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Trip from Decatur, AL to Pleasant Grove, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

127.2 mi

205 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 22m ★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m

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

Downtown Decatur, AL, AL

Decatur, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Pleasant Grove, AL, AL

Pleasant Grove, AL

Megan Bailey

Trip Overview

The drive from Decatur, AL to Pleasant Grove, AL covers 127.2 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 65, US 31, Point Mallard Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.3 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.21 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

63.6 miles from Decatur, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 65 100.3 mi 1h 50m
US 31 12.9 mi 18m
Point Mallard Parkway 4.2 mi 6m
AL 191 4 mi 5m
6th Avenue Southeast 3 mi 5m
Lee Street Northeast 0.3 mi <1m
Church Street 0.3 mi <1m
6th Avenue Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 100.3 mi, about 1h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, AL and Pleasant Grove, 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

33 mi · 38 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward US 31, AL 3: Saginaw, Calera, Montevallo
14

Turn right onto US 31

13 mi · 18 min · US 31
15

Turn right onto AL 191

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Church Street
16

Keep slight left at fork onto AL 191

4.0 mi · 5 min · AL 191
17

Turn left

23 ft · 1 sec
18

Arrive at 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 63.6 miles from Decatur, AL, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.3 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 28 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63.6 miles or 1h 14m 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

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasant Grove, 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 127.2 miles and 2h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 100.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Birmingham, AL

64 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

Cullman, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kimberly, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.6 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 100.3 miles.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 76.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.21 one way

$38.42 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $21.09 $42.18
premium $4.56 $22.83 $45.66
diesel $5.61 $28.08 $56.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.2 0 $13.36 $6.11
Efficient EV 31.8 0 $11.13 $5.09
EV Truck/SUV 50.9 0 $17.81 $8.14

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Decatur, AL

Afternoon in Decatur on Saturday

Local time

2:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pleasant Grove, AL

Afternoon in Pleasant Grove on Saturday

Local time

2:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Birmingham, AL

64 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 32m 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.

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 83.3
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

127.2 mi in 2h 32m, mostly highway — 100.3 mi of that is on I 65.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.3 mi on I 65.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 31. 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 Effort 9/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 127.2 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.

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 Pleasant Grove, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale, Montgomery, Calera and Montevallo.

Fultondale

75.2 mi in | ~1h 26m

Montgomery

76.2 mi in | ~1h 27m

Calera

109.7 mi in | ~2h 6m

Montevallo

109.7 mi in | ~2h 6m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 127.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 100.3 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Pleasant Grove, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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.

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.

Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pleasant Grove, AL before heading back.

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.

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