Decatur to Alexandria is 97.3 miles and takes about 2 hours and 21 minutes via Point Mallard Drive and US 278, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Alabama, staying within the Southeast region. The drive offers a mixed experience, suitable for a single-day excursion. Given its manageable length and moderate fuel cost, it's a straightforward journey for those looking to connect these two points efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 97.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route presents a mixed drive, with 34% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 34.8 miles on Point Mallard Drive, indicating a significant portion of the drive will be on this particular road. The character of the drive likely shifts as you transition between Point Mallard Drive, US 278, and Chastain Boulevard East, offering a varied driving experience rather than a consistent highway pace.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Point Mallard Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 34.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ferry Street Northeast.
Driving Effort5/10
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 97.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (Ferry Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Lee Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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|Ferry Street Northeast
At end of road, turn left onto Ferry Street Northeast
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Lee Street Northeast
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast
At end of road, turn right onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 278
Turn left onto US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|5th Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Point Mallard Drive
34.8 mi
48m
US 278
28.1 mi
39m
Chastain Boulevard East
13.8 mi
16m
West Meighan Boulevard
9 mi
15m
Point Mallard Parkway
4.1 mi
6m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi
3m
US 231
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Point Mallard Drive
— 34.8 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Alexandria, AL.
1
Start on this road
426 ft·36 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Ferry Street Northeast
164 ft·8 sec·Ferry Street Northeast
3
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.3 mi·53 sec·Lee Street Northeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 31
0.1 mi·14 sec·6th Avenue Northeast
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on US 31
3.0 mi·5 min·6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto AL 67
4.1 mi·6 min·Point Mallard Parkway
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on AL 67
35 mi·48 min·Point Mallard Drive
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto US 231
0.8 mi·1 min·US 231
9
Turn left onto US 278
2.3 mi·3 min·US 278
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 278
19 mi·27 min·US 278
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278
12
Continue on US 278
516 ft·8 sec·Thompson Bridge Road
13
Continue on US 278
2.9 mi·4 min·US 278
14
Turn right onto US 278; US 431
1.8 mi·2 min·US 278; US 431
15
Turn slight left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·53 sec·4th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi·3 min·5th Avenue Northwest
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 278; US 431
9.0 mi·15 min·West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 431
14 mi·16 min·Chastain Boulevard East
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto CR 73
0.6 mi·1 min·Post Oak Road
20
Turn right onto Stadium Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Stadium Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Stadium Drive
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over two hours, this is a perfect same-day trip where you have flexibility on departure time. You won't need extensive breaks, but keep an eye on fuel, especially before the longest stretch of 34.8 miles on Point Mallard Drive. Planning to leave in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 97.3-mile drive comfortably. The estimated fuel cost of $15 is quite reasonable, so budget accordingly.
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 48.7 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.8 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 miles or 1h 10m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Decatur, 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 Decatur, AL
This is one driving day of about 97.3 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Decatur, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Point Mallard Drive for about 34.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.7 mi from Decatur, AL
· 1h 10m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 97.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.69 one way
$29.39 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.13
$32.26
premium
$4.56
$17.46
$34.93
diesel
$5.61
$21.48
$42.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
12 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Destination Charger
Gadsden, Alabama
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Gadsden, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Gadsden, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Decatur, Alabama
EVgo
1 DCFC
Pilot EV Charging Station
Decatur, Alabama
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Decatur, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EOS Linx Charging Station
Gadsden, Alabama
Other
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Decatur, Alabama
Blink
1 DCFC
Other: 4
ChargePoint: 3
Tesla Destination: 1
EVgo: 1
Blink: 1
EV Connect: 1
InCharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.51
$3.89
EV Truck/SUV
38.9
0
$13.62
$6.23
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Decatur, AL
Evening
in Decatur on Friday
Local time
6:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, AL
Evening
in Alexandria on Friday
Local time
6:46 PM
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
2 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 21m 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 Decatur, AL to Alexandria, AL covers 97.3 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Point Mallard Drive, US 278, Chastain Boulevard East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.7 miles from Decatur, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.69 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 97.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (Ferry Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Lee Street Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Decatur, AL to Alexandria, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Freedom Riders 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.
