Spanning 81.1 miles through the heart of Alabama, this Southeast corridor drive takes approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes to complete. You will navigate a mix of roads including AL 14 and US 80, making this a straightforward journey that fits perfectly into a single day of travel. With an estimated fuel cost of just $12, it is an economical choice for those looking to connect Marion and Montgomery without the need for an overnight stay. Since both origin and destination are located within the same state and region, you can expect a consistent atmosphere throughout the trip. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick getaway, this route provides a reliable and manageable connection between these two Alabama hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Marion, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Edmund Pettus Bridge
34.5 mi
40m
AL 14
20.4 mi
28m
US 80
13 mi
16m
Highway 14
4.4 mi
6m
Martin Luther King Parkway
2.3 mi
4m
West Highland Avenue
2.1 mi
4m
Broad Street
1.8 mi
3m
West Fairview Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Edmund Pettus Bridge
— 34.5 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marion, AL and Montgomery, AL.
1
Start on Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Jefferson Street
2
Continue on AL 14
2.3 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King Parkway
3
Continue on AL 14; AL 183
4.4 mi·6 min·Highway 14
4
Turn right onto AL 14
20 mi·28 min·AL 14
5
Turn left onto US 80; AL 14; AL 22 Truck
2.1 mi·4 min·West Highland Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 80 Business; AL 22
1.8 mi·3 min·Broad Street
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 80 Business
35 mi·40 min·Edmund Pettus Bridge
8
Continue on US 80; AL 21
9.9 mi·12 min·US 80; AL 21
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 80
3.1 mi·4 min·US 80
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 169Toward Fairview Avenue
11
Turn slight right onto West Fairview Avenue
209 ft·6 sec·West Fairview Avenue
12
At end of road, turn right onto West Fairview Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·West Fairview Avenue
13
Turn left onto Norman Bridge Road
0.4 mi·45 sec·Norman Bridge Road
14
Continue on South Decatur Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·South Decatur Street
15
Continue on South Union Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Union Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Union Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without needing an elaborate itinerary. Since the entire drive takes less than two hours, you likely won't require any formal stops, though keeping your fuel budget of $12 in mind is always a smart planning move. If you prefer a quieter road experience, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours. Take advantage of the route's brevity by planning your arrival in Montgomery for a full afternoon or evening of activity. Pay close attention to the transitions between AL 14 and US 80, as these changes in road signage are the most important navigational moments of your trip.
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 40.5 miles from Marion, AL, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montgomery, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marion, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marion, AL
This is one driving day of about 81.1 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Marion, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Edmund Pettus Bridge for about 34.5 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.4 and 80.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
29.4 mi into trip|~43m in|US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street
Turn right onto US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
75.6 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|US 80
Keep slight left at fork onto US 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
78.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward Fairview Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169
Toward Fairview Avenue
4
78.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|West Fairview Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto West Fairview Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
80.1 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|Norman Bridge Road
Turn left onto Norman Bridge Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.25 one way
$24.50 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.45
$26.89
premium
$4.56
$14.56
$29.11
diesel
$5.61
$17.91
$35.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.3
0
$8.52
$3.89
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.10
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.35
$5.19
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 19, 2026
Origin
Marion, AL
Late night
in Marion on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Montgomery, AL
Late night
in Montgomery on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Selma, AL
41 mi in
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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between local roads and more open stretches. Approximately 49% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a balanced pace that avoids the monotony of a purely interstate route. The most significant portion of your journey is the 34.5-mile stretch across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. As you move along the route, the road character shifts, requiring you to remain alert as you navigate the varying road types. This combination of segments keeps the drive engaging without being overly taxing on the driver.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on Edmund Pettus Bridge.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 29.4 miles in near US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Marion, AL to Montgomery, AL is easy. At 1h 49m with 49% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 29.4 miles (US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.6 miles (US 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 78.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Montgomery is the capital of Alabama, in the River Heritage region of the state. Montgomery has also been recognized nationally for its downtown revitalization and new urbanism projects.
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on Edmund Pettus Bridge. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 29.4 miles (US 80 Business; AL 22 / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.6 miles (US 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 78.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montgomery, AL before heading back.
