Origin
Lincoln, AL
Afternoon in Lincoln on Saturday
Local time
12:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lincoln, AL to Gadsden, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
73.9 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gadsden, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lincoln, AL to Gadsden, AL covers 73.9 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Governors Drive Southeast, Florida Short Route, West Meighan Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.5 miles on Governors Drive Southeast. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.16 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.
Midpoint
37 miles from Lincoln, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Governors Drive Southeast | 35.5 mi | 44m |
| Florida Short Route | 28.1 mi | 40m |
| West Meighan Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Gunter Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| 5th Avenue Northwest | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Madison Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street Northwest | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Street North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Governors Drive Southeast
— 35.5 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, AL and Gadsden, AL.
1
Start on Abingdon Avenue Northwest
396 ft
·
22 sec
·
Abingdon Avenue Northwest
2
Turn left onto Washington Street Northwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street Northwest
3
Continue on Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Jefferson Street North
4
Continue on West Side Square
376 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Side Square
5
Continue on Madison Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
6
Turn left onto US 431
35 mi
·
44 min
·
Governors Drive Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 431; AL 79
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Gunter Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 431
28 mi
·
40 min
·
Florida Short Route
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
4th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
5th Avenue Northwest
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 278; US 431
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Meighan Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto North 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North 6th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
South 6th 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37 miles from Lincoln, AL, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.5 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37 miles or 47m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gadsden, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lincoln, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lincoln, AL
This is one driving day of about 73.9 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lincoln, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Governors Drive Southeast for about 35.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37 miles from Lincoln, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 73.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Washington Street Northwest
Turn left onto Washington Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 431 / Governors Drive Southeast
Turn left onto US 431 / Governors Drive Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
68.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
4th Street Northwest
Turn slight left onto 4th Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
5th Avenue Northwest
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
North 6th Street
Turn right onto North 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.16 one way
$22.32 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.25 | $24.50 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.26 | $26.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.32 | $32.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.35 | $4.73 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Gadsden, AL
Afternoon in Gadsden on Saturday
Local time
12:25 PM
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
1 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
1h 45m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
73.9 mi in 1h 45m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.5 mi on Governors Drive Southeast.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Washington Street Northwest.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Washington Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (US 431 / Governors Drive Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.1 miles (4th Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Gadsden, AL
Full guide →Gadsden is a city in the Appalachian foothills of Alabama.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 73.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.5 miles on Governors Drive Southeast. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Washington Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (US 431 / Governors Drive Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.1 miles (4th Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gadsden, AL before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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