The drive from Jacksonville, AL to East Florence, AL covers 145.9 miles and takes about 3h 20m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on AL 157, Thompson Bridge Road, US 431 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.5 miles on AL 157.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.03 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
73 miles from Jacksonville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 145.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 20m highway drive covering 145.9 miles, with most of the trip on AL 157 and Thompson Bridge Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.5 miles on AL 157.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
AL 157 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 157 and Thompson Bridge Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 10.5 miles in near US 431.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.5 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here; at 74 miles (AL 157): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
10.5 mi into trip|~19m in|US 431
Turn right onto US 431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
31.9 mi into trip|~52m in|US 278
Turn left onto US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
74 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|AL 157
Turn right onto AL 157
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
137.6 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|AL 133; AL 157
Turn right onto AL 133; AL 157
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
145.5 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|CR 32 / Huntsville Road
Turn right onto CR 32 / Huntsville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 157
61.5 mi
1h 15m
Thompson Bridge Road
37.6 mi
52m
US 431
19.1 mi
29m
Nisbet Street Northwest
9.6 mi
16m
AL 133
7.9 mi
11m
US 278
6.3 mi
8m
Wheeler Highway
2.1 mi
2m
Pelham Road North
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
AL 157
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, AL and East Florence, AL.
1
Start on AL 21
148 ft·3 sec·Public Square West
2
Turn left onto AL 21
462 ft·9 sec·Public Square East
3
Turn slight right onto AL 21
0.8 mi·2 min·Pelham Road North
4
Turn left onto AL 204
9.6 mi·16 min·Nisbet Street Northwest
5
Turn right onto US 431
19 mi·29 min·US 431
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi·50 sec·4th Street Northwest
7
Turn slight right onto US 278; US 431
1.8 mi·2 min·US 278; US 431
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 278
2.9 mi·4 min·US 278
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 278
516 ft·8 sec·Thompson Bridge Road
10
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278
11
Continue on US 278
37 mi·52 min·Thompson Bridge Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto AL 157
62 mi·1 hr 15 min·AL 157
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
2.1 mi·2 min·Wheeler Highway
14
Turn right onto AL 133; AL 157
7.9 mi·11 min·AL 133; AL 157
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto CR 32
0.4 mi·56 sec·Huntsville Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Midway Street
60 ft·2 sec·Midway Street
17
Arrive at destination
Midway Street
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 73 miles from Jacksonville, AL, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 32 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73 miles or 1h 49m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Florence, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, AL
This is one driving day of about 145.9 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Jacksonville, 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 AL 157 for about 61.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73 mi from Jacksonville, AL
· 1h 49m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.03 one way
$44.07 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$24.19
$48.38
premium
$4.56
$26.19
$52.37
diesel
$5.61
$32.21
$64.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.8
0
$15.32
$7.00
Efficient EV
36.5
0
$12.77
$5.84
EV Truck/SUV
58.4
0
$20.43
$9.34
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, AL
Morning
in Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
11:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Florence, AL
Morning
in East Florence on Saturday
Local time
11:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 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 Jacksonville, AL to East Florence, AL covers 145.9 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are AL 157, Thompson Bridge Road, US 431. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73 miles from Jacksonville, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.03 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.5 miles (US 431): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles (US 278): Lane positioning matters here; at 74 miles (AL 157): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Jacksonville, AL to East Florence, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Freedom Riders National Monument.
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.
