This 113-mile journey from Ragland, AL to Montgomery, AL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 3 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, with no highway driving involved, making for a more connected experience through the Southeast region. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $17, a modest expense for the distance covered. Given its short duration and turn-heavy profile, this route is best suited for those who enjoy a more engaged driving experience rather than a quick transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.7 miles from Ragland, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Broadway Avenue
54.6 mi
1h 2m
AL 77
24.2 mi
33m
Western Bypass
22.7 mi
26m
Main Street
7.9 mi
11m
Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
2.4 mi
4m
Upper Wetumpka Road
1.9 mi
3m
Rockford Highway
1.2 mi
1m
Federal Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Broadway Avenue
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ragland, AL and Montgomery, 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 slight right
174 ft·8 sec
5
Turn right onto AL 77
24 mi·33 min·AL 77
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto AL 21
23 mi·26 min·Western Bypass
7
Continue on AL 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Rockford Highway
8
Continue on US 231; AL 21
55 mi·1 hr 2 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
2.4 mi·4 min·Congressman W. L. Dickinson Drive
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on Federal Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Federal Drive
11
Turn slight right
208 ft·9 sec
12
Turn slight right onto Crestview Street
439 ft·17 sec·Crestview Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto Upper Wetumpka Road
1.9 mi·3 min·Upper Wetumpka Road
14
Continue on Columbus Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·Columbus Street
15
Turn left onto North Decatur Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·North Decatur Street
16
Continue on South Decatur Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Decatur Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn left onto Winnie Street
440 ft·24 sec·Winnie Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
187 ft·3 sec·South Union Street
19
Arrive at destination
South Union Street
Trip Plan
For this 113-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Ragland to maximize your daylight and enjoy a more relaxed pace, especially given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Since the total duration is just over 2 hours, you won't need to worry about splitting the trip, offering plenty of flexibility for spontaneous stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes have fewer services than major highways, though the estimated $17 fuel cost suggests it's not a major concern. A practical tip: familiarize yourself with the sequence of main roads like 7th Street and Main Street before you set off to anticipate upcoming turns.
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 58.7 miles from Ragland, AL, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 26 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.7 miles or 1h 16m 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 59m
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 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 117.5 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Ragland, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Broadway Avenue for about 54.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 117.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|AL 144 / Main Street
Turn left onto AL 144 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in|AL 77
Turn right onto AL 77
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|Upper Wetumpka Road
At end of road, turn left onto Upper Wetumpka Road
Navigation decision point
5
116.2 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|North Decatur Street
Turn left onto North Decatur Street
Navigation decision point
6
117.4 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|South Union Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Union Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.75 one way
$35.49 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.48
$38.96
premium
$4.56
$21.09
$42.18
diesel
$5.61
$25.94
$51.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.34
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.28
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Ragland, AL
Late night
in Ragland on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Montgomery, AL
Late night
in Montgomery on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
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 29m 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 turn-heavy local drive on this route, with 0% highway share. You'll be traversing roads like 7th Street, Main Street, and the Western Bypass, which means you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than settling into a long, straight cruise. There's no 'longest stretch' to speak of, as the nature of the drive implies frequent intersections and changes in direction. This isn't a monotonous interstate grind; instead, it's a drive that keeps you actively involved with the road and the local environment.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on Broadway Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near AL 144 / Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 29m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AL 144 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.1 miles (Upper Wetumpka Road): Navigation decision point.
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 54.6 miles on Broadway Avenue. 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 0.1 miles (AL 144 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.1 miles (Upper Wetumpka Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montgomery, AL before heading back.
