The drive from Gadsden, AL to Hamilton, AL covers 150.9 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 22, I 59, South Military Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.4 miles on I 22.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.79 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
75.5 miles from Gadsden, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 150.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 51m highway drive covering 150.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 22 and I 59. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.4 miles on I 22.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 22 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and I 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 150.9 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 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I-759 West: Birmingham, Chattanooga
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-759 West: Birmingham, Chattanooga
7
5.1 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Birmingham
7
62.3 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 124C
Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
7
66 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West: Memphis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265A
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
6
145.6 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 43, US 278: Hamilton, Guin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 16
Toward US 43, US 278: Hamilton, Guin
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
78.4 mi
1h 24m
I 59
56.8 mi
1h 2m
South Military Street
5 mi
8m
I 65
3 mi
3m
I 759
2.2 mi
2m
South 11th Street
1.5 mi
2m
Walnut Street
0.6 mi
1m
Black Creek Parkway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 78.4 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gadsden, AL and Hamilton, AL.
1
Start on South 6th Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·South 6th Street
2
Turn right onto Walnut Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Walnut Street
3
Turn left onto South 11th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·South 11th Street
4
Turn left onto Black Creek Parkway
0.3 mi·32 sec·Black Creek Parkway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I-759 West: Birmingham, ChattanoogaUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 759
2.2 mi·2 min·I 759
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward BirminghamUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 59
57 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 59
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 124CToward I 65 North: HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 65
3.0 mi·3 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 265AToward I 22 West: MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 22
78 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 22
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 16Toward US 43, US 278: Hamilton, Guin
14
Turn right onto US 43; US 278; AL 171
5.0 mi·8 min·South Military Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto AL 74
21 ft·0 sec·Bexar Avenue West
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
AL 74
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.5 miles from Gadsden, AL, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.4 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.5 miles or 1h 27m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hamilton, 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 150.9 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 22 for about 78.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.5 mi from Gadsden, AL
· 1h 27m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 10.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.79 one way
$45.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.02
$50.03
premium
$4.56
$27.08
$54.17
diesel
$5.61
$33.32
$66.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Destination Charger
Gadsden, Alabama
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Gadsden, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Gadsden, Alabama
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Francis Energy Charging Station
Guin, Alabama
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Steele, Alabama
Tesla
1 DCFC
EOS Linx Charging Station
Gadsden, Alabama
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 2
Other: 2
Tesla Destination: 1
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.84
$7.24
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.13
$9.66
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Gadsden, AL
Late night
in Gadsden on Saturday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hamilton, AL
Late night
in Hamilton on Saturday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
49°F
Birmingham, AL
75 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
2 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
2h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Hamilton, AL covers 150.9 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 22, I 59, South Military Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.5 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 $22.79 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 150.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Gadsden, AL to Hamilton, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
