Trip from Madison, AL to Whitesboro, AL

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 44m

Distance

71 mi

114 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

1h 37m ★

6 AM

1h 45m

8 AM

2h 1m

10 AM

1h 50m

12 PM

1h 49m

3 PM

1h 51m

5 PM

2h 0m

8 PM

1h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Madison, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Whitesboro, AL

Sarah O'Shea

Trip Overview

Madison, AL to Whitesboro, AL is 71 miles and takes about 1 hour 44 minutes via Governors Drive Southwest and I 565, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, entirely within Alabama, offering a straightforward, same-day journey. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns, characteristic of local routes, rather than long stretches of highway. It's a practical option if you're looking for a relatively short trip without extensive planning required.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

35.5 miles from Madison, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Governors Drive Southwest	36.3 mi	45m
Florida Short Route	16.2 mi	26m
I 565	5.2 mi	5m
Sardis Drive	3.2 mi	7m
Madison Boulevard	2.6 mi	3m
Gunter Avenue	2.5 mi	4m
Hughes Road	1.3 mi	2m
Leeth Gap Road	1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Governors Drive Southwest — 36.3 mi, about 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Whitesboro, AL.

Start on Church Street

70 ft · 3 sec · Church Street

Turn right onto Mill Road

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Mill Road

Turn right onto Hughes Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Hughes Road

At end of road, turn left onto Madison Boulevard

2.6 mi · 3 min · Madison Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate

5.2 mi · 5 min · I 565; US 72 Alternate

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward US 231 South, US 431 South: Memorial Parkway

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · this road

Exit 19A Toward US 231 South, US 431 South: Memorial Parkway

Merge onto US 231; US 431

0.4 mi · 32 sec · Memorial Parkway Southwest

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 431

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 431

Toward Governors Drive Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto US 431

36 mi · 45 min · Governors Drive Southwest

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 431; AL 79

2.5 mi · 4 min · Gunter Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 431

16 mi · 26 min · Florida Short Route

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto Gamble Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Gamble Street

At end of road, turn left onto Sardis Drive

3.2 mi · 7 min · Sardis Drive

Continue on Sardis Road

0.7 mi · 2 min · Sardis Road

Turn slight right onto Leeth Gap Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Leeth Gap Road

Turn sharp right onto Whitesboro Road

213 ft · 9 sec · Whitesboro Road

Arrive at destination

Whitesboro Road

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 1 hour 44 minute duration, this is a perfect same-day trip, allowing for maximum flexibility. Aiming to depart mid-morning would give you ample time to reach your destination before evening, with a fuel cost estimated at just $11. Since there are no designated stops in the data, you can rely on the numerous local services along the way for any necessities. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy' profile means you'll want to be sure you're making the correct turns to stay on track.

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 35.5 miles from Madison, AL, or about 46m 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 16 miles or 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 35.5 miles or 46m 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Whitesboro, 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 71 miles and 1h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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.

city in Marshall County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Guntersville, AL

36 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

Huntsville, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Owens Cross Roads, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.5 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Madison, Alabama

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+12564891223

Visit website

Amerigo Italian Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12565852808

Visit website

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Madison, Alabama

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+12564891223

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18008430468

North Alabama Railroad Museum

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+12568516276

Visit website

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 0 and 71 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Mill Road

Turn right onto Mill Road

Navigation decision point

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...

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.

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

71 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | Whitesboro Road

Turn sharp right onto Whitesboro Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.72 one way

$21.45 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$11.77	$23.54
premium	$4.56	$12.74	$25.49
diesel	$5.61	$15.68	$31.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	21.3	$7.46	$3.41
Efficient EV	17.8	$6.21	$2.84
EV Truck/SUV	28.4	$9.94	$4.54

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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 17, 2026

Origin

Madison, AL

Morning in Madison on Tuesday

Local time

7:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Mostly Clear

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Whitesboro, AL

Morning in Whitesboro on Tuesday

Local time

7:10 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

3 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 44m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is best described as a turn-heavy local drive, with only an 8% share of highway travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.3 miles on Governors Drive Southwest, so be prepared for changes in road type and speed limits. While I 565 offers a brief highway segment, much of the journey will feel like navigating through towns and local roads. This means paying close attention to navigation and anticipating frequent adjustments to your driving.

Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

19 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?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mill Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71 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: 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.

About the Cities

Starting in Madison, AL

Full guide →

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.

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 1h 44m. Total distance: 71 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

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 Whitesboro, 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Whitesboro, AL before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Madison, AL to Whitesboro, AL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

Amerigo Italian Restaurant

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Clipper Creek Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Dublin Park

Kids Kingdom

Monte Sano State Park

Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt

North Alabama Railroad Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Madison, AL

Whitesboro, AL

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 44m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Madison, AL

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

More from Madison, AL

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