Drive Time
3h 52m
Distance
210.6 mi
339 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from Livingston, AL to Huntsville, AL covers 210.6 miles and takes about 3h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, I 65, I 565 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 107.3 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.20 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
105.3 miles from Livingston, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
This is a 3h 52m highway drive covering 210.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and I 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 107.3 miles on I 20.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near I 20; I 59.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 210.6 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 4 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 190.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 107.3 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 65 | 78.6 mi | 1h 25m |
| I 565 | 18.9 mi | 20m |
| North Washington Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| AL 28 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Jefferson Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street Southwest | <0.1 mi | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, AL and Huntsville, AL.
Start on US 11; AL 28
Turn right onto US 11; AL 28
Turn left onto AL 28
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
Arrive at destination
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.
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.3 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Huntsville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Livingston, 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 Livingston, AL
This is one driving day of about 210.6 miles and 3h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 105.3 mi from Livingston, AL · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 105.3 miles from Livingston, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.3 miles.
The final approach into Huntsville, 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 Huntsville, AL.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$32.20 one way
$64.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $35.31 | $70.63 |
| premium | $4.61 | $38.22 | $76.45 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.79 | $93.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.11 | $10.11 |
| Efficient EV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.43 | $8.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.2 | 1 | $29.48 | $13.48 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Livingston on Saturday
Local time
8:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Huntsville on Saturday
Local time
8:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
85°F
Hoover, AL
105 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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