Origin
Decatur, AL
Morning in Decatur on Saturday
Local time
6:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, AL to Jacksonville, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
101.5 mi
163 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Jacksonville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Decatur, AL to Jacksonville, AL covers 101.5 miles and takes about 2h 31m 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 $15.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Decatur, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 101.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 31m drive with frequent turns across 101.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Decatur, AL to Jacksonville, AL is easy. At 2h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Decatur, AL to Jacksonville, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry Street Northeast | — | — |
| Lee Street Northeast | — | — |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | — | — |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | — | — |
| Point Mallard Parkway | — | — |
| Point Mallard Drive | — | — |
| US 278 | — | — |
| Thompson Bridge Road | — | — |
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 Jacksonville, 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
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Point Mallard Parkway
7
Continue on Point Mallard Drive
35 mi
·
48 min
·
Point Mallard Drive
8
Turn right
0.8 mi
·
1 min
9
Turn left
2.3 mi
·
3 min
10
Continue straight
19 mi
·
27 min
11
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 278
12
Continue on Thompson Bridge Road
515 ft
·
8 sec
·
Thompson Bridge Road
13
Continue on US 278
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 278
14
Turn right
1.8 mi
·
2 min
15
Turn slight left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
4th Street Northwest
16
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
5th Avenue Northwest
17
Continue on West Meighan Boulevard
9.0 mi
·
15 min
·
West Meighan Boulevard
18
Continue on Chastain Boulevard East
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Chastain Boulevard East
19
Turn left
9.6 mi
·
16 min
20
Turn right onto Pelham Road North
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Pelham Road North
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 50.8 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 1h 15m 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 22 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, 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 101.5 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 50.8 mi from Decatur, AL · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.8 miles from Decatur, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jacksonville, AL
The final approach into Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, 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
$15.33 one way
$30.66 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $16.83 | $33.65 |
| premium | $4.56 | $18.22 | $36.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.41 | $44.82 |
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: 35.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.66 | $4.87 |
| Efficient EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.88 | $4.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.21 | $6.50 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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
Jacksonville, AL
Morning in Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
6:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 31m 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 Jacksonville, AL covers 101.5 miles and takes about 2h 31m 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 50.8 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 $15.33 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Decatur, AL to Jacksonville, AL is easy. At 2h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Decatur, AL to Jacksonville, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Decatur, AL to Jacksonville, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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