Vernon to Dothan is 264 miles and takes about 5 hours 53 minutes via US 231, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, primarily traversing Alabama. Expect a mix of driving experiences, with a significant portion on main highways and some time on surface roads. Given the roughly 6-hour drive time, it's a manageable one-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace and potential for a brief stop along the way. Consider this route for a straightforward connection between these two Alabama cities.
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
132 miles from Vernon, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
McFarland Boulevard East
86.8 mi
1h 51m
US 231
62 mi
1h 22m
Troy Highway
34.7 mi
41m
AL 171
27.9 mi
38m
AL 18
18.1 mi
26m
West Boulevard
10.1 mi
15m
Temple Avenue South
7.5 mi
11m
Birmingham Highway
3.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
McFarland Boulevard East
— 86.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vernon, AL and Dothan, AL.
1
Start on Columbus Avenue Northeast
0.5 mi·1 min·Columbus Avenue Northeast
2
Turn right onto Company B Street
480 ft·29 sec·Company B Street
3
Turn left onto AL 18
18 mi·26 min·AL 18
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto Temple Avenue South
7.5 mi·11 min·Temple Avenue South
5
Continue on AL 171
28 mi·38 min·AL 171
6
Turn right onto US 43
2.1 mi·3 min·US 43
7
Continue on Main Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Avenue
8
Turn left onto 5th Street
364 ft·12 sec·5th Street
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
10
Merge onto US 43; AL 69
1.1 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.3 mi·24 sec·I 359; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 359; US 11; AL 69
2.4 mi·2 min·I 359; US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·32 sec·Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
14
Turn slight right
223 ft·9 sec
Use the right lane.
15
Turn slight right onto AL 215
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Montgomery Highway
16
Turn right onto US 82
87 mi·1 hr 51 min·McFarland Boulevard East
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto US 31
2.0 mi·2 min·South Memorial Drive
18
Continue on US 31
3.7 mi·5 min·Birmingham Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto US 31
10 mi·15 min·West Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto US 82; US 231
35 mi·41 min·Troy Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 231
7.7 mi·9 min·US 231
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 231; AL 10
23
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.0 mi·3 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on US 231; AL 10
7.6 mi·10 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on US 231; AL 10
38 mi·47 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
26
Continue on US 231
6.2 mi·11 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn left onto West Powell Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Powell Street
28
Turn right onto North Saint Andrews Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Saint Andrews Street
29
Turn left onto US 84 Business; AL 52
111 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
30
Arrive at destination
US 84 Business; AL 52
Trip Plan
For this 264-mile drive, starting in the morning is recommended to make the most of daylight, especially since the total travel time is just under 6 hours. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. The longest stretch without a significant break is about 87 miles, so plan for a brief pause around that mark if needed. Keep an eye on fuel, as the estimated cost is around $40, and ensure you have enough to comfortably reach Dothan. Being a single-day trip, you can depart at your leisure and arrive in the afternoon.
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 132 miles from Vernon, AL, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.8 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 58 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132 miles or 2h 59m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dothan, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Vernon, 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 Vernon, AL
This is one driving day of about 264 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Vernon, 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 McFarland Boulevard East for about 86.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 156.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|AL 18
Turn left onto AL 18
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
18.8 mi into trip|~27m in|Temple Avenue South
Turn right onto Temple Avenue South
Navigation decision point
5
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
62 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East
Turn left onto US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
156.6 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|US 31 / West Boulevard
Turn right onto US 31 / West Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.87 one way
$79.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$43.77
$87.54
premium
$4.56
$47.38
$94.77
diesel
$5.61
$58.29
$116.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.2
0
$27.72
$12.67
Efficient EV
66
0
$23.10
$10.56
EV Truck/SUV
105.6
1
$36.96
$16.90
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Vernon, AL
Late night
in Vernon on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dothan, AL
Late night
in Dothan on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 5 to 15 mph11% chanceLive forecast
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
2 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 53m 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 route features a 43% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on main roads before transitioning to surface streets. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 86.8 miles on McFarland Boulevard East. You'll notice a shift as you move between these different road types, with periods of faster cruising punctuated by more frequent intersections and local traffic as you get closer to towns. Be prepared for this variation in speed and road environment.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.8 mi on McFarland Boulevard East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near AL 18.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 53m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (AL 18): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (Temple Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 58.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Dothan is a city in southeastern Alabama, serving as the county seat of Houston County, and the chief city of the western Wiregrass region, an area encompassing portions of southeastern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the panhandle of Florida. Its population in 2018 was about 68,000, making it the largest metropolitan area in southeastern Alabama.
The longest stretch is about 86.8 miles on McFarland Boulevard East. 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.
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 0.6 miles (AL 18): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (Temple Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 58.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dothan, AL before the return drive.
