Origin
Florence, AL
Night in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
10:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Florence, AL to Chelsea, AL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
72.6 mi
117 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Florence, AL to Chelsea, AL covers 72.6 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Joe Wheeler Highway, I 565, Wheeler Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.2 miles on Joe Wheeler Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.96 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
36.3 miles from Florence, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Florence, AL to Chelsea, AL covers 72.6 miles and takes about 1h 34m, 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 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Joe Wheeler Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.2 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 10 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 72.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese 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
|
US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
5
47.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
69.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward AL 53: Jordan Lane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 17A
Toward AL 53: Jordan Lane
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 Chelsea, AL, road signs point toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park and Huntsville.
Decatur
10.7 mi in
|
~16m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Joe Wheeler State Park
10.7 mi in
|
~16m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Huntsville
49.6 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wheeler Highway | 20.2 mi | 24m |
| I 565 | 16.7 mi | 18m |
| Wheeler Highway | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| US 72 Alternate | 8.6 mi | 12m |
| Woodward Avenue | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Huntsville-Decatur Highway | 3 mi | 3m |
| US 43 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Joe Wheeler Highway
— 20.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, AL and Chelsea, 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 left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Joe Wheeler Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Huntsville-Decatur Highway
Toward Huntsville
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on I 565; US 72 Alternate
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 17A
Toward AL 53: Jordan Lane
14
Turn right onto Jordan Lane Southwest
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Jordan Lane Southwest
15
Continue on Patton Road Southwest
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Patton Road Southwest
16
Turn left onto Drake Avenue Southwest
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Drake Avenue Southwest
17
Turn right onto Triana Boulevard Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Triana Boulevard Southwest
18
Arrive at destination
Triana Boulevard Southwest
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 36.3 miles from Florence, AL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.2 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 72.6 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.3 miles or 47m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chelsea, 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 72.6 miles and 1h 34m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Joe Wheeler Highway for about 20.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.3 mi from Florence, AL · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 72.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Florence, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chelsea, AL
The final approach into Chelsea, 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 Chelsea, 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
$10.96 one way
$21.93 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.04 | $24.07 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.03 | $26.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.03 | $32.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Chelsea, AL
Night in Chelsea on Tuesday
Local time
10:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
31 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
1h 34m 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 Chelsea, AL covers 72.6 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Joe Wheeler Highway, I 565, Wheeler Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.3 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 $10.96 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Florence, AL and Chelsea, AL, road signs point toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park and Huntsville.
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