Origin
Muscle Shoals, AL
Night in Muscle Shoals on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Muscle Shoals, AL to Madison, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
59.8 mi
96 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Muscle Shoals, AL
Tolga Ahmetler
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Muscle Shoals to Madison is a straightforward 59.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes to complete. Because this trip is short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your Southeast travel plans. The route utilizes a combination of the Joe Wheeler Highway, Wheeler Highway, and I-565 to navigate through Alabama. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a reliable and efficient connection between these two areas.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wheeler Highway | 20.2 mi | 24m |
| Wheeler Highway | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| I 565 | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| US 72 Alternate | 8.6 mi | 12m |
| Huntsville-Decatur Highway | 3 mi | 3m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Woodward Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Joe Wheeler Highway
— 20.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muscle Shoals, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on Avalon Avenue
49 ft
·
8 sec
·
Avalon Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Continue on US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Joe Wheeler Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Huntsville-Decatur Highway
Toward Huntsville
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
12
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Use the left lane.
13
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sullivan Street
15
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
16
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Church Street
17
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Muscle Shoals, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue
Turn left onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
5
43.8 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
57.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
9
57.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
$9.03 one way
$18.06 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.73 | $21.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.20 | $26.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.23 | $2.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Madison, AL
Night in Madison on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
77°F
Trinity, AL
30 mi in
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
15 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 17m 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 trip offers a mixed driving experience, balancing local roads with a significant interstate portion. You will spend about 31% of your time on highways, providing a nice contrast to the slower-paced segments. A highlight of the journey is the 20.2-mile stretch along the Joe Wheeler Highway, which represents your longest uninterrupted period behind the wheel. As you transition from the local highways onto I-565, the character of the drive shifts from regional road navigation to a standard interstate flow. Expect a functional drive that requires steady attention as you move through these different road environments.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.2 mi on Joe Wheeler Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 (US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.8 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
705 ft
502 ft
Total Climb
301 ft
Total Descent
97 ft
Highest Point
705 ft
~59.8 mi in
Elevation Range
203 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Muscle Shoals, AL and Madison, AL, road signs point toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park and Huntsville.
Decatur
6.7 mi in
|
~9m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Joe Wheeler State Park
6.7 mi in
|
~9m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Huntsville
45.7 mi in
|
~59m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 59.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.2 miles on Joe Wheeler Highway. 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.
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: near the start (US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.8 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Madison, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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