Origin
Cherokee, AL
Morning in Cherokee on Wednesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cherokee, AL to Decatur, AL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
60.2 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cherokee, AL
Grant Allen
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cherokee, AL to Decatur, AL covers 60.2 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Lee Highway, Joe Wheeler Highway, US 72 Alternate for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.3 miles on East Lee Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.09 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
30.1 miles from Cherokee, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 16m drive with frequent turns across 60.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Lee Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.2 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 72 / East Lee Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 72 / East Lee Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 72 / East Lee Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
22.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
5
59.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
Lee Street Northeast
Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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 Cherokee, AL to Decatur, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Joe Wheeler State Park along the way.
Joe Wheeler State Park
22.5 mi in
|
~28m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Lee Highway | 22.3 mi | 27m |
| Joe Wheeler Highway | 20.2 mi | 24m |
| US 72 Alternate | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| Wheeler Highway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Lee Street Northeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Lee Highway
— 22.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cherokee, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on 2nd Street
33 ft
·
6 sec
·
2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 72
22 mi
·
27 min
·
East Lee Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Joe Wheeler Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.5 mi
·
12 min
·
US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
302 ft
·
6 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn slight right onto US 31
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
11
Arrive at destination
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.1 miles from Cherokee, AL, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.3 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 60.2 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.1 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cherokee, 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 Cherokee, AL
This is one driving day of about 60.2 miles and 1h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cherokee, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East Lee Highway for about 22.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.1 mi from Cherokee, AL · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 60.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.1 miles from Cherokee, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Decatur, AL
The final approach into Decatur, 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 Decatur, AL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.09 one way
$18.18 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.98 | $19.96 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.81 | $21.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.29 | $26.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.32 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.43 | $3.85 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Decatur, AL
Morning in Decatur on Wednesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Bear Creek, AL
30 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
32 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
1h 16m 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 Cherokee, AL to Decatur, AL covers 60.2 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Lee Highway, Joe Wheeler Highway, US 72 Alternate. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.1 miles from Cherokee, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.09 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.2 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 72 / East Lee Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Cherokee, AL to Decatur, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Joe Wheeler State Park along the way.
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