Andalusia, AL to Florence, AL is 294.3 miles and takes about 5h 38m via I 65 and AL 55, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a drive that's primarily on highways, making it a straightforward journey. It's a manageable distance for a single day, so you can focus on getting to your destination 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
147.1 miles from Andalusia, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
195.4 mi
3h 33m
University of North Alabama Highway
55.4 mi
1h 6m
AL 55
17.9 mi
20m
Mobile Road
9.3 mi
11m
River Falls Street
4.7 mi
8m
Woodward Avenue
4.2 mi
7m
Wheeler Highway
4.2 mi
5m
US 43
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 195.4 mi, about 3h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Andalusia, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on Court Square
188 ft·5 sec·Court Square
2
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi·30 sec·Church Street
3
Turn right onto River Falls Street
0.4 mi·1 min·River Falls Street
4
Continue on River Falls Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·River Falls Road
5
Continue on River Falls Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·River Falls Street
6
Continue on US 29; AL 55
0.1 mi·20 sec·River Falls Street
7
Continue on US 84; AL 55
3.8 mi·6 min·River Falls Street
8
Turn right onto AL 55
18 mi·20 min·AL 55
9
Continue on US 31; AL 55
9.3 mi·11 min·Mobile Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 65
195 mi·3 hr 33 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 310Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
13
Turn left onto AL 157
200 ft·3 sec·Section Line Road
14
Continue on AL 157
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·University of North Alabama Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
4.2 mi·5 min·Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4.2 mi·7 min·Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
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.
18
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft·15 sec·West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Pine Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 38m estimated drive time, departing in the morning allows ample time to reach Florence comfortably within daylight hours. While this is a one-day trip, consider a brief stop midway, especially during the 195.4-mile stretch on I 65, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $44 estimated cost suggests a full tank is advisable before leaving Andalusia. The route is mostly highway, so be mindful of potential traffic as you approach larger towns.
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 147.1 miles from Andalusia, AL, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.4 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 65 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.1 miles or 2h 46m 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 31m
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 Andalusia, 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 Andalusia, AL
This is one driving day of about 294.3 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Andalusia, 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 195.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 32.4 and 293.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
32.4 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
32.7 mi into trip|~41m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
228 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
5
283.7 mi into trip|~5h 22m in|US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157 / Wheeler Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
293.9 mi into trip|~5h 38m in|West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.45 one way
$88.89 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$48.79
$97.58
premium
$4.56
$52.82
$105.65
diesel
$5.61
$64.98
$129.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.3
1
$30.90
$14.13
Efficient EV
73.6
0
$25.75
$11.77
EV Truck/SUV
117.7
1
$41.20
$18.84
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Andalusia, AL
Afternoon
in Andalusia on Saturday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Afternoon
in Florence on Saturday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Hoover, AL
147 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
24 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
5h 38m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 182.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of your journey on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 195.4 miles on I 65, offering consistent speed and minimal interruptions. The route transitions between interstates and state highways like AL 55, providing a mix of faster travel and slightly more local road character as you progress north. Expect a generally efficient drive with good momentum for most of the 5h 38m trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 195.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and University of North Alabama Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 32.4 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 294.3 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 32.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 228 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Andalusia, AL to Florence, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.
Moulton
228 mi in|~4h 15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 294.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Andalusia, AL to Florence, AL covers 294.3 miles and takes about 5h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, University of North Alabama Highway, AL 55. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.1 miles from Andalusia, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 294.3 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 228 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Andalusia, AL to Florence, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
