Origin
Mount Vernon, AL
Evening in Mount Vernon on Tuesday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Vernon, AL to Madison, AL
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
6h 6m
Distance
294.5 mi
474 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 54m
★
6 AM
6h 6m
8 AM
6h 32m
10 AM
6h 15m
12 PM
6h 13m
3 PM
6h 17m
5 PM
6h 31m
8 PM
5h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Vernon, AL
Michaela Schmidt
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mount Vernon, AL to Madison, AL covers 294.5 miles and takes about 6h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Route 5, I 65, US 43 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.4 miles on State Route 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
147.2 miles from Mount Vernon, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 13m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 6h 6m highway drive covering 294.5 miles, with most of the trip on State Route 5 and I 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 97.4 miles on State Route 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Route 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 97.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 5 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 154.7 miles in near AL 5 / State Route 5.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 294.5 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 154.7 miles (AL 5 / State Route 5): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 282.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
154.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
|
AL 5 / State Route 5
Enter roundabout onto AL 5 / State Route 5
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
282.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 50m 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
283.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 51m 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...
6
292.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 1m in
Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
9
292.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 5 | 97.4 mi | 2h 19m |
| I 65 | 78.6 mi | 1h 25m |
| US 43 | 67.9 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 565 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Jefferson Davis Highway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Broad Street | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| AL 5 | 3 mi | 4m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 5
— 97.4 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Vernon, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on Military Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Military Road
2
Turn right onto US 43
68 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
US 43
3
Turn straight onto AL 5
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
State Route 5
4
Continue on AL 5
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Broad Street
5
Continue on AL 5
21 mi
·
31 min
·
State Route 5
6
Continue on AL 5
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Jefferson Davis Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto AL 5
50 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
State Route 5
8
Enter roundabout onto AL 5
115 ft
·
4 sec
·
State Route 5
9
Continue on AL 5
19 mi
·
26 min
·
State Route 5
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn slight right onto AL 5
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
AL 5
11
Take the ramp
28 mi
·
29 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
149 ft
·
3 sec
Exit 124C
Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
this road
Exit 124B
Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
14
Merge onto I 65
79 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
17
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
19
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Use the left lane.
20
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sullivan Street
22
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
23
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Church Street
24
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Trip Plan
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 147.2 miles from Mount Vernon, AL, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.4 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.2 miles or 3h 13m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Vernon, 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 Mount Vernon, AL
This is one driving day of about 294.5 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mount Vernon, 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 State Route 5 for about 97.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.2 mi from Mount Vernon, AL · 3h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 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 147.2 miles from Mount Vernon, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before State Route 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.4 miles.
Arriving in Madison, AL
The final approach into Madison, 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 Madison, 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
$44.48 one way
$88.95 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $48.82 | $97.65 |
| premium | $4.56 | $52.86 | $105.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.02 | $130.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.4 | 1 | $30.92 | $14.14 |
| Efficient EV | 73.6 | 0 | $25.77 | $11.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.8 | 1 | $41.23 | $18.85 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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
Madison, AL
Evening in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
7:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SSW 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
76°F
Hoover, AL
147 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 6m 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 Mount Vernon, AL to Madison, AL covers 294.5 miles and takes about 6h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 5, I 65, US 43. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.2 miles from Mount Vernon, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.48 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 is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 294.5 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 154.7 miles (AL 5 / State Route 5): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 282.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Mount Vernon, AL to Madison, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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