This straightforward 86.7-mile drive from Madison to Red Bay, Alabama, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just over 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate on AL 24 and I-565, with a brief section on Gordon Terry Parkway, making it a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of around $13, this is an economical journey. Given its relatively short length and straightforward nature, it's perfect for a quick excursion within the Southeast region without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.4 miles from Madison, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 24
59.7 mi
1h 13m
I 565
8.5 mi
9m
Gordon Terry Parkway
7.5 mi
9m
Huntsville-Decatur Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Moulton Street East
2.2 mi
4m
Bee Line Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
2m
4th Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
AL 24
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Red Bay, 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
Continue on US 72 Alternate; SR 20
0.1 mi·8 sec·US 72 Alternate; SR 20
9
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
3.5 mi·4 min·Huntsville-Decatur Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20
1.6 mi·2 min·Bee Line Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20
0.5 mi·1 min·6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Moulton Street East
2.2 mi·4 min·Moulton Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on Gordon Terry Parkway
7.5 mi·9 min·Gordon Terry Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on AL 24
2.0 mi·2 min·AL 24
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on AL 24
58 mi·1 hr 10 min·AL 24
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right
0.2 mi·36 sec
17
Continue on Winnie Frost Drive
0.2 mi·36 sec·Winnie Frost Drive
18
Continue on 4th Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi·1 min·4th Avenue Southeast
19
Turn left onto 4th Street Southeast
108 ft·4 sec·4th Street Southeast
20
Arrive at destination
4th Street Southeast
Trip Plan
Consider departing in the morning to take full advantage of daylight, especially since this is a single-day trip. You'll find the 1 hour and 52-minute duration allows for flexibility in your schedule. With a fuel cost of only $13, you won't need to worry too much about frequent stops for gas. Keep an eye out for the transition points between the different roadways mentioned, particularly AL 24 and I-565, to ensure you're on the most efficient path. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan any personal breaks as needed.
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 43.4 miles from Madison, AL, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.4 miles or 57m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Bay, 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 86.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Madison, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on AL 24 for about 59.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 86.7 — 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.
3
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward 565: Decatur
Navigation decision point
Toward 565: Decatur
6
15.9 mi into trip|~21m in|US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Keep slight left at fork onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
16.4 mi into trip|~22m in|Moulton Street East
Turn right onto Moulton Street East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
86.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|4th Street Southeast
Turn left onto 4th Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.09 one way
$26.19 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.37
$28.75
premium
$4.56
$15.56
$31.12
diesel
$5.61
$19.14
$38.28
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: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.10
$4.16
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
EV Truck/SUV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Madison, AL
Morning
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SSW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Red Bay, AL
Morning
in Red Bay on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
27 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 52m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 87% of the journey on major roads. Expect a relatively smooth and efficient trip, largely characterized by the ease of interstate travel. You'll experience a longest stretch of 59.7 miles on AL 24, which provides a good opportunity to settle in for a sustained period of driving. The road's personality is consistent, offering a practical and direct path between your starting point in Madison and your destination in Red Bay.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.7 mi on AL 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 24 and I 565. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Sullivan Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): 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.
The longest stretch is about 59.7 miles on AL 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Red Bay, AL before heading back.
