Origin
Loxley, AL
Evening in Loxley on Sunday
Local time
5:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Loxley, AL to Huntsville, AL
Drive Time
6h 27m
Distance
347.7 mi
560 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 15m
★
6 AM
6h 28m
8 AM
6h 52m
10 AM
6h 36m
12 PM
6h 34m
3 PM
6h 38m
5 PM
6h 51m
8 PM
6h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Huntsville, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Spanning 348.6 miles from Loxley to Huntsville, this trip across Alabama takes roughly 5 hours and 17 minutes of driving time. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, you should plan on this being a full-day commitment. You will navigate through local roads like Rabun Road and Washington Street, eventually finishing on I-565 East, so keep your focus sharp for the duration of the journey. Budgeting approximately $47 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the costs ahead. While the trip is manageable in a single day, the winding nature of the roads means you should prioritize comfort and frequent hydration. It is an honest, practical trek through the Southeast that connects the southern reaches of the state to the north.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
173.9 miles from Loxley, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a significantly different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway share for the majority of the trip. The road personality is defined by technical, turn-heavy local segments that require your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches—with the longest segment on Rabun Road measuring 0 miles—you will find yourself navigating constant shifts in direction and terrain. This is not a route for cruising on autopilot; it is a hands-on drive that demands engagement with the local infrastructure. As you transition from the southern landscape toward Huntsville, the road character remains consistently local, keeping the pace steady but deliberate.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 301.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 565. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25.9 miles in near I 65.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 347.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.9 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 327.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 327.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
25.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
327.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 3m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate:...
7
327.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 4m in
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
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsv...
5
346.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 26m in
Take the exit toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Do...
9
347.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 26m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 301.3 mi | 5h 27m |
| I 565 | 18.9 mi | 20m |
| US 31 | 12.5 mi | 17m |
| Hickory Street | 9 mi | 11m |
| Rabun Road | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Jefferson Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Spring Street Southwest | <0.1 mi | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 301.3 mi, about 5h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loxley, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on US 90; AL 59
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Hickory Street
2
Continue on US 31; AL 59
13 mi
·
17 min
·
US 31; AL 59
3
Continue on AL 287
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Rabun Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
5
Merge onto I 65
301 mi
·
5 hr 27 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 340
Toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
8
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
10
Continue on this road
395 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
Exit 19C
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
11
Keep slight right at fork
343 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Street North
13
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
4 ft
·
0 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
14
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 348.6-mile journey, aim for a morning departure to avoid navigating unfamiliar turns after dark. Since you only have one planned stop, use that break strategically to stretch your legs and check your fuel levels, especially given the $47 cost estimate. Stay alert on the local roads where the heavy concentration of turns can lead to driver fatigue faster than a straight highway. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so do not feel pressured to rush through the winding sections. My best advice for this specific route is to keep a physical or offline map handy, as the reliance on local roads like Washington Street and Rabun Road can make navigation trickier than simply following a single interstate sign.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.9 miles from Loxley, AL, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 301.3 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.9 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Huntsville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Loxley, 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 Loxley, AL
This is one driving day of about 347.7 miles and 6h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Loxley, 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 I 65 for about 301.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 173.9 mi from Loxley, AL · 3h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
174 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 173.9 miles from Loxley, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 301.3 miles.
Arriving in Huntsville, AL
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.15 one way
$106.31 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
122 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $58.30 | $116.60 |
| premium | $4.61 | $63.11 | $126.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $77.25 | $154.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.3 | 1 | $36.51 | $16.69 |
| Efficient EV | 86.9 | 0 | $30.42 | $13.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.1 | 1 | $48.68 | $22.25 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Huntsville, AL
Evening in Huntsville on Sunday
Local time
5:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Columbiana, AL
174 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
4 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
6h 27m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Loxley, AL to Huntsville, AL covers 347.7 miles and takes about 6h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, I 565, US 31. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 173.9 miles from Loxley, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.15 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 347.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.9 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 327.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 327.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Loxley, AL to Huntsville, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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