Chilton County Rest Area (Northbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Union Springs, AL to Florence, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 1m
Distance
251.4 mi
405 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 48m
★
6 AM
5h 1m
8 AM
5h 28m
10 AM
5h 11m
12 PM
5h 8m
3 PM
5h 12m
5 PM
5h 27m
8 PM
4h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union Springs, AL
eshaq nasser
Florence, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Union Springs, AL to Florence, AL is 251.4 miles and takes about 5h 1m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's mostly a highway cruise, so don't expect a lot of winding backroads. With a recommended one-day drive, this trip is a straightforward option for getting from one point to another efficiently.
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
125.7 miles from Union Springs, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 138.3 mi | 2h 31m |
| University of North Alabama Highway | 55.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Baskin Street | 27.2 mi | 37m |
| US 82 | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Woodward Avenue | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Wheeler Highway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| I 85 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| US 43 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 138.3 mi, about 2h 31m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,487 veh/hr typical · worst 5,460
Quietest
2 AM
~362 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union Springs, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on North Powell Street
349 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Powell Street
2
Turn right onto US 29; US 82
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Blackmon Avenue West
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 82
27 mi
·
37 min
·
Baskin Street
Use the left / right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82
12 mi
·
15 min
·
US 82
Toward US 82 West, US 231 North: Montgomery
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on McGehee Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
McGehee Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Carter Hill Road
7
Continue on Zelda Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Zelda Road
8
Turn right onto Ann Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Ann Street
9
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 3
Toward Ann Street South
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 85
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
12
Merge onto I 65; US 82
138 mi
·
2 hr 31 min
·
I 65; US 82
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 310
Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
14
Turn left onto AL 157
200 ft
·
3 sec
·
Section Line Road
15
Continue on AL 157
55 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
University of North Alabama Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18
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.
19
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Pine Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour drive time, leaving Union Springs in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Florence with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch without a break is 138.3 miles on I 65, so plan a stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. While the fuel cost is estimated at $37, it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility; however, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge as you near Florence is a good idea, as services can be more spread out on the final leg of surface streets.
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 125.7 miles from Union Springs, AL, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.3 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 55 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.7 miles or 2h 32m 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 3m
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 Union Springs, 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 Union Springs, AL
This is one driving day of about 251.4 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Union Springs, 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 I 65 for about 138.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.7 miles from Union Springs, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Chilton County Rest Area (Southbound)
0.1 mi from route
Cullman County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.3 mi from route
TA Express
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 251.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 29; US 82 / Blackmon Avenue West
Turn right onto US 29; US 82 / Blackmon Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
27.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
US 82
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82 toward US 82 West, US 231 North: Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 82 West, US 231 North: Montgomery
8
43.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Turn left toward Ann Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 3
Toward Ann Street South
6
185.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 37m 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
251.1 mi into trip
|
~5h in
|
West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.14 one way
$78.27 round trip
$3.95/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $43.14 | $86.29 |
| premium | $4.71 | $46.63 | $93.26 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $61.16 | $122.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.40 | $12.07 |
| Efficient EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.00 | $10.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.6 | 1 | $35.20 | $16.09 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Origin
Union Springs, AL
Morning in Union Springs on Saturday
Local time
7:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 10 to 15 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 3:05PM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 16 at 3:00PM CDT until October 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Florence, AL
Morning in Florence on Saturday
Local time
7:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
NNW 10 mph
19% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 3:05PM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 16 at 3:00PM CDT until October 20 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
81°F
Hoover, AL
126 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
3 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
5h 1m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 138.7
Park Closure: A.G Gaston Motel Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 62% of your time on the highway, covering 138.3 miles on I 65 as the longest continuous stretch. After that, you'll transition to surface roads like University of North Alabama Highway and Baskin Street for the remainder of the trip. Expect a generally consistent driving experience with periods of rural cruising punctuated by more developed areas as you approach your destination.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.3 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and University of North Alabama Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 29; US 82 / Blackmon Avenue West.
Driving Effort
7/10
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 251.4 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 0.1 miles (US 29; US 82 / Blackmon Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles (US 82): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
711 ft
201 ft
Total Climb
570 ft
Total Descent
538 ft
Highest Point
711 ft
~178.7 mi in
Elevation Range
509 ft
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.
Between Union Springs, AL and Florence, AL, road signs point toward Ann Street South and Moulton.
Ann Street South
43.7 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Moulton
185.2 mi in
|
~3h 37m
About the Cities
Starting in Union Springs, AL
Full guide →Founded 1835
Top landmarks
- • Bullock County Courthouse Historic District
- • Foster House — historic house in Alabama, United States
Arriving in Florence, AL
Full guide →Founded 1826
Florence is a city in northwest Alabama near Mississippi and Tennessee.
Top landmarks
- • Rosenbaum House — historic house in Alabama, United States
- • Sweetwater Mansion — plantation house in Florence, Alabama, United States
- • Sannoner Historic District — historic district in Florence, Alabama, United States
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 5h 1m. Total distance: 251.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 138.3 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas 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 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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 29; US 82 / Blackmon Avenue West): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles (US 82): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Florence, AL before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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