Embark on a 333.1-mile journey from Satsuma, Alabama, to Madison, Alabama, a drive that typically takes around 6 hours and 5 minutes. This route is predominantly highway, with 99% of your travel occurring on interstates and major roadways, making it a straightforward option for a single day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $50, this drive is budget-friendly. You'll be traversing within the Southeast region, staying within the state of Alabama for the entire excursion. Consider this a practical, efficient option for getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
166.6 miles from Satsuma, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
319.6 mi
5h 46m
I 565
8.4 mi
9m
US 43
1.8 mi
2m
Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
2m
Church Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Railroad Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 319.6 mi, about 5h 46m
Traffic on I-65
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 55 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~825 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,223
Quietest
1 AM
~118 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Satsuma, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on Railroad Street
140 ft·12 sec·Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto US 43
1.8 mi·2 min·US 43
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
4
Merge onto I 65
320 mi·5 hr 46 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 340Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 340AToward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
7
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.4 mi·9 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 9Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft·9 sec
Exit 9Toward MadisonUse the left lane.
10
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi·27 sec·Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Sullivan Street
12
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Main Street
13
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Church Street
14
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, starting your drive in Satsuma early in the morning is advisable to reach Madison with daylight to spare. You'll encounter only one recommended stop, so plan to fuel up before you depart or at a convenient point along I-65. The 333.1-mile trip is manageable in one day, but listen to your body; if you feel fatigued, utilize the flexibility of this drive to pull over earlier than planned. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 319.6-mile stretch on I-65, as services can be spaced out.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166.6 miles from Satsuma, AL, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 319.6 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 73 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.6 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Satsuma, 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 Satsuma, AL
This is one driving day of about 333.1 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Satsuma, 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 I 65 for about 319.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 331.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
321.5 mi into trip|~5h 50m in
Take the exit toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate:...
7
321.9 mi into trip|~5h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsv...
6
330.8 mi into trip|~6h 1m 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
331.1 mi into trip|~6h 1m 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
$46.24 one way
$92.48 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$51.74
$103.47
premium
$4.29
$56.25
$112.49
diesel
$4.80
$62.90
$125.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.9
1
$34.98
$15.99
Efficient EV
83.3
0
$29.15
$13.32
EV Truck/SUV
133.2
1
$46.63
$21.32
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Satsuma, AL
Night
in Satsuma on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
98°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Madison, AL
Night
in Madison on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NW 5 to 10 mph65% 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
9 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
6h 5m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 241.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, designed for covering distance. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I-65 and I-565, with a short segment on US-43. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 319.6 miles, primarily on I-65, meaning you can settle in for a good portion of the trip. While efficient, expect a consistent driving experience with minimal deviations from high-speed travel.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 319.6 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 565. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near I 65.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 333.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 321.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
Top landmarks
•James H. Bibb House — historic house in Alabama, United States
•Madison Station Historic District — historic district in Alabama, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 5m. Total distance: 333.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 319.6 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 321.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Madison, AL before the return drive.
