Origin
Madison, AL
Late night in Madison on Friday
Local time
12:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, AL to Cullman, AL
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
53m
Distance
45.8 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Cullman, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Madison, AL to Cullman, AL covers 45.8 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, I 565, US 278 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 45.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 53m highway drive covering 45.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and I 565. The longest continuous stretch is about 32 miles on I 65.
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 32 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Sullivan Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Sullivan Street
Turn sharp left onto Sullivan Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
10.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
8
10.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
6
43.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward 278: Cullman, Double Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 308
Toward 278: Cullman, Double Springs
6
45.8 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
US 31; AL 69 / 2nd Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto US 31; AL 69 / 2nd Avenue Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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 Madison, AL to Cullman, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.
Nashville
10.6 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 32 mi | 34m |
| I 565 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| US 278 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Wall Triana Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 32 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Cullman, AL.
1
Start on Church Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Church Street
2
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
3
Continue on Main Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn sharp left onto Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sullivan Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on Wall Triana Highway
454 ft
·
11 sec
·
Wall Triana Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward 565: Decatur
7
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alt
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alt
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 1
Toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 65
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 65
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 308
Toward 278: Cullman, Double Springs
12
Turn left onto US 278
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 278
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 31; AL 69
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
US 31; AL 69
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.9 mi from Madison, AL · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Madison, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cullman, AL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Cullman, AL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.92 one way
$13.83 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.59 | $15.19 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.22 | $16.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.11 | $20.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Cullman, AL
Late night in Cullman on Friday
Local time
12:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
53m 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 Madison, AL to Cullman, AL covers 45.8 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, I 565, US 278. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.9 miles from Madison, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.92 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Madison, AL to Cullman, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.
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