Origin
Madison, AL
Afternoon in Madison on Friday
Local time
4:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, AL to Stewartville, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
143.9 mi
232 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Stewartville, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Trip Overview
Madison, AL to Stewartville, AL is 143.9 miles and takes about 2h 53m via I 65, US 280, and I 565, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily within Alabama, making it a straightforward journey. Given its relatively short duration and focus on major highways, this route is ideal for a single-day trip. You'll find it offers a practical way to cover the distance efficiently, with most of your travel on interstates. Consider this trip when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
71.9 miles from Madison, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 143.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 65, US 280, and I 565. You'll experience long stretches of consistent travel, including the longest segment of 77.6 miles on I 65. Expect a predominantly interstate feel, allowing for steady progress and minimal slowdowns. The character of the drive is one of efficiency, designed for covering ground quickly rather than exploring local byways. It's a route where the journey itself is largely about the transit between your starting and ending points.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 77.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and US 280. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Sullivan Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 143.9 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 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 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.
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
8
85.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
8
91.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
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 126A
Toward US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downt...
8
92 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Madison, AL and Stewartville, AL, road signs point toward Nashville, Fultondale, Montgomery, Gadsden, Downtown and Zoo Gardens.
Nashville
10.6 mi in
|
~13m
Fultondale
85.3 mi in
|
~1h 34m
Montgomery
86.3 mi in
|
~1h 35m
Gadsden
90.6 mi in
|
~1h 41m
Downtown
91.8 mi in
|
~1h 43m
Zoo Gardens
95 mi in
|
~1h 48m
|
via US 280
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 77.6 mi | 1h 23m |
| US 280 | 44.1 mi | 58m |
| I 565 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| Broadway Avenue | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Red Mountain Expressway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I 20 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 77.6 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, AL and Stewartville, 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
74 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 65
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 261B
Toward I 20 East, I 59 North: Atlanta, Gadsden
16
Merge onto I 20; I 59
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20; I 59
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 126A
Toward US 31, US 280: Carraway Boulevard, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 31 South, US 280 East
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto US 31; US 280
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Mountain Expressway
20
Take the exit onto US 280
18 mi
·
24 min
·
US 280
Toward US 280 East: Sylacauga, Zoo Gardens
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto US 280
26 mi
·
34 min
·
US 280
22
Take the exit onto US 231
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
US 231
23
Merge onto US 231; AL 21
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Rockford Highway
24
Continue on US 231; AL 21
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Broadway Avenue
25
Turn left onto County Road 41
172 ft
·
4 sec
·
County Road 41
26
Arrive at destination
County Road 41
Trip Plan
With a drive time under three hours, this trip offers flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps in the morning to maximize your day at your destination. Pacing is easy here; the longest stretch without a major break is manageable at 77.6 miles on I 65. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that long interstate segment, as services can sometimes be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $22 is a good baseline, but always factor in potential price variations. Given the straightforward nature of this drive, you won't need to worry about complex navigation or extensive rest stops.
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 71.9 miles from Madison, AL, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.6 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.9 miles or 1h 20m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stewartville, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, AL
This is one driving day of about 143.9 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Madison, 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 77.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.9 mi from Madison, AL · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.9 miles from Madison, 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 77.6 miles.
Arriving in Stewartville, AL
The final approach into Stewartville, 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 Stewartville, AL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.73 one way
$43.46 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $23.86 | $47.71 |
| premium | $4.56 | $25.83 | $51.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.77 | $63.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.2 | 0 | $15.11 | $6.91 |
| Efficient EV | 36 | 0 | $12.59 | $5.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.6 | 0 | $20.15 | $9.21 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Stewartville, AL
Afternoon in Stewartville on Friday
Local time
4:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Birmingham, AL
72 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
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
2h 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 Stewartville, AL covers 143.9 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, US 280, I 565. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.9 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 $21.73 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 20 significant decision points across 143.9 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: at 0.6 miles (Sullivan Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Madison, AL and Stewartville, AL, road signs point toward Nashville, Fultondale, Montgomery, Gadsden, Downtown and Zoo Gardens.
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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