Moody to Madison is 109 miles and takes about 2 hours and 9 minutes via I-65 and I-20, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward highway-focused trip, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so plan for a relatively quick and efficient transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.5 miles from Moody, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
73.4 mi
1h 18m
I 20
15.8 mi
18m
I 565
8.4 mi
9m
Moody Parkway
2.1 mi
3m
Vanderbilt Road
1.4 mi
2m
Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
2m
Decatur Highway
0.9 mi
1m
Erwin Dairy Road
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 73.4 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moody, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on Daniel Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·Daniel Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto CR 10
0.2 mi·32 sec·Park Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 411
2.1 mi·3 min·Moody Parkway
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 20 West: Birmingham
5
Merge onto I 20
16 mi·18 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 128Toward AL 79: Tallapoosa StreetUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
324 ft·7 sec
Toward AL 79 North: Tallapoosa Street North, TarrantUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on AL 79
0.3 mi·36 sec·Tallapoosa Street
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on AL 79
1.4 mi·2 min·Vanderbilt Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto Cedar Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Cedar Street
Use the left lane.
11
At end of road, turn right onto Erwin Dairy Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Erwin Dairy Road
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Continue on 47th Avenue North
0.6 mi·1 min·47th Avenue North
13
Turn sharp right onto US 31
0.9 mi·1 min·Decatur Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward I 65 North: HuntsvilleUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 65
73 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 340Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 340AToward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
18
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.4 mi·9 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 9Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
20
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft·9 sec
Exit 9Toward MadisonUse the left lane.
21
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi·27 sec·Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Sullivan Street
23
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Main Street
24
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Church Street
25
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 9 minutes, this is easily a same-day trip. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your day at your destination. With only 109 miles, you won't need extensive stops, but there are ample opportunities for fuel and rest along I-65 and I-20. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 73.4-mile stretch on I-65; planning a fuel stop before this longer segment can offer peace of mind.
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 54.5 miles from Moody, AL, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.4 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 24 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.5 miles or 1h 8m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Moody, 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 Moody, AL
This is one driving day of about 109 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Moody, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 73.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.6 and 107 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 128
Toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
8
19 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AL 79 North: Tallapoosa Street North, Tarrant
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward AL 79 North: Tallapoosa Street North, Ta...
7
22.7 mi into trip|~33m in|US 31 / Decatur Highway
Turn sharp right onto US 31 / Decatur Highway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
97.5 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate:...
9
107 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.46 one way
$32.92 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.07
$36.14
premium
$4.56
$19.56
$39.13
diesel
$5.61
$24.07
$48.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.7
0
$11.44
$5.23
Efficient EV
27.3
0
$9.54
$4.36
EV Truck/SUV
43.6
0
$15.26
$6.98
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Moody, AL
Morning
in Moody on Tuesday
Local time
6:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Madison, AL
Morning
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
6:44 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
1 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
2h 9m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 73.4 miles on I-65. Expect consistent speeds and limited distractions for the majority of the drive. The route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, so prepare for a straightforward interstate experience.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.4 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 109 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 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles (US 31 / Decatur Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Moody, AL and Madison, AL, road signs point toward Tarrant and Huntsville.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 109 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.4 miles on I 65. 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 Madison, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles (US 31 / Decatur Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Madison, AL before heading back.
