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Trip from Decatur, AL to Pell City, AL

Drive Time

2h 15m

Distance

116 mi

187 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

47 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 6m ★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Decatur, AL, AL

Decatur, AL

Google DeepMind

Downtown Pell City, AL, AL

Pell City, AL

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Decatur, AL to Pell City, AL covers 116 miles and takes about 2h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 65, I 20, Point Mallard Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 71 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.73 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

58 miles from Decatur, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 15m highway drive covering 116 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and I 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 71 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 20 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 71 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

670 ft 384 ft

Total Climb

286 ft

Total Descent

307 ft

Highest Point

670 ft

~99.5 mi in

Elevation Range

286 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 116 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 0.4 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; at 75.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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
8
114.3 mi into trip | ~2h 12m in

Take the exit toward US 231, AL 53: Ashville, Pell City

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 158 Toward US 231, AL 53: Ashville, Pell City

Towns Along This Route

Between Decatur, AL and Pell City, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery and Gadsden.

Fultondale

75.2 mi in | ~1h 26m

Montgomery

76.2 mi in | ~1h 27m

Gadsden

80.5 mi in | ~1h 33m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 71 mi 1h 16m
I 20 33.7 mi 38m
Point Mallard Parkway 4.2 mi 6m
6th Avenue Southeast 3 mi 5m
Martin Street 1.1 mi 1m
Lee Street Northeast 0.3 mi <1m
Comer Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Cogswell Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 71 mi, about 1h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Pell City, 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

67 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 38 sec
Exit 265 Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 22 West: Memphis Use the straight lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 27 sec
Toward Montgomery Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto I 65

3.9 mi · 4 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 261B Toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
14

Merge onto I 20; I 59

5.1 mi · 6 min · I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 20

29 mi · 32 min · I 20
Toward I 20 East: Atlanta Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 158 Toward US 231, AL 53: Ashville, Pell City Use the slight right lane.
17

Turn right onto US 231

1.1 mi · 1 min · Martin Street
18

Turn right onto Comer Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Comer Avenue
19

Turn right onto US 78

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Cogswell Avenue
20

Arrive at destination

US 78

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 58 miles or 1h 8m 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 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pell City, 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 116 miles and 2h 15m.

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 71 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 58 mi from Decatur, AL · 1h 8m into the drive

Downtown Hayden, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hayden, AL

58 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

Hoover, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hayden, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58 miles from Decatur, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71 miles.

Arriving in Pell City, AL

The final approach into Pell City, 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 Pell City, AL.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

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...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 80
View on nps.gov
Freedom Riders National Monument

Freedom Riders National Monument

National Monument

In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 116
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.73 one way

$35.47 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $19.45 $38.90
premium $4.61 $21.05 $42.11
diesel $5.64 $25.77 $51.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

47 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

1st Avenue South - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

28 DCFC

Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger

Leeds, AL

Tesla

17 DCFC

Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Walmart - Tesla Supercharger

Pell City, AL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Cracker Barrel - Tesla Supercharger

Cullman, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Santos Coffee - Tesla Supercharger

Gardendale, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Lane Parke Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Mountain Brook, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Uptown Entertainment District - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 22 Tesla: 8 MERCEDES_BENZ: 5 eVgo Network: 4 RED_E: 2 CHAEVI: 2 Non-Networked: 1 EV Connect: 1 Electrify America: 1 CHARGELAB: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.8 0 $12.18 $5.57
Efficient EV 29 0 $10.15 $4.64
EV Truck/SUV 46.4 0 $16.24 $7.42

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Decatur, AL

Evening in Decatur on Sunday

Local time

6:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Mostly Sunny

S 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 11:42AM CDT until April 12 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Birmingham AL

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 10:04AM CDT until April 12 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Huntsville AL

Destination

Pell City, AL

Evening in Pell City on Sunday

Local time

6:17 PM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

86°F

Hayden, AL

58 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

2h 15m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Pell City, AL covers 116 miles and takes about 2h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, I 20, Point Mallard Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58 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 $17.73 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 116 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 0.4 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; at 75.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Decatur, AL and Pell City, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery and Gadsden.

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Return Trip

Pell City, AL to Decatur, AL

Plan the drive back the other way.

112.7 mi 2h 15m

Continue From Pell City, AL

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