Trip from Fairfield, AL to Dothan, AL

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

4h 4m

Distance

199.2 mi

321 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 52m ★

6 AM

4h 5m

8 AM

4h 31m

10 AM

4h 14m

12 PM

4h 11m

3 PM

4h 15m

5 PM

4h 29m

8 PM

3h 57m

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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Fairfield, AL

Taryn Elliott

Trip Overview

The drive from Fairfield, AL to Dothan, AL covers 199.2 miles and takes about 4h 4m 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 231, Troy Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 88.8 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.08 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

99.6 miles from Fairfield, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 4h 4m highway drive covering 199.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and US 231. The longest continuous stretch is about 88.8 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 29 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 88.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 231. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near I 20; I 59.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 199.2 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 1.4 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 6.2 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 20; I 59

Merge onto I 20; I 59

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

5.7 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward I 65 South: Montgomery

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 124B Toward I 65 South: Montgomery

6.2 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 65

Merge onto I 65

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

95.1 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Atlanta

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 85 North: Atlanta

98 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in

Take the exit toward Ann Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3 Toward Ann Street

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 65	88.8 mi	1h 37m
US 231	62 mi	1h 22m
Troy Highway	34.7 mi	41m
I 20	4.3 mi	4m
I 85	2.7 mi	3m
McGehee Road	1.4 mi	2m
Zelda Road	1.1 mi	2m
Carter Hill Road	1.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 65 — 88.8 mi, about 1h 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, AL and Dothan, AL.

Start on 52nd Street

165 ft · 12 sec · 52nd Street

Turn left onto Avenue E

366 ft · 16 sec · Avenue E

Continue on Farrell Avenue

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Farrell Avenue

Turn right onto Valley Road

0.5 mi · 49 sec · Valley Road

Turn slight left onto Avenue I

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Avenue I

Turn right

236 ft · 10 sec

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · this road

Merge onto I 20; I 59

4.3 mi · 4 min · I 20; I 59

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 124B Toward I 65 South: Montgomery

Merge onto I 65

89 mi · 1 hr 37 min · I 65

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

393 ft · 9 sec

Exit 171 Toward I-85 North: Atlanta

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward I 85 North: Atlanta

Continue on I 85

2.7 mi · 3 min · I 85

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec

Exit 3 Toward Ann Street Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto Ann Street

436 ft · 8 sec · Ann Street

Keep slight left at fork onto Zelda Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Zelda Road

Continue on Carter Hill Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Carter Hill Road

Turn left onto McGehee Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · McGehee Road

Continue on US 82; US 231

35 mi · 41 min · Troy Highway

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 231

7.7 mi · 9 min · US 231

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 231; AL 10

0.1 mi · 9 sec · US 231; AL 10

Continue on US 231; AL 10

2.0 mi · 3 min · US 231; AL 10

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 231; AL 10

7.6 mi · 10 min · US 231; AL 10

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 231; AL 10

38 mi · 47 min · US 231; AL 10

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 231

6.2 mi · 11 min · US 231

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto West Powell Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · West Powell Street

Turn right onto North Saint Andrews Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Saint Andrews Street

Turn left onto US 84 Business; AL 52

111 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street

Arrive at destination

US 84 Business; AL 52

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 99.6 miles from Fairfield, AL, or about 1h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.8 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 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 99.6 miles or 1h 54m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dothan, AL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, AL

This is one driving day of about 199.2 miles and 4h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fairfield, 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 88.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 99.6 mi from Fairfield, AL · 1h 54m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dadeville, AL

100 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

Columbiana, AL

Fuel and coffee

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

Dadeville, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 99.6 miles from Fairfield, 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 88.8 miles.

Arriving in Dothan, AL

The final approach into Dothan, 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 Dothan, 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

$30.08 one way

$60.17 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$33.02	$66.05
premium	$4.56	$35.75	$71.51
diesel	$5.61	$43.98	$87.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	59.8	$20.92	$9.56
Efficient EV	49.8	$17.43	$7.97
EV Truck/SUV	79.7	$27.89	$12.75

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

23 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 data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Fairfield, AL

Night in Fairfield on Tuesday

Local time

11:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dothan, AL

Night in Dothan on Tuesday

Local time

11:27 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog

SW 0 to 5 mph 0% chance 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

20 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

4h 4m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Fairfield, AL to Dothan, AL covers 199.2 miles and takes about 4h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 65, US 231, Troy Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 99.6 miles from Fairfield, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.08 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.