Origin
Decatur, AL
Late night in Decatur on Wednesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, AL to Fultondale, AL
Data updated 4 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
75.5 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Fultondale, AL
Tomás Asurmendi
Trip Overview
This 75.5-mile drive from Decatur, AL to Fultondale, AL is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 29 minutes. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it's an ideal candidate for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a practical option for those seeking efficiency. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $11, adding to its affordability. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience.
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
37.8 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll primarily navigate on I-65, experiencing a long, uninterrupted stretch of 65.5 miles on this interstate. The journey begins with some local road segments like Point Mallard Parkway and 6th Avenue Southeast before merging onto the faster pace of the interstate. This means the character of the drive shifts from local access to efficient long-distance travel, allowing for a consistent speed for the majority of your trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 65.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Point Mallard Parkway. 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.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.5 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 pointsThese 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.
7
73.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward Walkers Chapel Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 267
Toward Walkers Chapel Road
7
73.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Fultondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Fultondale
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 65.5 mi | 1h 10m |
| Point Mallard Parkway | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | 3 mi | 5m |
| Walker Chapel Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Decatur Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Lee Street Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Whaley Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 65.5 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Fultondale, 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: Birmingham
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 65
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 65
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 267
Toward Walkers Chapel Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
272 ft
·
9 sec
Toward Fultondale
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Walker Chapel Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Walker Chapel Road
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 31
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Decatur Highway
13
Turn left onto Whaley Road
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Whaley Road
14
Arrive at destination
Whaley Road
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under 1.5 hours, this trip offers significant flexibility in your departure time. Leaving early can help you avoid any potential local traffic as you begin in Decatur. Since the drive is short, you won't need to plan for extensive multi-day stops or overnight accommodations. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before you get onto the longest stretch of I-65, as services can be more spread out on interstates. The $11 fuel cost suggests that topping off before you leave is a sensible precaution.
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 37.8 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.5 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 75.5 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 46m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fultondale, 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 75.5 miles and 1h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Decatur, 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 I 65 for about 65.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.8 mi from Decatur, AL · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 75.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Decatur, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.5 miles.
Arriving in Fultondale, AL
The final approach into Fultondale, 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 Fultondale, 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
$11.40 one way
$22.80 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.52 | $25.03 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.55 | $27.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.67 | $33.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.93 | $3.62 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.57 | $4.83 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Fultondale, AL
Late night in Fultondale on Wednesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Hayden, AL
38 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 29m 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 Fultondale, AL covers 75.5 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Point Mallard Parkway, 6th Avenue Southeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.8 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 $11.40 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 75.5 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 Fultondale, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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