Saks, AL to East Florence, AL is 147.9 miles and takes about 3h 17m via AL 157 and US 431, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a single-day trip within the Southeast region, entirely within Alabama. Expect a drive focused on highways, making it a straightforward journey. It's a manageable distance for a day trip, so you won't feel rushed to get to your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74 miles from Saks, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 157
61.5 mi
1h 15m
Thompson Bridge Road
37.6 mi
52m
US 431
30.5 mi
42m
AL 133
7.9 mi
11m
US 278
6.3 mi
8m
Wheeler Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Saks Road
0.9 mi
1m
4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AL 157
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saks, AL and East Florence, AL.
1
Start on West 42nd Street
235 ft·15 sec·West 42nd Street
2
Turn left onto Skyline Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Skyline Drive
3
Turn right onto West 44th Street
282 ft·15 sec·West 44th Street
4
Turn left onto Saks Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Saks Road
5
Turn left onto US 431
30 mi·42 min·US 431
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·50 sec·4th Street Northwest
7
Turn slight right onto US 278; US 431
1.8 mi·2 min·US 278; US 431
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 278
2.9 mi·4 min·US 278
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 278
516 ft·8 sec·Thompson Bridge Road
10
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278
11
Continue on US 278
37 mi·52 min·Thompson Bridge Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto AL 157
62 mi·1 hr 15 min·AL 157
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
2.1 mi·2 min·Wheeler Highway
14
Turn right onto AL 133; AL 157
7.9 mi·11 min·AL 133; AL 157
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 32
0.4 mi·56 sec·Huntsville Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Midway Street
60 ft·2 sec·Midway Street
17
Arrive at destination
Midway Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 17m duration, starting your drive in the morning will give you ample time to reach East Florence without feeling pressed. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 61.5-mile stretch on AL 157, as services might be more spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $23 is a helpful budget marker for this 147.9-mile trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74 miles from Saks, AL, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 33 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Florence, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saks, 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 Saks, AL
This is one driving day of about 147.9 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Saks, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on AL 157 for about 61.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 139.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Skyline Drive
Turn left onto Skyline Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|West 44th Street
Turn right onto West 44th Street
Navigation decision point
5
33.9 mi into trip|~49m in|US 278
Turn left onto US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
76 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|AL 157
Turn right onto AL 157
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
139.6 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|AL 133; AL 157
Turn right onto AL 133; AL 157
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.34 one way
$44.67 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$24.52
$49.04
premium
$4.56
$26.55
$53.09
diesel
$5.61
$32.65
$65.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.53
$7.10
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.94
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.71
$9.47
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Saks, AL
Afternoon
in Saks on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Florence, AL
Afternoon
in East Florence on Sunday
Local time
3:20 PM
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
20 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
3h 17m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 72% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 61.5 miles on AL 157, which will likely offer a consistent pace. The drive progresses through a mix of road types, transitioning between state highways and major US routes. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, designed for covering ground without too many interruptions.
72% 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: 61.5 mi on AL 157.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 157 and Thompson Bridge Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Skyline Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 17m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Skyline Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West 44th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.9 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 17m. Total distance: 147.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on AL 157. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (Skyline Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West 44th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.9 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Freedom Riders National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at East Florence, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
