This 164.5-mile drive from Sylacauga to Florence, Alabama, is a manageable 2-hour and 56-minute journey, perfect for a single day trip. You'll navigate primarily on Norton Avenue, West Fort Williams Street, and US 31 North, with no highway driving to speak of. With an estimated fuel cost of $25 and only one recommended stop, this route is designed for efficiency. The drive offers a straightforward path through Alabama's Southeast region, making it a convenient option for a day excursion rather than requiring an overnight stay.
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
81.7 miles from Sylacauga, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
University of North Alabama Highway
55.4 mi
1h 6m
I 65
47.6 mi
51m
US 231
42.1 mi
56m
Woodward Avenue
4.2 mi
7m
Wheeler Highway
4.2 mi
5m
Red Mountain Expressway
2.9 mi
3m
US 43
1.8 mi
3m
Carraway Boulevard
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
University of North Alabama Highway
— 55.4 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sylacauga, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on this road
173 ft·17 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Norton Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Norton Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 511
1.4 mi·2 min·West Fort Williams Street
4
Turn right onto US 231; US 280
42 mi·56 min·US 231; US 280
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit onto US 280
0.4 mi·29 sec·US 280
Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
6
Merge onto US 31; US 280
2.9 mi·3 min·Red Mountain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 31
1.5 mi·3 min·Carraway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto AL 378
0.6 mi·1 min·Finley Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto 19th Street North
49 ft·1 sec·19th Street North
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 65 North
11
Merge onto I 65
48 mi·51 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 310Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
13
Turn left onto AL 157
200 ft·3 sec·Section Line Road
14
Continue on AL 157
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·University of North Alabama Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
4.2 mi·5 min·Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4.2 mi·7 min·Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.8 mi·3 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft·15 sec·West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Pine Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under three hours, this route is best tackled in one day. Consider an early morning departure from Sylacauga to maximize your time in Florence and avoid any potential midday traffic. With only one stop recommended and a $25 fuel estimate, you won't need extensive planning for refueling. Pay close attention to the numerous turns and local road conditions as you make your way north. A good tip is to download offline maps, as the frequent turns on local roads can sometimes make GPS signal unreliable.
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 81.7 miles from Sylacauga, AL, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 36 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.7 miles or 1h 43m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sylacauga, 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 Sylacauga, AL
This is one driving day of about 163.3 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Sylacauga, 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 University of North Alabama Highway for about 55.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.9 and 163 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
43.9 mi into trip|~59m in|US 280
Take the exit onto US 280 toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
5
44.3 mi into trip|~1h in|US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway
Merge onto US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
49.5 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
97.1 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 310
Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
6
163 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.66 one way
$49.32 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.07
$54.15
premium
$4.56
$29.31
$58.62
diesel
$5.61
$36.05
$72.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49
0
$17.15
$7.84
Efficient EV
40.8
0
$14.29
$6.53
EV Truck/SUV
65.3
0
$22.86
$10.45
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Sylacauga, AL
Late night
in Sylacauga on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Kimberly, AL
82 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 23m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, indicated by the 0% highway share. The route prioritizes local roads, meaning you'll encounter more intersections and changes in speed limits. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests a continuous engagement with the road as you navigate through communities. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; rather, it's a more involved local experience that requires your attention to traffic signals and turns.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.4 mi on University of North Alabama Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 43.9 miles in near US 280.
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 163.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 43.9 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.3 miles (US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Sylacauga, AL to Florence, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 163.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.4 miles on University of North Alabama Highway. 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.
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 Florence, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.9 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.3 miles (US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Florence, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
