This 208.5-mile drive from Anniston, AL to Dothan, AL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 23 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated around $31. You'll primarily navigate via AL 21 and US 231, with a significant 81% of the drive on highways. This route is ideal for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The journey takes you through the heart of Alabama, staying within the Southeast region.
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
104.2 miles from Anniston, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 208.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 81% of the 208.5 miles utilizing faster roadways. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 99.1 miles primarily on AL 21, offering a consistent pace. While the main roads are highways, the overall profile suggests a steady progression rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Expect a straightforward driving experience that prioritizes reaching your destination efficiently.
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.
AL 21 is the longest continuous segment at about 99.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 21 and US 231. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Gurnee Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 23m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gurnee Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (West 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (AL 21 / Quintard Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Gurnee Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Gurnee Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|West 10th Street
Turn left onto West 10th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|AL 21 / Quintard Avenue
Turn right onto AL 21 / Quintard Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
103.6 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 231; AL 21
Turn left onto US 231; AL 21
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
111.2 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 82; US 231 / Troy Highway
Turn left onto US 82; US 231 / Troy Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 21
99.1 mi
1h 56m
US 231
69.5 mi
1h 33m
Troy Highway
34.7 mi
41m
Quintard Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
Quintard Drive
1.4 mi
2m
North Saint Andrews Street
0.5 mi
1m
West 10th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Gurnee Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AL 21
— 99.1 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anniston, AL and Dothan, AL.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi·45 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Gurnee Avenue
0.2 mi·42 sec·Gurnee Avenue
3
Turn left onto West 10th Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·West 10th Street
4
Turn right onto AL 21
2.5 mi·4 min·Quintard Avenue
5
Continue on AL 21
1.4 mi·2 min·Quintard Drive
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on AL 21
392 ft·8 sec·AL 21
7
Continue on AL 21
1.3 mi·1 min·AL 21
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on AL 21
98 mi·1 hr 54 min·AL 21
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto US 231; AL 21
7.6 mi·11 min·US 231; AL 21
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto US 82; US 231
35 mi·41 min·Troy Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 231
7.7 mi·9 min·US 231
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 231; AL 10
13
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.0 mi·3 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 231; AL 10
7.6 mi·10 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 231; AL 10
38 mi·47 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on US 231
6.2 mi·11 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto West Powell Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Powell Street
18
Turn right onto North Saint Andrews Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Saint Andrews Street
19
Turn left onto US 84 Business; AL 52
111 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 84 Business; AL 52
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 4-hour and 23-minute duration for this 208.5-mile trip, you have flexibility in your departure time. Aiming for an early start can help you arrive in Dothan with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, plan for a brief break around the halfway point or where you feel most comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 99.1 miles on AL 21, to ensure smooth travel without unexpected delays.
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 104.2 miles from Anniston, AL, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.1 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 46 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.2 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
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 Anniston, 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 Anniston, AL
This is one driving day of about 208.5 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Anniston, 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 AL 21 for about 99.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.2 mi from Anniston, AL
· 2h 7m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.49 one way
$62.98 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$34.57
$69.13
premium
$4.56
$37.42
$74.85
diesel
$5.61
$46.03
$92.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.89
$10.01
Efficient EV
52.1
0
$18.24
$8.34
EV Truck/SUV
83.4
1
$29.19
$13.34
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Anniston, AL
Late night
in Anniston on Friday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dothan, AL
Late night
in Dothan on Friday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live 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
6 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
4h 23m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Anniston, AL to Dothan, AL covers 208.5 miles and takes about 4h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are AL 21, US 231, Troy Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.2 miles from Anniston, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.49 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 is a straightforward 4h 23m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gurnee Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (West 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (AL 21 / Quintard Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Anniston, AL to Dothan, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
