Origin
Scottsboro, AL
Late night in Scottsboro on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottsboro, AL to Decatur, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
65.6 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottsboro, AL
Kelly
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Scottsboro to Decatur is 65.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes via John T Reid Parkway and Huntsville-Decatur Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it an easy day trip or a quick leg on a longer journey. You can expect a consistent, highway-focused experience for the entire 65.6 miles, with plenty of time to spare for exploration at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John T Reid Parkway | 57.6 mi | 1h 6m |
| Huntsville-Decatur Highway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| South Broad Street | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Bee Line Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Lee Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Caldwell Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Peachtree Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John T Reid Parkway
— 57.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottsboro, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on this road
98 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South Broad Street
157 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Broad Street
3
Turn left onto West Laurel Street
221 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Laurel Street
4
Turn left onto Caldwell Street
462 ft
·
25 sec
·
Caldwell Street
5
Turn left onto West Peachtree Street
228 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Peachtree Street
6
Turn right onto South Broad Street
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
South Broad Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
8
Merge onto US 72
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
John T Reid Parkway
9
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Huntsville-Decatur Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Bee Line Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.8 miles from Scottsboro, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 65.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Broad Street
Turn left onto South Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Caldwell Street
Turn left onto Caldwell Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Peachtree Street
Turn left onto West Peachtree Street
Navigation decision point
6
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Keep slight left at fork onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
65.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
Lee Street Northeast
Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.91 one way
$19.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.88 | $21.75 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.77 | $23.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.48 | $28.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Decatur, AL
Late night in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 88% of the drive taking place on faster roads. You'll encounter stretches like John T Reid Parkway, where you can cover up to 57.6 miles without a major change in scenery or speed. The primary roads include John T Reid Parkway, Huntsville-Decatur Highway, and South Broad Street, offering a consistent driving feel for most of the journey. Expect a smooth ride that prioritizes efficient travel over winding backroads.
88% 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: 57.6 mi on John T Reid Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John T Reid Parkway and Huntsville-Decatur Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Broad Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 65.6 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: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Caldwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Peachtree Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 65.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.6 miles on John T Reid Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Caldwell Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West Peachtree Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Decatur, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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