Origin
Fairfield, AL
Night in Fairfield on Tuesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, AL to Gadsden, AL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
68.6 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, AL
Taryn Elliott
Gadsden, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfield, AL to Gadsden, AL covers 68.6 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, I 20, I 759 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.7 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.36 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
34.3 miles from Fairfield, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 68.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and I 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.7 miles on I 59.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 51.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
878 ft
520 ft
Total Climb
351 ft
Total Descent
368 ft
Highest Point
878 ft
~29.4 mi in
Elevation Range
358 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and I 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Avenue E.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue E): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Avenue E
Turn left onto Avenue E
Navigation decision point
5
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.
7
11.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
5
62.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 759: Gadsden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 182
Toward I 759: Gadsden
5
65.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward Black Creek Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 2
Toward Black Creek Parkway
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 51.7 mi | 55m |
| I 20 | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| I 759 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| South 11th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Walnut Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Black Creek Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Valley Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Avenue I | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 51.7 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, AL and Gadsden, AL.
1
Start on 52nd Street
165 ft
·
12 sec
·
52nd Street
2
Turn left onto Avenue E
366 ft
·
16 sec
·
Avenue E
3
Continue on Farrell Avenue
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Farrell Avenue
4
Turn right onto Valley Road
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Valley Road
5
Turn slight left onto Avenue I
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Avenue I
6
Turn right
236 ft
·
10 sec
7
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
this road
8
Merge onto I 20; I 59
9.8 mi
·
12 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
52 mi
·
55 min
·
I 59
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 182
Toward I 759: Gadsden
11
Continue on I 759
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 759
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 2
Toward Black Creek Parkway
13
Turn slight left onto Black Creek Parkway
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Black Creek Parkway
14
Turn slight right onto South 11th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South 11th Street
15
Turn right onto Walnut Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Walnut Street
16
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 6th Street
17
Arrive at destination
South 6th Street
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 34.3 miles from Fairfield, AL, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.7 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 68.6 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.3 miles or 40m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gadsden, 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 68.6 miles and 1h 20m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 59 for about 51.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.3 mi from Fairfield, AL · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 68.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from Fairfield, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gadsden, AL
The final approach into Gadsden, 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 Gadsden, 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
$10.36 one way
$20.72 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.37 | $22.75 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.31 | $24.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Gadsden, AL
Night in Gadsden on Tuesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Oneonta, AL
34 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
1h 20m 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 Fairfield, AL to Gadsden, AL covers 68.6 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, I 20, I 759. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.3 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 $10.36 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 straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue E): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fairfield, AL to Gadsden, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 520 ft to 878 ft elevation with about 351 ft of total climbing.
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