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Trip from Florence, AL to Centre, AL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 12m

Distance

145.4 mi

234 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 1m ★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 6m

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

city and county seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States

Florence, AL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Alabama, United States of America

Centre, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Florence, AL to Centre, AL covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on University of North Alabama Highway, US 278, Ewing Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.2 miles on University of North Alabama Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.96 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

72.7 miles from Florence, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The drive from Florence, AL to Centre, AL covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 12m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
University of North Alabama Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 55.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Crest Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 145.4 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Crest Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

4
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Crest Street

Turn left onto Crest Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17

Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17

Navigation decision point

8
10.7 mi into trip | ~16m in | AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway toward Moulton, Cullman

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward Moulton, Cullman
6
116.4 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | 5th Avenue Northwest

Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
122 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 411 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes. Toward US 411 North

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Florence, AL and Centre, AL, road signs point toward Moulton and Cullman.

Moulton

10.7 mi in | ~16m | via AL 157

Cullman

10.7 mi in | ~16m | via AL 157

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
University of North Alabama Highway 55.2 mi 1h 5m
US 278 43.8 mi 1h
Ewing Avenue 20.3 mi 23m
Section Line Road 4.4 mi 6m
Wheeler Highway 4.3 mi 5m
West Meighan Boulevard 4.1 mi 7m
Woodward Avenue 3.2 mi 5m
US 43 2.5 mi 4m
Longest stretch: University of North Alabama Highway — 55.2 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Florence, AL and Centre, AL.

1

Start on North Pine Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Pine Street
2

Turn left onto Crest Street

131 ft · 11 sec · Crest Street
3

Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17

1.5 mi · 2 min · US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4

Turn left onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20

3.2 mi · 5 min · Woodward Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn left onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20

4.3 mi · 5 min · Wheeler Highway
Use the left lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto AL 157

55 mi · 1 hr 5 min · University of North Alabama Highway
Toward Moulton, Cullman Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8

Continue on AL 157

4.4 mi · 6 min · Section Line Road
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on AL 157

1.8 mi · 2 min · AL 157
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn left onto US 278

2.1 mi · 2 min · US 278
Use the left lane.
11

Continue on US 278

16 mi · 22 min · US 278
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Continue on US 278

19 mi · 27 min · US 278
Use the left lane.
13

Continue on US 278

1.6 mi · 2 min · US 278
14

Continue on US 278

516 ft · 8 sec · Thompson Bridge Road
15

Continue on US 278

2.9 mi · 4 min · US 278
16

Turn right onto US 278; US 431

1.8 mi · 2 min · US 278; US 431
17

Turn slight left onto 4th Street Northwest

0.5 mi · 53 sec · 4th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
18

Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest

1.4 mi · 3 min · 5th Avenue Northwest
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on US 278; US 431

4.1 mi · 7 min · West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec
Toward US 411
21

Keep slight left at fork

110 ft · 5 sec
Toward US 411 North Use the left / right lanes.
22

Turn left onto US 411

1.4 mi · 1 min · North Albert Rains Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23

Continue on US 411

20 mi · 23 min · Ewing Avenue
24

Continue on US 411 Business

1.7 mi · 3 min · Main Street
25

Turn left onto AL 283

30 ft · 0 sec · Cedar Bluff Road
26

Arrive at destination

AL 283

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 72.7 miles from Florence, AL, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 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 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.7 miles or 1h 32m 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 39m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Florence, 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 Florence, AL

This is one driving day of about 145.4 miles and 3h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Florence, 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 University of North Alabama Highway for about 55.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.7 mi from Florence, AL · 1h 32m into the drive

town in Blount County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Blountsville, AL

73 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

Blountsville, AL

Fuel and coffee

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

Blountsville, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.7 miles from Florence, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Centre, AL

The final approach into Centre, 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 Centre, 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

$21.96 one way

$43.92 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $24.11 $48.21
premium $4.56 $26.10 $52.20
diesel $5.61 $32.10 $64.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.6 0 $15.27 $6.98
Efficient EV 36.4 0 $12.72 $5.82
EV Truck/SUV 58.2 0 $20.36 $9.31

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 14 minutes ago

Origin

Florence, AL

Night in Florence on Tuesday

Local time

9:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Centre, AL

Night in Centre on Tuesday

Local time

9:09 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°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

34 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 12m 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 Florence, AL to Centre, AL covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are University of North Alabama Highway, US 278, Ewing Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.7 miles from Florence, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.96 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 145.4 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Crest Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (AL 157 / University of North Alabama Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Florence, AL and Centre, AL, road signs point toward Moulton and Cullman.

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