Trip from Chelsea, AL to Florence, AL

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

2h 47m

Distance

134.6 mi

217 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

27 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 36m ★

6 AM

2h 47m

8 AM

3h 9m

10 AM

2h 55m

12 PM

2h 53m

3 PM

2h 56m

5 PM

3h 8m

8 PM

2h 41m

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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Chelsea, AL

gina bichsel

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

Florence, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Chelsea, AL to Florence, AL covers 134.6 miles and takes about 2h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on University of North Alabama Highway, I 65, US 280 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.4 miles on University of North Alabama Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.33 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

67.3 miles from Chelsea, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Chelsea, AL to Florence, AL covers 134.6 miles and takes about 2h 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

University of North Alabama Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 55.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.3 miles in near US 280.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 134.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 15.3 miles (US 280): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles (US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

15.3 mi into trip | ~22m in | US 280

Take the exit onto US 280 toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham

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

Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham

15.6 mi into trip | ~23m in | US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway

Merge onto US 31; US 280 / Red Mountain Expressway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

20.8 mi into trip | ~32m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

68.4 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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

134.3 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in | West Doctor Hicks Boulevard

Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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 Chelsea, AL to Florence, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.

Moulton

68.4 mi in | ~1h 23m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
University of North Alabama Highway	55.4 mi	1h 6m
I 65	47.6 mi	51m
US 280	14.9 mi	21m
Woodward Avenue	4.2 mi	7m
Wheeler Highway	4.2 mi	5m
Red Mountain Expressway	2.9 mi	3m
US 43	1.8 mi	3m
Carraway Boulevard	1.5 mi	3m

Longest stretch: University of North Alabama Highway — 55.4 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Chelsea Road

171 ft · 8 sec · Chelsea Road

Turn right

327 ft · 25 sec

Turn right onto CR 39

0.6 mi · 1 min · Chelsea Road

Turn left onto US 280

15 mi · 21 min · US 280

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto US 280

0.4 mi · 29 sec · US 280

Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham

Merge onto US 31; US 280

2.9 mi · 3 min · Red Mountain Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 31

1.5 mi · 3 min · Carraway Boulevard

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto AL 378

0.6 mi · 1 min · Finley Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto 19th Street North

49 ft · 1 sec · 19th Street North

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward I 65 North

Merge onto I 65

48 mi · 51 min · I 65

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 310 Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton

Turn left onto AL 157

200 ft · 3 sec · Section Line Road

Continue on AL 157

55 mi · 1 hr 6 min · University of North Alabama Highway

Use the straight lane.

Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157

4.2 mi · 5 min · Wheeler Highway

Use the straight lane.

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

4.2 mi · 7 min · Woodward Avenue

Use the straight lane.

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.

Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard

437 ft · 15 sec · West Doctor Hicks Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto South Pine Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · South Pine Street

Arrive at destination

North Pine Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 67.3 miles from Chelsea, AL, or about 1h 22m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67.3 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m

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 Chelsea, 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 Chelsea, AL

This is one driving day of about 134.6 miles and 2h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chelsea, 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 University of North Alabama Highway for about 55.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67.3 mi from Chelsea, AL · 1h 22m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hayden, AL

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Double Springs, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Blountsville, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.3 miles from Chelsea, 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.

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...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 18.6

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.33 one way

$40.66 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$22.31	$44.63
premium	$4.56	$24.16	$48.32
diesel	$5.61	$29.72	$59.44

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: 47.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

27 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

1st Avenue South - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

28 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Cox Creek Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger

Florence, AL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Lane Parke Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Mountain Brook, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Uptown Entertainment District - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Santos Coffee - Tesla Supercharger

Gardendale, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Cracker Barrel - Tesla Supercharger

Cullman, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target Homewood #T2796

Homewood, AL

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 10 Tesla: 7 eVgo Network: 3 RED_E: 3 Non-Networked: 2 FCN: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.4	$14.13	$6.46
Efficient EV	33.7	$11.78	$5.38
EV Truck/SUV	53.8	$18.84	$8.61

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour from now

Origin

Chelsea, AL

Evening in Chelsea on Tuesday

Local time

6:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Florence, AL

Evening in Florence on Tuesday

Local time

6:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

86°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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

38 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

2h 47m 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 Chelsea, AL to Florence, AL covers 134.6 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are University of North Alabama Highway, I 65, US 280. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 67.3 miles from Chelsea, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.