Origin
Tuscumbia, AL
Morning in Tuscumbia on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscumbia, 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
58m
Distance
44.8 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscumbia, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Tuscumbia and Decatur, Alabama, you are looking at a straightforward 44.8-mile journey that typically takes about 51 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, as it requires no overnight stops to manage the distance comfortably. Budgeting around $6 for fuel should cover your transit across these two Southeast cities. Because you are sticking to local roads rather than interstates, you will have a more direct connection between the two points. It is a practical, efficient way to move through this part of Alabama without the intensity of long-haul highway travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wheeler Highway | 20.2 mi | 24m |
| US 72 Alternate | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| Wheeler Highway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| East Lee Highway | 6 mi | 7m |
| South Woodmont Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Dickson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lee Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Joe Wheeler Highway
— 20.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscumbia, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on East 6th Street
107 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 6th Street
2
Turn right onto South Dickson Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Dickson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on South Woodmont Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Woodmont Drive
4
Turn left onto US 72
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Lee Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Joe Wheeler Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.5 mi
·
12 min
·
US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
302 ft
·
6 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight right onto US 31
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Tuscumbia, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Dickson Street
Turn right onto South Dickson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 72 / East Lee Highway
Turn left onto US 72 / East Lee Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
5
44.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
44.6 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
Lee Street Northeast
Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.77 one way
$13.53 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.43 | $14.85 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.04 | $16.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph
4% chance
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
16 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
58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate primarily via South Dickson Street, South Woodmont Drive, and East Lee Highway, with zero percent of the trip spent on major highways. Since there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, you will be making frequent adjustments as you progress through the local landscape. This is not a high-speed interstate grind; instead, it is a technical drive that requires your full attention on the curves and turns of the local network. The longest stretch you will encounter is a zero-mile segment on South Dickson Street, emphasizing the constant transitions inherent in this route.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.2 mi on Joe Wheeler Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Dickson 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 44.8 miles you will encounter 7 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 Dickson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 72 / East Lee Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Tuscumbia, AL to Decatur, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Joe Wheeler State Park along the way.
Joe Wheeler State Park
7.1 mi in
|
~10m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
About the Cities
Starting in Tuscumbia, AL
Full guide →Tuscumbia is a small town in northwest Alabama near Wheeler Lake and Wilson Lakes, best known as the birthplace of the famous deaf-blind activist and author, Helen Keller.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 44.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.2 miles on Joe Wheeler Highway. 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 Dickson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 72 / East Lee Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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