Dothan to Wilsonville is 170.7 miles and takes about 3h 38m via US 231 and I-65, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Southeast region of Alabama to another part of the same region, staying within the state borders. It's a fairly straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a good option for a single-day journey. You'll be covering a significant distance on US 231 before transitioning to I-65 for the latter part of your trip.
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
85.4 miles from Dothan, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 231
89.1 mi
1h 51m
I 65
40.2 mi
43m
AL 145
23.3 mi
32m
Montgomery Highway
7.1 mi
11m
South Main Street
2.7 mi
4m
I 85
2.5 mi
3m
McGehee Road
1.5 mi
2m
Zelda Road
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 231
— 89.1 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dothan, AL and Wilsonville, AL.
1
Start on US 84 Business; AL 52
111 ft·5 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn right onto North Saint Andrews Street
0.3 mi·53 sec·North Saint Andrews Street
3
Turn left onto East Burdeshaw Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Burdeshaw Street
4
Turn right onto US 231 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·North Oates Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 231 Business
7.1 mi·11 min·Montgomery Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 231
0.6 mi·39 sec·US 231
7
Continue on US 231
16 mi·20 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 231
21 mi·24 min·US 231
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 231; AL 10
10
Continue on US 231; AL 10
5.1 mi·6 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.1 mi·3 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.5 mi·55 sec·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.6 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.7 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
15
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 231; AL 10
16
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.2 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.8 mi·2 min·US 231; AL 10
18
Continue on US 231
3.4 mi·3 min·US 231
19
Continue on US 231
36 mi·42 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on McGehee Road
1.5 mi·2 min·McGehee Road
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Carter Hill Road
22
Continue on Zelda Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Zelda Road
23
Turn right onto Ann Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Ann Street
24
Turn left
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 3Toward Ann Street SouthUse the left lane.
25
Merge onto I 85
2.5 mi·3 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
27
Merge onto I 65; US 82
40 mi·43 min·I 65; US 82
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 212Toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
29
Turn right onto AL 145
23 mi·32 min·AL 145
30
Continue on CR 61
2.7 mi·4 min·South Main Street
31
Turn right onto AL 25
79 ft·1 sec·AL 25
32
Arrive at destination
AL 25
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 38 minutes, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Dothan in the morning will allow you ample daylight to reach Wilsonville, with the option for a single planned stop. With the longest stretch being 89.1 miles on US 231, consider making your stop around the halfway point or slightly after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on that long stretch on US 231, as there are limited services compared to the interstate.
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 85.4 miles from Dothan, AL, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.1 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 38 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.4 miles or 1h 51m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilsonville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dothan, 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 Dothan, AL
This is one driving day of about 170.7 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Dothan, 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 US 231 for about 89.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 144.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 231 Business / Montgomery Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 231 Business / Montgomery Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
101.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Turn left toward Ann Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 3
Toward Ann Street South
5
101.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
103.9 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-65 North: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-65 North: Birmingham
6
144.4 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 212
Toward 145: Clanton, Lay Dam
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.78 one way
$51.56 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.30
$56.60
premium
$4.56
$30.64
$61.28
diesel
$5.61
$37.69
$75.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.2
0
$17.92
$8.19
Efficient EV
42.7
0
$14.94
$6.83
EV Truck/SUV
68.3
0
$23.90
$10.92
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Dothan, AL
Afternoon
in Dothan on Saturday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wilsonville, AL
Afternoon
in Wilsonville on Saturday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 38m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 170.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of the drive taking place on major roadways. Expect a fast-paced experience for most of your journey. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 89.1 miles on US 231, so plan accordingly for fuel and breaks. After that, you'll merge onto I-65, which will carry you the rest of the way to Wilsonville. The profile is largely about efficient travel on well-maintained highways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 231 is the longest continuous segment at about 89.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 231 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near US 231 Business / Montgomery Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 170.7 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 1 miles (US 231 Business / Montgomery Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 101.3 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dothan, AL and Wilsonville, AL, road signs point toward Ann Street South, 145: Clanton and Lay Dam.
Dothan is a city in southeastern Alabama, serving as the county seat of Houston County, and the chief city of the western Wiregrass region, an area encompassing portions of southeastern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the panhandle of Florida. Its population in 2018 was about 68,000, making it the largest metropolitan area in southeastern Alabama.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 170.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dothan, AL to Wilsonville, AL covers 170.7 miles and takes about 3h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 231, I 65, AL 145. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.4 miles from Dothan, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.78 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 170.7 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 1 miles (US 231 Business / Montgomery Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 101.3 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Dothan, AL and Wilsonville, AL, road signs point toward Ann Street South, 145: Clanton and Lay Dam.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
