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Trip from Gadsden, AL to Fultondale, AL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 19m

Distance

61.8 mi

100 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 14m ★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m

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

city in and the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama

Gadsden, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Fultondale, AL, AL

Fultondale, AL

Tomás Asurmendi

Trip Overview

The drive from Gadsden, AL to Fultondale, AL covers 61.8 miles and takes about 1h 19m 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 759, Black Creek Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.4 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.33 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

30.9 miles from Gadsden, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 1h 19m highway drive covering 61.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and I 759. The longest continuous stretch is about 47.4 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 26 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 47.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and I 759. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 61.8 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 52.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 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
8
52.9 mi into trip | ~1h in

Take the exit toward Center Point, Roebuck Parkway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 134 Toward Center Point, Roebuck Parkway
4
53.4 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | Red Lane Road

Turn left onto Red Lane Road

Navigation decision point

4
55.5 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | Zion City Road

Turn right onto Zion City Road

Navigation decision point

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 Fultondale, AL, road signs point toward Birmingham and Center Point.

Birmingham

5.1 mi in | ~8m

Center Point

52.9 mi in | ~1h

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 59 47.4 mi 50m
I 759 2.2 mi 2m
Black Creek Road 1.5 mi 3m
South 11th Street 1.5 mi 2m
Lawson Road 1 mi 2m
Red Lane Road 1 mi 1m
Pinehill Road 1 mi 2m
Pinson Valley Parkway 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 59 — 47.4 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gadsden, AL and Fultondale, 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, Chattanooga Use 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 Birmingham Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto I 59

47 mi · 50 min · I 59
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 134 Toward Center Point, Roebuck Parkway Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn right onto AL 75

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Roebuck Parkway
11

Continue on AL 75

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Parkway East
12

Turn left onto Red Lane Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Red Lane Road
13

Continue on 96th Street North

0.4 mi · 39 sec · 96th Street North
14

Continue on Tarrant Huffman Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Tarrant Huffman Road
15

Turn right onto Zion City Road

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Zion City Road
16

Continue on Airport Road

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Airport Road
17

At end of road, turn left onto Lawson Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Lawson Road
18

Turn left onto AL 79

0.8 mi · 1 min · Pinson Valley Parkway
19

Turn right onto Pinehill Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Pinehill Road
20

Continue on Black Creek Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · Black Creek Road
21

Continue on Black Creek Road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Black Creek Road
22

At end of road, turn left onto New Castle Road

0.5 mi · 54 sec · New Castle Road
23

Continue on CR 120

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Walker Chapel Road
24

Turn left onto US 31

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Decatur Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
25

Turn left onto Whaley Road

0.2 mi · 57 sec · Whaley Road
26

Arrive at destination

Whaley Road

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 30.9 miles from Gadsden, AL, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.4 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 61.8 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 30.9 miles or 36m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fultondale, 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 61.8 miles and 1h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gadsden, 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 47.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.9 mi from Gadsden, AL · 36m into the drive

city in Alabama, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oneonta, AL

31 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

Hoover, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oneonta, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Gadsden, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Fultondale, AL

The final approach into Fultondale, 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 Fultondale, 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

$9.33 one way

$18.67 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $10.25 $20.49
premium $4.56 $11.09 $22.18
diesel $5.61 $13.64 $27.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.5 0 $6.49 $2.97
Efficient EV 15.5 0 $5.41 $2.47
EV Truck/SUV 24.7 0 $8.65 $3.96

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast data refreshed 7 hours ago

Origin

Gadsden, AL

Late night in Gadsden on Wednesday

Local time

4:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fultondale, AL

Late night in Fultondale on Wednesday

Local time

4:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Oneonta, AL

31 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 19m 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 Gadsden, AL to Fultondale, AL covers 61.8 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, I 759, Black Creek Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.9 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 $9.33 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 61.8 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 52.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Gadsden, AL and Fultondale, AL, road signs point toward Birmingham and Center Point.

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