Origin
Huntsville, AL
Night in Huntsville on Tuesday
Local time
9:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Huntsville, AL to Chelsea, AL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
120 mi
193 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Huntsville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea, AL
gina bichsel
Trip Overview
The drive from Huntsville, AL to Chelsea, AL covers 120 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Side Square, South Side Square, East Side Square for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.12 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
60 miles from Huntsville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 20m drive with frequent turns across 120 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Side Square is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Huntsville, AL to Chelsea, AL is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Huntsville, AL to Chelsea, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Side Square | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Side Square | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Side Square | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Street Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Street Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 22 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Side Square
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Huntsville, AL and Chelsea, AL.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
3 ft
·
4 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn right onto West Side Square
377 ft
·
16 sec
·
West Side Square
3
Continue on South Side Square
371 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Side Square
4
Turn left onto East Side Square
371 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Side Square
5
Continue on Washington Street Southeast
364 ft
·
9 sec
·
Washington Street Southeast
6
Continue on Washington Street Northeast
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Washington Street Northeast
7
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
8
Merge slight left
19 mi
·
20 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65 South: Birmingham
11
Merge slight left
74 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 22 West: Memphis
14
Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Montgomery
15
Merge slight left
3.9 mi
·
4 min
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 20 East, I 59 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
17
Merge slight right
1.0 mi
·
1 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
19
Keep slight left to continue on US 31 South, US 280 East
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 31 South, US 280 East
20
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Expressway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Mountain Expressway
21
Take the exit slight right toward US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
15 mi
·
21 min
·
US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
22
Turn right onto Chelsea Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Chelsea Road
23
Turn left
328 ft
·
28 sec
24
Turn left onto Allen Drive
171 ft
·
8 sec
·
Allen Drive
25
Arrive at your destination
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 60 miles from Huntsville, AL, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m
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 Huntsville, 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 Huntsville, AL
This is one driving day of about 120 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Huntsville, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60 mi from Huntsville, AL · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60 miles from Huntsville, 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
$18.12 one way
$36.25 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $19.89 | $39.79 |
| premium | $4.56 | $21.54 | $43.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.49 | $52.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36 | 0 | $12.60 | $5.76 |
| Efficient EV | 30 | 0 | $10.50 | $4.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48 | 0 | $16.80 | $7.68 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Chelsea, AL
Night in Chelsea on Tuesday
Local time
9:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Hayden, AL
60 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
29 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
2h 20m 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 Huntsville, AL to Chelsea, AL covers 120 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Side Square, South Side Square, East Side Square. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60 miles from Huntsville, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.12 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.
The drive from Huntsville, AL to Chelsea, AL is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Huntsville, AL to Chelsea, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Huntsville, AL to Chelsea, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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