Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
99.8 mi
161 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
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
Ohatchee, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Madison, AL to Ohatchee, AL is 99.8 miles and takes about 2h 22m via Governors Drive Southwest and AL 77, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, primarily traveling through Alabama. Given its relatively short duration and mostly surface road profile, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll find it to be a straightforward drive, suitable for those looking for a no-fuss connection between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.9 miles from Madison, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Governors Drive Southwest | 36.3 mi | 45m |
| Florida Short Route | 25.9 mi | 38m |
| AL 77 | 21.9 mi | 34m |
| I 565 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Madison Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Gunter Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| AL 144 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Hughes Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 90 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,957 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~217 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Ohatchee, 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
Continue on this road
Merge onto US 231; US 431
Keep slight right at fork onto US 431
Turn left onto US 431
Continue on US 431; AL 79
Continue on US 431
Turn right onto AL 77
Turn left onto AL 144
Turn left onto Harts Ferry Road
Turn right onto Spring Road
Turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 99.8-mile drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete the roughly 2h 22m trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need to worry about frequent stops for gas. Since this is a single-day trip and covers less than 100 miles, you have the flexibility to stop for breaks as needed without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between Governors Drive Southwest and AL 77, as these are the primary roads guiding you to Ohatchee.
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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.9 miles or 1h 6m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ohatchee, 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 99.8 miles and 2h 22m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 49.9 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 75.7 — 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 toward US 231 South, US 431 South: Memorial Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto US 231; US 431 / Memorial Parkway Southwest
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 431 toward Governors Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto AL 77
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.62 one way
$29.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $16.23 | $32.46 |
| premium | $4.49 | $17.63 | $35.25 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $22.00 | $44.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.48 | $4.79 |
| Efficient EV | 25 | 0 | $8.73 | $3.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.97 | $6.39 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Madison on Friday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Night in Ohatchee on Friday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
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.
This drive is mostly surface roads, with highway travel accounting for only 29% of the total distance. You'll experience a longest stretch of 36.3 miles on Governors Drive Southwest before transitioning to other main roads like AL 77. Expect to navigate through areas with frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you move between towns and open stretches. The 2h 22m duration suggests a consistent pace with minimal high-speed cruising.
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 early in the drive near Mill Road.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 99.8 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: near the start (Mill Road): Navigation decision point; 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.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,094 ft
Total Descent
1,289 ft
Highest Point
1,139 ft
~14.3 mi in
Elevation Range
629 ft
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
Founded 1956
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 99.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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