The drive from Deatsville, AL to Madison, AL covers 163.9 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, AL 143, US 31 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 133.8 miles on I 65.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.75 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
81.9 miles from Deatsville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
133.8 mi
2h 26m
AL 143
9.8 mi
17m
US 31
8.5 mi
12m
I 565
8.4 mi
9m
Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
2m
Church Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 133.8 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deatsville, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on Academy Lane
151 ft·10 sec·Academy Lane
2
Turn left onto AL 143
9.8 mi·17 min·AL 143
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 31
8.5 mi·12 min·US 31
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
5
Merge onto I 65
134 mi·2 hr 26 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 340Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 340AToward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
8
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.4 mi·9 min·I 565; US 72 Alternate
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 9Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
10
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft·9 sec
Exit 9Toward MadisonUse the left lane.
11
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi·27 sec·Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Sullivan Street
13
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Main Street
14
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Church Street
15
Arrive at destination
Church 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 81.9 miles from Deatsville, AL, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.8 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 36 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.9 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Deatsville, 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 Deatsville, AL
This is one driving day of about 163.9 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Deatsville, 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 133.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.5 and 161.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18.5 mi into trip|~30m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
152.3 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate:...
7
152.6 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsv...
6
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
9
161.9 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.75 one way
$49.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.17
$54.35
premium
$4.56
$29.42
$58.84
diesel
$5.61
$36.19
$72.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
33 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Clanton, Alabama
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Hartselle, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Hartselle, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Madison, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Alabaster, Alabama
Tesla
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Good Hope, Alabama
EVgo
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Vestavia Hills, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Huntsville, Alabama
Blink
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 13
Other: 9
Blink: 4
Tesla: 2
Tesla Destination: 2
EVgo: 1
Electrify America: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.2
0
$17.21
$7.87
Efficient EV
41
0
$14.34
$6.56
EV Truck/SUV
65.6
0
$22.95
$10.49
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 18, 2026
Origin
Deatsville, AL
Afternoon
in Deatsville on Saturday
Local time
2:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Madison, AL
Afternoon
in Madison on Saturday
Local time
2:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 10 mph44% chanceLive forecast
49°F
Birmingham, AL
82 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
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
3h 12m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 3h 12m highway drive covering 163.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and AL 143. The longest continuous stretch is about 133.8 miles on I 65.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 133.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and AL 143. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.5 miles in near I 65.
Driving Effort6/10
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 163.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 18.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Deatsville, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.
Huntsville
152.3 mi in|~2h 56m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 163.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Deatsville, AL to Madison, AL covers 163.9 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, AL 143, US 31. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.9 miles from Deatsville, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.75 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 163.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 18.5 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Deatsville, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
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.
