The drive from Decatur, AL to Fairfield, AL covers 261.9 miles and takes about 5h 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, Crum Foshee Highway, AL 106 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 217.3 miles on I 65.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.55 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
130.9 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 12m. Total distance: 261.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 12m highway drive covering 261.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and Crum Foshee Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 217.3 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 21 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 217.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Crum Foshee Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ferry Street Northeast.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 261.9 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 0.1 miles (Ferry Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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
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.
8
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Decatur, AL and Fairfield, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery, 55: Georgiana and Starlington.
Fultondale
75.2 mi in|~1h 26m
Montgomery
76.2 mi in|~1h 27m
55: Georgiana
226.8 mi in|~4h 13m
Starlington
226.8 mi in|~4h 13m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
217.3 mi
3h 57m
Crum Foshee Highway
12.3 mi
14m
AL 106
9.4 mi
11m
Loango Road
8.5 mi
20m
Point Mallard Parkway
4.2 mi
6m
6th Avenue Southeast
3 mi
5m
Ealum Mill Road
2.3 mi
5m
Judge Smith Road
1.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 217.3 mi, about 3h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Fairfield, 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
4.2 mi·6 min·Point Mallard Parkway
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I-65 South: BirminghamUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 65
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·38 sec
Exit 265Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, FultondaleUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·37 sec
Toward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 65
150 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward 106, 55: Georgiana, Starlington
14
Turn left onto AL 106; AL 55
9.4 mi·11 min·AL 106; AL 55
15
Continue on AL 55
12 mi·14 min·Crum Foshee Highway
16
Turn right onto County Road 82
0.3 mi·58 sec·County Road 82
17
At end of road, turn left onto CR 107
204 ft·10 sec·County Road 107
18
Turn right onto CR 7
2.3 mi·5 min·Ealum Mill Road
19
Continue on CR 7
8.5 mi·20 min·Loango Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto CR 7
1.9 mi·4 min·Judge Smith Road
21
Arrive at destination
CR 7
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 130.9 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 217.3 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 58 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.9 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, 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 261.9 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 217.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 130.9 mi from Decatur, AL
· 2h 28m 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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.55 one way
$79.11 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$43.42
$86.84
premium
$4.56
$47.01
$94.02
diesel
$5.61
$57.82
$115.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.6
0
$27.50
$12.57
Efficient EV
65.5
0
$22.92
$10.48
EV Truck/SUV
104.8
1
$36.67
$16.76
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning
in Decatur on Saturday
Local time
8:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairfield, AL
Morning
in Fairfield on Saturday
Local time
8:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
3 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
5h 12m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Fairfield, AL covers 261.9 miles and takes about 5h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Crum Foshee Highway, AL 106. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 130.9 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 $39.55 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 261.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Ferry Street Northeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 75.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Decatur, AL and Fairfield, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery, 55: Georgiana and Starlington.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
