Chilton County Rest Area (Southbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Madison, AL to Newton, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 21m
Distance
271.1 mi
436 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 8m
★
6 AM
5h 22m
8 AM
5h 48m
10 AM
5h 31m
12 PM
5h 28m
3 PM
5h 32m
5 PM
5h 47m
8 PM
5h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Newton, AL
Engin Akyurt
Trip Overview
Madison, AL to Newton, AL is 271.1 miles and takes about 5h 21m via I 65 and US 231, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, traversing the Southeast region from start to finish. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without many detours.
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
135.5 miles from Madison, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 166.8 mi | 3h 2m |
| US 231 | 42.5 mi | 55m |
| Troy Highway | 34.7 mi | 41m |
| I 565 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| South Union Avenue | 7 mi | 12m |
| I 85 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| McGehee Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 166.8 mi, about 3h 2m
Traffic on I-565
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,230 veh/hr typical · worst 3,768
Quietest
1 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Newton, 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 1
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Use 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 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 65
93 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
393 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 171
Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
17
Continue on I 85
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 85
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 3
Toward Ann Street
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto Ann Street
436 ft
·
8 sec
·
Ann Street
20
Keep slight left at fork onto Zelda Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Zelda Road
21
Continue on Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Carter Hill Road
22
Turn left onto McGehee Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
McGehee Road
23
Continue on US 82; US 231
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Troy Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 231
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
US 231
Use the right lane.
25
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
US 231; AL 10
26
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
27
Continue on US 231; AL 10
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
US 231; AL 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 231; AL 10
25 mi
·
31 min
·
US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
29
Turn slight right onto AL 123
7.0 mi
·
12 min
·
South Union Avenue
Use the right lane.
30
Turn slight right onto Calloway Street
244 ft
·
10 sec
·
Calloway Street
31
Arrive at destination
Callaway Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Madison to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $40, fill up before you leave. The longest stretch without a major break is 166.8 miles on I 65, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before you hit that point. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but keeping a steady pace will help you arrive in Newton with time to spare.
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 135.5 miles from Madison, AL, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.8 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 60 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.5 miles or 2h 30m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newton, 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 271.1 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 166.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 135.5 miles from Madison, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 166.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Chilton County Rest Area (Northbound)
0.1 mi from route
Cullman County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Dale County Rest Area
1.2 mi from route
TA Express
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 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
$42.20 one way
$84.40 round trip
$3.95/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.52 | $93.05 |
| premium | $4.71 | $50.28 | $100.56 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $65.95 | $131.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.3 | 1 | $28.47 | $13.01 |
| Efficient EV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.72 | $10.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.4 | 1 | $37.95 | $17.35 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Madison, AL
Morning in Madison on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 5 to 15 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 1:15AM EDT until October 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 11:33PM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Newton, AL
Morning in Newton on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 1:15AM EDT until October 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 11:33PM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
16 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
5h 21m 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 93.5
Park Closure: A.G Gaston Motel Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 81% of this trip, totaling 219.6 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 166.8 miles on I 65. After that, you'll transition to surface roads for the final portion of the drive into Newton. Expect a significant amount of highway cruising before reaching more local roads.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.8 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 231. 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 Effort
9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 271.1 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
994 ft
129 ft
Total Climb
1,059 ft
Total Descent
1,438 ft
Highest Point
994 ft
~38.7 mi in
Elevation Range
866 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Newton, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale and Montgomery.
Fultondale
85.3 mi in
|
~1h 34m
Montgomery
86.3 mi in
|
~1h 35m
About the Cities
Starting in Madison, AL
Full guide →Founded 1818
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.
Top landmarks
- • James H. Bibb House — historic house in Alabama, United States
- • Madison Station Historic District — historic district in Alabama, United States
Arriving in Newton, AL
Full guide →Founded 1843
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 271.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 166.8 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Newton, 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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Newton, AL before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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