Origin
Decatur, AL
Morning in Decatur on Monday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, AL to Dauphin Island, AL
Drive Time
6h 59m
Distance
370.3 mi
596 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 48m
★
6 AM
6h 59m
8 AM
7h 22m
10 AM
7h 7m
12 PM
7h 5m
3 PM
7h 8m
5 PM
7h 21m
8 PM
6h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Decatur, AL to Dauphin Island, AL covers 370.3 miles and takes about 6h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ferry Street Northeast, Lee Street Northeast, 6th Avenue Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.61 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
185.1 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 59m drive with frequent turns across 370.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ferry Street Northeast is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 59m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Decatur, AL to Dauphin Island, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry Street Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lee Street Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Point Mallard Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-65 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 22 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Montgomery | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Ferry Street Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Dauphin Island, AL.
1
Start on the route
427 ft
·
37 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Ferry Street Northeast
164 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ferry Street Northeast
3
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto 6th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
5
Continue on 6th Avenue Southeast
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
6th Avenue Southeast
6
Turn left onto Point Mallard Parkway
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Point Mallard Parkway
7
Take the ramp slight right toward I-65 South: Birmingham
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I-65 South: Birmingham
8
Merge slight left
67 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 22 West: Memphis
11
Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Montgomery
12
Merge slight left
264 mi
·
4 hr 48 min
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: Mississippi
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 10 West: Mississippi
14
Merge slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward AL 193: Dauphin Island, Tillmans Corner
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
AL 193: Dauphin Island, Tillmans Corner
16
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
17
Keep slight right
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
18
Turn straight onto Rangeline Road
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Rangeline Road
19
Continue on West Range Line Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Range Line Road
20
At the end of the road, turn left onto Laurendine Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Laurendine Road
21
Turn right onto Dauphin Island Parkway
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Dauphin Island Parkway
22
Continue on Gordon Persons Bridge
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Gordon Persons Bridge
23
Continue on Le Moyne Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Le Moyne Drive
24
Turn left onto Cadillac Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Cadillac Avenue
25
Turn left
39 ft
·
4 sec
26
Turn right
7 ft
·
1 sec
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.1 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
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 81 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.1 miles or 3h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dauphin Island, 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 370.3 miles and 6h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Decatur, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 185.1 mi from Decatur, AL · 3h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
185 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 185.1 miles from Decatur, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dauphin Island, AL
The final approach into Dauphin Island, 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 Dauphin Island, 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
$56.61 one way
$113.22 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
130 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $62.09 | $124.18 |
| premium | $4.61 | $67.21 | $134.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $82.27 | $164.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.1 | 1 | $38.88 | $17.77 |
| Efficient EV | 92.6 | 1 | $32.40 | $14.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 148.1 | 1 | $51.84 | $23.70 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Dauphin Island, AL
Morning in Dauphin Island on Monday
Local time
9:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Columbiana, AL
185 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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 59m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Dauphin Island, AL covers 370.3 miles and takes about 6h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ferry Street Northeast, Lee Street Northeast, 6th Avenue Northeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 185.1 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 $56.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 59m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Decatur, AL to Dauphin Island, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Decatur, AL to Dauphin Island, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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