This 98.6-mile drive from Ragland, AL to Decatur, AL takes approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day road trip. You'll primarily be on AL 67 and AL 77, with a portion on Thompson Bridge Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, this highway-focused journey through Alabama's Southeast region is efficient and straightforward. It’s a manageable distance that allows for flexibility in your schedule without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a day trip that gets you to your destination with time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.3 miles from Ragland, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 67
39 mi
54m
Thompson Bridge Road
21.9 mi
30m
AL 77
21.5 mi
33m
Main Street
7.9 mi
11m
US 278
4 mi
5m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
US 231
0.7 mi
1m
Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AL 67
— 39 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ragland, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on 1st Avenue
70 ft·3 sec·1st Avenue
2
Continue on 7th Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·7th Street
3
Turn left onto AL 144
7.9 mi·11 min·Main Street
4
Turn left onto AL 77
21 mi·33 min·AL 77
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn sharp left onto US 278
2.4 mi·3 min·US 278
6
Continue on US 278
516 ft·8 sec·Thompson Bridge Road
7
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278
8
Continue on US 278
22 mi·30 min·Thompson Bridge Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 231
0.7 mi·1 min·US 231
10
Take the exit
139 ft·7 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto AL 67
20 mi·27 min·AL 67
12
Continue on AL 67
6.9 mi·9 min·AL 67
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on AL 67
12 mi·16 min·AL 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 31
3.0 mi·5 min·6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi·14 sec·6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi·38 sec·Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right
82 ft·6 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 24 minute duration, you can comfortably start this trip anytime. There are no designated stops mentioned, so plan your own break points as needed, perhaps around the halfway mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 39-mile stretch on AL 67. Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart later in the morning or early afternoon. The estimated $15 fuel cost is a good baseline for budgeting this quick journey.
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 49.3 miles from Ragland, AL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 22 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.3 miles or 1h 13m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ragland, 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 Ragland, AL
This is one driving day of about 98.6 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Ragland, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on AL 67 for about 39 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 98.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in|AL 77
Turn left onto AL 77
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
29.6 mi into trip|~46m in|US 278
Turn sharp left onto US 278
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
95.3 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
98.4 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|Lee Street Northeast
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.89 one way
$29.78 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.35
$32.69
premium
$4.56
$17.70
$35.40
diesel
$5.61
$21.77
$43.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.6
0
$10.35
$4.73
Efficient EV
24.7
0
$8.63
$3.94
EV Truck/SUV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Ragland, AL
Late night
in Ragland on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Decatur, AL
Late night
in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph4% chanceLive 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
6 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
2h 24m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 6.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive on this route, with about 66% of your journey on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 39 miles along AL 67. While primarily highway, the inclusion of Thompson Bridge Road and AL 77 suggests you'll experience some variation in road type as you progress. This isn't a winding, technical route, but rather a consistent pace on established roads. The drive offers a steady progression rather than dramatic scenic shifts.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on AL 67.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 67 and Thompson Bridge Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in near AL 77.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles (US 278): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 56.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 98.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 39 miles on AL 67. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles (US 278): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 56.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Freedom Riders 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 Decatur, AL before heading back.
