diesel
$5.61
$18.48
$36.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.1
0
$8.79
$4.02
Efficient EV
20.9
0
$7.32
$3.35
EV Truck/SUV
33.5
0
$11.72
$5.36
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Madison, AL
Late night
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gadsden, AL
Late night
in Gadsden on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
2 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 58m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 83.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a turn-heavy, local-road profile that keeps you engaged rather than cruising on a monotonous interstate. With only 7% of the drive spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local corridors. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 36.3 miles along Governors Drive Southwest, which serves as the primary backbone of your trek. You will also utilize Florida Short Route and I-565 to navigate the transition between the two cities. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience where the road demands your full attention as you move through the winding segments.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.3 mi on Governors Drive Southwest.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.9 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 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; at 10.7 miles (US 431): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 58m. Total distance: 83.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.3 miles on Governors Drive Southwest. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Gadsden, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 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; at 10.7 miles (US 431): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gadsden, AL before heading back.
