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Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
134.8 mi
217 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alabaster, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Muscle Shoals, AL
Tolga Ahmetler
The drive from Alabaster, AL to Muscle Shoals, AL covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, University of North Alabama Highway, Wheeler Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 71.2 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.36 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
67.4 miles from Alabaster, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
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The drive from Alabaster, AL to Muscle Shoals, AL covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 38m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,038 ft
Total Descent
1,019 ft
Highest Point
974 ft
~77 mi in
Elevation Range
574 ft
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 early in the drive.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 38m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I-65 North: Birmingham
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alabaster, AL to Muscle Shoals, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.
Moulton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 71.2 mi | 1h 19m |
| University of North Alabama Highway | 55.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Wheeler Highway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Woodward Avenue | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| 1st Street South | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Section Line Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Avalon Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Alabaster, AL and Muscle Shoals, AL.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn right onto US 31; AL 119
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Turn left onto AL 157
Continue on AL 157
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
Turn right onto Avalon Avenue
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 16m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Muscle Shoals, AL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Alabaster, 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 Alabaster, AL
This is one driving day of about 134.8 miles and 2h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.4 mi from Alabaster, AL · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 67.4 miles from Alabaster, 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 71.2 miles.
The final approach into Muscle Shoals, AL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Muscle Shoals, AL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$20.36 one way
$40.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $22.35 | $44.70 |
| premium | $4.56 | $24.20 | $48.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.76 | $59.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.15 | $6.47 |
| Efficient EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.80 | $5.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.87 | $8.63 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Alabaster on Wednesday
Local time
7:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Muscle Shoals on Wednesday
Local time
7:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
78°F
Hayden, AL
67 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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