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Trip from Centre, AL to Florence, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 11m

Distance

145.4 mi

234 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 0m ★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 35m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 21m
5 PM
3h 34m
8 PM
3h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Alabama, United States of America

Centre, AL

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States

Florence, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Centre, AL to Florence, AL covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on AL 157, Thompson Bridge Road, US 411 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.5 miles on AL 157. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.96 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

72.7 miles from Centre, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 145.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 11m highway drive covering 145.4 miles, with most of the trip on AL 157 and Thompson Bridge Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.5 miles on AL 157.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
AL 157 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 157 and Thompson Bridge Road. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 23.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 145.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
23.3 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward US 278 West, US 431 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward US 278 West, US 431 North
5
23.5 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard

Merge onto US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
31.2 mi into trip | ~41m in | US 278

Turn left onto US 278

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
73.3 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | AL 157

Turn right onto AL 157

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
145.1 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in | West Doctor Hicks Boulevard

Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
AL 157 61.5 mi 1h 15m
Thompson Bridge Road 37.6 mi 52m
US 411 19.9 mi 22m
US 278 6.3 mi 8m
Woodward Avenue 4.2 mi 7m
Wheeler Highway 4.2 mi 5m
West Meighan Boulevard 4.1 mi 7m
US 43 1.8 mi 3m
Longest stretch: AL 157 — 61.5 mi, about 1h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Centre, AL and Florence, AL.

1

Start on AL 283

314 ft · 5 sec · Cedar Bluff Road
2

Turn slight left

109 ft · 6 sec
3

Turn left onto AL 283

408 ft · 10 sec · North River Street
4

At end of road, turn right onto US 411 Business

1.7 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
5

Continue on US 411; AL 68

20 mi · 22 min · US 411; AL 68
6

Continue on Ewing Avenue

0.4 mi · 27 sec · Ewing Avenue
7

Continue on US 411

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Albert Rains Boulevard
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward US 278 West, US 431 North Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto US 278; US 431

4.1 mi · 7 min · West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Continue on US 278; US 431

1.4 mi · 3 min · 5th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest

0.5 mi · 50 sec · 4th Street Northwest
12

Turn slight right onto US 278; US 431

1.8 mi · 2 min · US 278; US 431
Use the right lane.
13

Turn left onto US 278

2.9 mi · 4 min · US 278
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on US 278

516 ft · 8 sec · Thompson Bridge Road
15

Continue on US 278

1.6 mi · 2 min · US 278
16

Continue on US 278

37 mi · 52 min · Thompson Bridge Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17

Turn right onto AL 157

62 mi · 1 hr 15 min · AL 157
Use the straight lane.
18

Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157

4.2 mi · 5 min · Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17

4.2 mi · 7 min · Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
20

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.
21

Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard

437 ft · 15 sec · West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22

Turn right onto South Pine Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · South Pine Street
23

Arrive at destination

North Pine Street

Trip Plan

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 72.7 miles from Centre, AL, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 32 miles or 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 72.7 miles or 1h 39m 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 36m

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 Centre, 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 Centre, AL

This is one driving day of about 145.4 miles and 3h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Centre, 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 157 for about 61.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.7 mi from Centre, AL · 1h 39m into the drive

Downtown Hanceville, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hanceville, AL

73 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

Gadsden, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hanceville, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.7 miles from Centre, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Florence, AL

The final approach into Florence, 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 Florence, AL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Freedom Riders National Monument

Freedom Riders National Monument

National Monument

In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...

28 mi from route ~69 min detour Free near mile 25.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.96 one way

$43.92 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $24.11 $48.21
premium $4.56 $26.10 $52.20
diesel $5.61 $32.10 $64.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.6 0 $15.27 $6.98
Efficient EV 36.4 0 $12.72 $5.82
EV Truck/SUV 58.2 0 $20.36 $9.31

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Centre, AL

Morning in Centre on Friday

Local time

9:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Florence, AL

Morning in Florence on Friday

Local time

9:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

34 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

3h 11m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Centre, AL to Florence, AL covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are AL 157, Thompson Bridge Road, US 411. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 72.7 miles from Centre, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.96 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 145.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (US 278; US 431 / West Meighan Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Centre, AL to Florence, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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