Trip from Riverside, AL to Madison, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 30m

Distance

63.5 mi

102 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

38 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 24m ★

6 AM

1h 31m

8 AM

1h 45m

10 AM

1h 36m

12 PM

1h 34m

3 PM

1h 36m

5 PM

1h 44m

8 PM

1h 27m

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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Riverside, AL

🇻🇳🇻🇳 Việt Anh Nguyễn 🇻🇳🇻🇳

Madison, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Riverside, AL to Madison, AL covers 63.5 miles and takes about 1h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 231, AL 79, I 565 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.8 miles on US 231. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.59 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

31.7 miles from Riverside, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 231	40.8 mi	54m
AL 79	6.4 mi	11m
I 565	3.3 mi	3m
CR 26	3 mi	4m
Madison Boulevard	2.5 mi	3m
US 278	2.5 mi	3m
Governors Drive Southwest	1.7 mi	3m
Hughes Road	1.3 mi	2m

Longest stretch: US 231 — 40.8 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on CR 26

3.0 mi · 4 min · CR 26

Turn sharp right onto AL 79

6.4 mi · 11 min · AL 79

Turn left onto US 278

2.5 mi · 3 min · US 278

Turn right onto US 231

41 mi · 54 min · US 231

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

284 ft · 6 sec

Toward Governors Drive

Continue on Memorial Parkway Southwest

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Memorial Parkway Southwest

Toward Governors Drive Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto AL 53

1.7 mi · 3 min · Governors Drive Southwest

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward I-565 West: Decatur

Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate

3.3 mi · 3 min · I 565; US 72 Alternate

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 13 Toward Madison Boulevard

Continue on Madison Boulevard

2.5 mi · 3 min · Madison Boulevard

Turn right onto Hughes Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Hughes Road

Turn left onto Mill Road

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Mill Road

Turn left onto Church Street

70 ft · 1 sec · Church Street

Arrive at destination

Church Street

Trip Plan

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 31.7 miles from Riverside, AL, or about 46m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.8 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 14 miles or 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31.7 miles or 46m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 16m

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 Riverside, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Riverside, AL

This is one driving day of about 63.5 miles and 1h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Riverside, AL.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on US 231 for about 40.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Arab, AL

32 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

Arab, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arab, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.7 miles from Riverside, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Amerigo Italian Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Huntsville, Alabama

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 49.9

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12565852808

Visit website

Panda III Chinese Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Arab, Alabama

1.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Madison, Alabama

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 63.5

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+12564891223

Visit website

Four Knights Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Arab, Alabama

0.4 mi

Amerigo Italian Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 49.9

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12565852808

Visit website

Panda III Chinese Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 22.7

Arab, Alabama

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12569312129

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 63.5

Madison, Alabama

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+12564891223

Visit website

Four Knights Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 22.7

Arab, Alabama

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+12566408333

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 54.4

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 63.5

Madison, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 59

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 54.4

Huntsville, Alabama

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18008430468

Spring Valley Beach

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 4.5

Blountsville, Alabama

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+12058004474

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 9.4 and 58.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9.4 mi into trip | ~16m in | US 278

Turn left onto US 278

Navigation decision point

11.9 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 231

Turn right onto US 231

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

52.7 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in

Take the exit toward Governors Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward Governors Drive

53.2 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | AL 53 / Governors Drive Southwest

Turn left onto AL 53 / Governors Drive Southwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

58.6 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in

Take the exit toward Madison Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 13 Toward Madison Boulevard

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.59 one way

$19.18 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$10.53	$21.06
premium	$4.56	$11.40	$22.80
diesel	$5.61	$14.02	$28.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

38 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

ChargePoint Charging Station

Madison, Alabama

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Huntsville, Alabama

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Huntsville, Alabama

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Huntsville, Alabama

Blink

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Huntsville, Alabama

Blink

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Madison, Alabama

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Madison, Alabama

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Huntsville, AL

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 18 Blink: 8 Other: 7 Tesla: 2 EV Connect: 2 Tesla Destination: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	19.1	$6.67	$3.05
Efficient EV	15.9	$5.56	$2.54
EV Truck/SUV	25.4	$8.89	$4.06

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Riverside, AL

Afternoon in Riverside on Saturday

Local time

2:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Madison, AL

Afternoon in Madison on Saturday

Local time

2:03 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

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

1h 30m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 1h 30m highway drive covering 63.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 231 and AL 79. The longest continuous stretch is about 40.8 miles on US 231.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 231 is the longest continuous segment at about 40.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 231 and AL 79. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in near US 278.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles (US 278): Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles (US 231): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 63.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Riverside, AL to Madison, AL covers 63.5 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 231, AL 79, 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 31.7 miles from Riverside, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.59 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 is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles (US 278): Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles (US 231): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

The route from Riverside, AL to Madison, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Riverside, AL or browse trips ending in Madison, AL.

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Trip from Riverside, AL to Madison, AL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Amerigo Italian Restaurant

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

Amerigo Italian Restaurant

Panda III Chinese Restaurant

Just Love Coffee Cafe - Madison, AL

Four Knights Coffee

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Clipper Creek Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Dublin Park

Kids Kingdom

Lucky Duck Scavenger Hunt

Spring Valley Beach

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Riverside, AL

Madison, AL

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 30m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Riverside, AL to Madison, AL?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Riverside, AL to Madison, AL?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Riverside, AL to Madison, AL?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Madison, AL

More from Riverside, AL

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