The drive from Gadsden, AL to Fairfield, AL covers 220.7 miles and takes about 4h 43m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, Broadway Avenue, East Grand Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58 miles on I 65.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.33 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
110.4 miles from Gadsden, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 220.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Gadsden, AL to Fairfield, AL covers 220.7 miles and takes about 4h 43m, 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 21 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 58 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broad Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 220.7 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Rainbow Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (AL 77 / East Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Broad Street
Turn right onto Broad Street
Navigation decision point
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in|Rainbow Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto Rainbow Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
5.2 mi into trip|~8m in|AL 77 / East Grand Avenue
Turn left onto AL 77 / East Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
120.6 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward Birmingham, Mobile
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Birmingham, Mobile
5
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-65 South: Mobile
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-65 South: Mobile
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gadsden, AL and Fairfield, AL, road signs point toward Birmingham, Mobile, 55: Georgiana and Starlington.
Birmingham
120.6 mi in|~2h 31m
Mobile
120.6 mi in|~2h 31m
55: Georgiana
185.6 mi in|~3h 45m
Starlington
185.6 mi in|~3h 45m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
58 mi
1h 3m
Broadway Avenue
54.5 mi
1h 2m
East Grand Avenue
37 mi
52m
Western Bypass
22.7 mi
26m
Crum Foshee Highway
12.3 mi
14m
AL 106
9.4 mi
11m
Loango Road
8.5 mi
20m
Northern Boulevard
6.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 58 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gadsden, AL and Fairfield, AL.
1
Start on South 6th Street
16 ft·4 sec·South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.3 mi·59 sec·Broad Street
3
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 3rd Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto Rainbow Drive
4.2 mi·6 min·Rainbow Drive
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto AL 77
37 mi·52 min·East Grand Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto AL 21
23 mi·26 min·Western Bypass
7
Continue on AL 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Rockford Highway
8
Continue on US 231; AL 21
54 mi·1 hr 2 min·Broadway Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward Birmingham, MobileUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto AL 152
6.3 mi·8 min·Northern Boulevard
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-65 South: Mobile
12
Merge onto I 65; US 82
58 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 65; US 82
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward 106, 55: Georgiana, Starlington
14
Turn left onto AL 106; AL 55
9.4 mi·11 min·AL 106; AL 55
15
Continue on AL 55
12 mi·14 min·Crum Foshee Highway
16
Turn right onto County Road 82
0.3 mi·58 sec·County Road 82
17
At end of road, turn left onto CR 107
204 ft·10 sec·County Road 107
18
Turn right onto CR 7
2.3 mi·5 min·Ealum Mill Road
19
Continue on CR 7
8.5 mi·20 min·Loango Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto CR 7
1.9 mi·4 min·Judge Smith Road
21
Arrive at destination
CR 7
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 110.4 miles from Gadsden, AL, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58 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 49 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.4 miles or 2h 19m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gadsden, 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 Gadsden, AL
This is one driving day of about 220.7 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Gadsden, 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 58 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.4 mi from Gadsden, AL
· 2h 19m into the drive
The midpoint is around 110.4 miles from Gadsden, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fairfield, AL
The final approach into Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, AL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 22.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.33 one way
$66.66 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$36.59
$73.18
premium
$4.56
$39.61
$79.23
diesel
$5.61
$48.73
$97.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.17
$10.59
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.31
$8.83
EV Truck/SUV
88.3
1
$30.90
$14.12
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Gadsden, AL
Morning
in Gadsden on Saturday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairfield, AL
Morning
in Fairfield on Saturday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 43m 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 Gadsden, AL to Fairfield, AL covers 220.7 miles and takes about 4h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Broadway Avenue, East Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.4 miles from Gadsden, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.33 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 220.7 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Rainbow Drive): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (AL 77 / East Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Gadsden, AL and Fairfield, AL, road signs point toward Birmingham, Mobile, 55: Georgiana and Starlington.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
