Texas, AL to Creola, AL is 240.3 miles and takes about 4h 59m via US 43 and I-20, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a fairly direct connection. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is a straightforward way to cover a good distance without requiring an overnight stay.
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
120.2 miles from Texas, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 43
152.9 mi
3h 1m
I 20
25.6 mi
27m
Demopolis Highway
24 mi
34m
AL 13
20.8 mi
28m
US 11
4.6 mi
6m
Bankhead Highway
3.9 mi
5m
I 359
2 mi
2m
Main Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 43
— 152.9 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Texas, AL and Creola, AL.
1
Start on AL 118
0.2 mi·20 sec·Bankhead Highway
2
Continue on AL 118
3.7 mi·5 min·Bankhead Highway
3
Turn right onto AL 13
21 mi·28 min·AL 13
4
Continue on US 43
29 mi·39 min·US 43
5
Continue on Main Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Avenue
6
Turn left onto 5th Street
364 ft·12 sec·5th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
8
Merge onto US 43; AL 69
1.1 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.3 mi·24 sec·I 359; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 359; US 11; AL 69
1.7 mi·1 min·I 359; US 11; AL 69
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 20; I 59
26 mi·27 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward UnionUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto CR 208
1.3 mi·3 min·M L King Highway
16
Merge onto US 11; US 43
4.6 mi·6 min·US 11; US 43
17
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·1st Avenue
18
Merge onto US 43; AL 14
0.3 mi·33 sec·Greensboro Street
19
Turn slight right onto US 43
24 mi·34 min·Demopolis Highway
20
Turn left onto US 43
0.1 mi·13 sec·East Capitol Street
21
Turn right onto US 43
1.0 mi·1 min·North Cedar Avenue
22
Turn left onto US 43; US 80
1.0 mi·1 min·US 43; US 80
23
Turn right onto US 43
17 mi·19 min·US 43
24
Turn right onto US 43
106 mi·2 hr 1 min·US 43
25
Continue on US 43
0.3 mi·24 sec·US 43
26
Arrive at destination
US 43
Trip Plan
Given this route can be completed in under 5 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch without a significant break is 152.9 miles on US 43, so plan a fuel or rest stop before or during that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $36, it's advisable to fill up before starting or at a well-priced station along US 43. Since it's a single-day drive, you won't need to book accommodation, giving you more freedom to adjust your schedule if needed.
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 120.2 miles from Texas, AL, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152.9 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 53 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.2 miles or 2h 41m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Creola, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Texas, 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 Texas, AL
This is one driving day of about 240.3 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Texas, 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 US 43 for about 152.9 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 55.2 and 84.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
Merge onto US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
58.8 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
84.4 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Union
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Union
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.29 one way
$72.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$39.84
$79.68
premium
$4.56
$43.13
$86.26
diesel
$5.61
$53.06
$106.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.1
0
$25.23
$11.53
Efficient EV
60.1
0
$21.03
$9.61
EV Truck/SUV
96.1
1
$33.64
$15.38
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Texas, AL
Late night
in Texas on Tuesday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Creola, AL
Late night
in Creola on Tuesday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Marion, AL
120 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
5 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
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is primarily a highway drive, with 86% of the route on major roads. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway driving on US 43 for 152.9 miles. The transition to more surface-road driving will occur after this, likely bringing a change in exit density and speed. Expect a mostly highway feel for the majority of your travel time.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152.9 mi on US 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 43 and I 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 55.2 miles in near US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 240.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 55.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Texas, AL to Creola, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Union along the way.
Union
84.4 mi in|~1h 49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 240.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152.9 miles on US 43. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Creola, 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 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 55.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Creola, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
