The drive from Lake Purdy, AL to Florence, AL covers 128.4 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on University of North Alabama Highway, I 65, US 280 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.4 miles on University of North Alabama Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.39 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
64.2 miles from Lake Purdy, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 128.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lake Purdy, AL to Florence, AL covers 128.4 miles and takes about 2h 40m, 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 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
University of North Alabama Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 55.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Somerset Lane.
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 18 significant decision points across 128.4 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: near the start (Somerset Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Hampton Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Brook Highland Drive): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 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|Somerset Lane
Turn right onto Somerset Lane
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Hampton Place
At end of road, turn right onto Hampton Place
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Brook Highland Drive
Turn right onto Brook Highland Drive
Navigation decision point
6
62.2 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 310
Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
6
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lake Purdy, AL to Florence, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.
Moulton
62.2 mi in|~1h 16m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
University of North Alabama Highway
55.4 mi
1h 6m
I 65
47.6 mi
51m
US 280
7.8 mi
11m
Woodward Avenue
4.2 mi
7m
Wheeler Highway
4.2 mi
5m
Red Mountain Expressway
2.9 mi
3m
US 43
1.8 mi
3m
Carraway Boulevard
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
University of North Alabama Highway
— 55.4 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Purdy, AL and Florence, AL.
1
Start on Ashford Lane
214 ft·11 sec·Ashford Lane
2
Turn right onto Somerset Lane
0.2 mi·40 sec·Somerset Lane
3
At end of road, turn right onto Hampton Place
0.1 mi·35 sec·Hampton Place
4
Turn right onto Brook Highland Drive
0.2 mi·40 sec·Brook Highland Drive
5
Turn right onto Brook Highland Parkway
1.1 mi·2 min·Brook Highland Parkway
6
Turn right onto US 280
7.5 mi·10 min·US 280
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 280
0.4 mi·29 sec·US 280
Toward US 31 North, US 280 West: Birmingham
8
Merge onto US 31; US 280
2.9 mi·3 min·Red Mountain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 31
1.5 mi·3 min·Carraway Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left onto AL 378
0.6 mi·1 min·Finley Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto 19th Street North
49 ft·1 sec·19th Street North
12
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 65 North
13
Merge onto I 65
48 mi·51 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 310Toward AL 157: Cullman, Moulton
15
Turn left onto AL 157
200 ft·3 sec·Section Line Road
16
Continue on AL 157
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·University of North Alabama Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Merge onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20; AL 157
4.2 mi·5 min·Wheeler Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17
4.2 mi·7 min·Woodward Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.8 mi·3 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft·15 sec·West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Pine Street
22
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
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 64.2 miles from Lake Purdy, AL, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.4 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.2 miles or 1h 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 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Purdy, 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 Lake Purdy, AL
This is one driving day of about 128.4 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Lake Purdy, 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 University of North Alabama Highway for about 55.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.2 mi from Lake Purdy, AL
· 1h 19m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.39 one way
$38.78 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.29
$42.57
premium
$4.56
$23.05
$46.09
diesel
$5.61
$28.35
$56.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 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
38.5
0
$13.48
$6.16
Efficient EV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
EV Truck/SUV
51.4
0
$17.98
$8.22
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Lake Purdy, AL
Morning
in Lake Purdy on Friday
Local time
7:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Morning
in Florence on Friday
Local time
7:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
28 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 40m 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 Lake Purdy, AL to Florence, AL covers 128.4 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are University of North Alabama Highway, I 65, US 280. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.2 miles from Lake Purdy, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.39 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 18 significant decision points across 128.4 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: near the start (Somerset Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Hampton Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Brook Highland Drive): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Lake Purdy, AL to Florence, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Moulton along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
