Origin
Smoke Rise, AL
Afternoon in Smoke Rise on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smoke Rise, AL to Madison, 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 24m
Distance
67 mi
108 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 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smoke Rise, AL
Marino Kurunić
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Smoke Rise to Madison is 67 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via Heroes Highway and I 565, 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. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns, characteristic of local travel rather than a long interstate journey. With only one day recommended and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a quick, straightforward transit between these two locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heroes Highway | 51.7 mi | 55m |
| I 565 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Valley Trail | 2.7 mi | 10m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Crosshill Lane | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Wall Triana Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heroes Highway
— 51.7 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smoke Rise, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on this road
157 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Crosshill Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Crosshill Lane
3
Turn right onto Scenic Trail
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Scenic Trail
4
Turn right onto Valley Trail
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Valley Trail
5
Continue on Valley Trail
1.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Valley Trail
6
Turn left onto US 31
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Bee Line Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
8
Merge onto I 65
52 mi
·
55 min
·
Heroes Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
11
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Use the left lane.
14
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sullivan Street
16
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
17
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Church Street
18
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.5 miles from Smoke Rise, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 65 — 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
|
Crosshill Lane
Turn left onto Crosshill Lane
Navigation decision point
8
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
64.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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
$10.12 one way
$20.24 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.11 | $22.22 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.03 | $24.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.79 | $29.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 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 | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.22 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.86 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.38 | $4.29 |
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
Madison, AL
Afternoon in Madison on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
1 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 24m 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 leans towards a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter more frequent directional changes than on a typical highway. Approximately 13% of this journey is on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 51.7 miles on Heroes Highway. As you progress, the road will likely transition between these main arteries and more local thoroughfares, offering a varied driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.7 mi on Heroes Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Crosshill Lane.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Crosshill Lane): Navigation decision point; at 55.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Smoke Rise, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.
Huntsville
55.5 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 67 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.7 miles on Heroes Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 (Crosshill Lane): Navigation decision point; at 55.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.8 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Madison, 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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