Origin
Decatur, AL
Afternoon in Decatur on Saturday
Local time
1:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, AL to Hartford, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 34m
Distance
272.4 mi
438 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 22m
★
6 AM
5h 35m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 44m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 0m
8 PM
5h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Hartford, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Decatur, AL to Hartford, AL covers 272.4 miles and takes about 5h 34m 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 mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.14 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
136.2 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry Street Northeast | — | — |
| Lee Street Northeast | — | — |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | — | — |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | — | — |
| Point Mallard Parkway | — | — |
| I-65 South | — | — |
| I 22 West | — | — |
| Montgomery | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Ferry Street Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Hartford, 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
93 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward I-85 North: Atlanta
394 ft
·
10 sec
·
I-85 North: Atlanta
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Atlanta
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 85 North: Atlanta
15
Continue straight
2.7 mi
·
3 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward Ann Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Ann Street
17
Turn right onto Ann Street
436 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ann Street
18
Keep slight left to continue on Zelda Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Zelda Road
19
Continue on Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Carter Hill Road
20
Turn left onto McGehee Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
McGehee Road
21
Continue on Troy Highway
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Troy Highway
22
Continue straight
7.7 mi
·
9 min
23
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
24
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
1 min
25
Take the exit straight
348 ft
·
11 sec
26
Turn slight right onto Elba Highway
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Elba Highway
27
Keep slight right
25 mi
·
36 min
28
Turn right onto Boll Weevil Circle
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Boll Weevil Circle
29
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
30
Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Main Street
31
Continue on East Park Avenue
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Park Avenue
32
Turn slight right onto Plaza Drive
8.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Plaza Drive
33
Continue straight
8.2 mi
·
12 min
34
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
35
Turn left onto North 3rd Avenue
62 ft
·
1 sec
·
North 3rd Avenue
36
Arrive at your destination
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 136.2 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 2h 47m 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 60 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.2 miles or 2h 47m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartford, 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 272.4 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.2 miles from Decatur, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.14 one way
$82.28 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $45.16 | $90.32 |
| premium | $4.56 | $48.89 | $97.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.14 | $120.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.7 | 1 | $28.60 | $13.08 |
| Efficient EV | 68.1 | 0 | $23.83 | $10.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109 | 1 | $38.14 | $17.43 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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
Hartford, AL
Afternoon in Hartford on Saturday
Local time
1:51 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
5h 34m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
272.4 mi in 5h 34m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Ferry Street Northeast.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 34m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Decatur, AL to Hartford, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 272.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Decatur, AL to Hartford, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hartford, AL before the return drive.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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