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Trip from Orange Beach, AL to Madison, AL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

7h 4m

Distance

369.2 mi

594 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$56

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
6h 54m ★
6 AM
7h 5m
8 AM
7h 27m
10 AM
7h 13m
12 PM
7h 10m
3 PM
7h 14m
5 PM
7h 26m
8 PM
6h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States

Orange Beach, AL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Alabama, United States

Madison, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Orange Beach, AL to Madison, AL covers 369.2 miles and takes about 7h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 65, AL 59, Foley Beach Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 301.3 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.76 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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

184.6 miles from Orange Beach, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 41m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 4m. Total distance: 369.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

This is a 7h 4m highway drive covering 369.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and AL 59. The longest continuous stretch is about 301.3 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 20 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 AL 59. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Canal Road.

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 369.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.4 miles (Canal Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 357.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 357.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | Canal Road

Enter roundabout onto Canal Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

8
357.6 mi into trip | ~6h 49m 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
357.9 mi into trip | ~6h 49m 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
366.9 mi into trip | ~7h 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
367.1 mi into trip | ~7h 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
I 65 301.3 mi 5h 27m
AL 59 34.4 mi 49m
Foley Beach Expressway 13.9 mi 19m
I 565 8.4 mi 9m
Rabun Road 4.2 mi 6m
Canal Road 3.4 mi 5m
Sullivan Street 1.1 mi 2m
Church Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 65 — 301.3 mi, about 5h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Orange Beach, AL and Madison, AL.

1

Start on Bay Circle

0.1 mi · 36 sec · Bay Circle
2

At end of road, turn right onto Canal Road

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Canal Road
3

Enter roundabout onto Canal Road

125 ft · 2 sec · Canal Road
4

Continue on Canal Road

3.2 mi · 5 min · Canal Road
5

Turn right onto AL 161

14 mi · 19 min · Foley Beach Expressway
6

Turn slight right

515 ft · 8 sec
7

Turn straight onto AL 59

34 mi · 49 min · AL 59
8

Continue on AL 287

4.2 mi · 6 min · Rabun Road
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
10

Merge onto I 65

301 mi · 5 hr 27 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

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.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 340A Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
13

Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate

8.4 mi · 9 min · I 565; US 72 Alternate
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Exit 9 Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
15

Keep slight left at fork

467 ft · 9 sec
Exit 9 Toward Madison Use the left lane.
16

Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
17

Continue on Sullivan Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · Sullivan Street
18

Turn right onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Main Street
19

Continue on Church Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Church Street
20

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.6 miles from Orange Beach, AL, or about 3h 41m 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 81 miles or 1h 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 184.6 miles or 3h 41m 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 56m

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 Orange Beach, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Orange Beach, AL

This is one driving day of about 369.2 miles and 7h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Orange Beach, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 184.6 mi from Orange Beach, AL · 3h 41m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montgomery, AL

185 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.

Popular next leg

Montgomery, AL to Madison, AL

181 mi · 3h 22m

Pacing Suggestions

Brewton, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Clanton, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 184.6 miles from Orange Beach, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 301.3 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.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

National Monument

In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...

2 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 280.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$55.76 one way

$111.52 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 129 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $61.21 $122.42
premium $4.56 $66.27 $132.53
diesel $5.61 $81.51 $163.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$56

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$81–$106

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 129.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 110.8 1 $38.77 $17.72
Efficient EV 92.3 1 $32.31 $14.77
EV Truck/SUV 147.7 1 $51.69 $23.63

Gas CO2

129 kg

EV CO2

43 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Orange Beach, AL

Afternoon in Orange Beach on Thursday

Local time

1:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Madison, AL

Afternoon in Madison on Thursday

Local time

1:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

7h 4m 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 Orange Beach, AL to Madison, AL covers 369.2 miles and takes about 7h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, AL 59, Foley Beach Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 184.6 miles from Orange Beach, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.76 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 369.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.4 miles (Canal Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 357.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 357.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Orange Beach, AL to Madison, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

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