Origin
Ragland, AL
Late night in Ragland on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ragland, AL to Huntsville, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
95 mi
153 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ragland, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Huntsville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 95-mile drive from Ragland, AL to Huntsville, AL will take you about 2 hours and 16 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, this route sticks primarily to US 431 and AL 77, offering a 64% highway experience. With an estimated fuel cost of around $14, it's an economical journey. The drive focuses on getting you from point A to point B efficiently within the Southeast region of Alabama. You'll find this route to be a practical choice for a quick trip between these two locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.5 miles from Ragland, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 431 | 39.1 mi | 56m |
| Florida Short Route | 22.4 mi | 26m |
| AL 77 | 22 mi | 34m |
| Main Street | 7.9 mi | 11m |
| Blount Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Madison Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Gunter Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Paddle Wheel Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 431
— 39.1 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ragland, AL and Huntsville, 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
22 mi
·
34 min
·
AL 77
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 431
26 mi
·
38 min
·
US 431
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 431; AL 79
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Gunter Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto US 431; AL 79
319 ft
·
6 sec
·
May Street
Use the right lane.
8
Turn slight left onto US 431; AL 79
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Blount Avenue
9
Continue on US 431; AL 79
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Paddle Wheel Drive
10
Continue on US 431; AL 79
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Florida Short Route
11
Continue on US 431
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Florida Short Route
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 431
13 mi
·
18 min
·
US 431
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto South Side Square
369 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Side Square
15
Turn left onto East Side Square
371 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Side Square
16
Continue on North Side Square
367 ft
·
18 sec
·
North Side Square
17
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 16-minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. The estimated fuel cost of $14 means you likely won't need to worry too much about frequent fuel stops, though it's always wise to top off before heading out. Keep an eye on the road conditions as you transition between US 431 and AL 77, as these are the main arteries for this 95-mile journey. A good tip for this route is to plan your departure to avoid any potential local traffic congestion around the urban areas at either end.
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 47.5 miles from Ragland, AL, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.1 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 1h 12m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Huntsville, 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 95 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ragland, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 431 for about 39.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.5 miles from Ragland, 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 8.1 and 94.9 — 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
30 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 431
At end of road, turn left onto US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
56.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
US 431; AL 79 / May Street
Turn right onto US 431; AL 79 / May Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
94.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
Madison Street
Turn right onto Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
94.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
|
East Side Square
Turn left onto East Side Square
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.35 one way
$28.69 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $15.75 | $31.50 |
| premium | $4.56 | $17.05 | $34.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.97 | $41.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.98 | $4.56 |
| Efficient EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.31 | $3.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38 | 0 | $13.30 | $6.08 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Huntsville, AL
Late night in Huntsville on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph
5% chance
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
16 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 16m 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
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 6.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 95-mile route, with 64% of it being on higher-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 39.1 miles along US 431, so you'll have periods of consistent travel. While the "Florida Short Route" designation might hint at something more, the overall profile suggests a drive that prioritizes directness over winding scenic byways. The character is likely one of steady progress, moving you along efficiently through Alabama.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.1 mi on US 431.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 431 and Florida Short Route. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in near AL 77.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 16m drive. You will face about 9 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 30 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles (US 431; AL 79 / May Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Huntsville, AL
Full guide →Huntsville is in northern Alabama, about 20 miles (32 km) from the border with Tennessee. The city is a center for missile defense and aerospace technologies, with companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman having major operations here. Cummings Research Park, the second largest research park in the country, is home to many of these companies.
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 2h 16m. Total distance: 95 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.1 miles on US 431. 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 30 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles (US 431; AL 79 / May Street): 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 Huntsville, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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