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Trip from Scottsboro, AL to Auburn, AL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

4h 3m

Distance

192 mi

309 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 50m ★
6 AM
4h 3m
8 AM
4h 29m
10 AM
4h 12m
12 PM
4h 10m
3 PM
4h 13m
5 PM
4h 28m
8 PM
3h 55m

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

Downtown Scottsboro, AL, AL

Scottsboro, AL

Kelly

Downtown Auburn, AL, AL

Auburn, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 192-mile drive from Scottsboro, AL to Auburn, AL takes approximately 4 hours and 3 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily travel on US 280 and I-59, with about half of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is $29. This trip stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for a single day without the need for an overnight stay.

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

96 miles from Scottsboro, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a 49% highway share. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced interstate driving mixed with more local road conditions. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 57.3 miles on US 280, so be prepared for a significant segment without frequent exits. The character of the road shifts between efficient highway travel and more varied, potentially slower, sections as you progress toward Auburn.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 280 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Broad Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AL 35 / East Willow Street): Navigation decision point; at 27 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Broad Street

Turn left onto South Broad Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | AL 35 / East Willow Street

Turn right onto AL 35 / East Willow Street

Navigation decision point

4
27 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

6
64.3 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Take the exit toward AL 77: Attalla, Rainbow City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 181 Toward AL 77: Attalla, Rainbow City
5
187.2 mi into trip | ~3h 55m in | AL 147 / North College Street

Turn right onto AL 147 / North College Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

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 Scottsboro, AL to Auburn, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Rainbow City along the way.

Rainbow City

64.3 mi in | ~1h 17m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 280 57.3 mi 1h 8m
West Grand Avenue 40.9 mi 59m
I 59 37.1 mi 39m
Western Bypass 22.7 mi 26m
Veterans Drive 13.5 mi 18m
West Main Street 8.9 mi 12m
North College Street 4.7 mi 7m
Love Road 3.7 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 280 — 57.3 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Scottsboro, AL and Auburn, AL.

1

Start on this road

98 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto South Broad Street

408 ft · 19 sec · South Broad Street
3

Turn right onto AL 35

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Willow Street
4

Turn right onto AL 35; AL 279

299 ft · 8 sec · Bynum Street
5

Continue on AL 35; AL 279

14 mi · 18 min · Veterans Drive
6

Continue on AL 35

8.9 mi · 12 min · West Main Street
7

Continue on AL 35

3.7 mi · 4 min · Love Road
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
9

Merge onto I 59

37 mi · 39 min · I 59
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 181 Toward AL 77: Attalla, Rainbow City
11

Turn right onto AL 77

0.5 mi · 1 min · Gilbert Ferry Road Southeast
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on AL 77

41 mi · 59 min · West Grand Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn right onto AL 21

23 mi · 26 min · Western Bypass
14

Continue on AL 21

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rockford Highway
15

Turn left

0.2 mi · 34 sec
16

Merge onto US 280

57 mi · 1 hr 8 min · US 280
17

Turn right onto AL 147

0.7 mi · 1 min · North College Street
Use the right lane.
18

Enter roundabout onto AL 147

77 ft · 1 sec · North College Street
19

Continue on AL 147

4.0 mi · 6 min · North College Street
20

Turn left

291 ft · 21 sec
21

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour duration, departing in the morning from Scottsboro will allow you to reach Auburn with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 57.3 miles, you can easily manage your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on US 280, as services might be more spaced out in certain areas. The $29 fuel cost is a reasonable budget for this trip. Plan for potential traffic as you approach larger towns along US 280.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 96 miles from Scottsboro, AL, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.3 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 80 miles or 1h 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 96 miles or 2h 4m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, AL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Scottsboro, 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 Scottsboro, AL

This is one driving day of about 192 miles and 4h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Scottsboro, 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 US 280 for about 57.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 96 mi from Scottsboro, AL · 2h 4m into the drive

city in Alabama, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oneonta, AL

96 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

Oneonta, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oneonta, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 96 miles from Scottsboro, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Auburn, AL

The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, 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

$29.00 one way

$57.99 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 67 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $31.83 $63.66
premium $4.56 $34.46 $68.92
diesel $5.61 $42.39 $84.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 57.6 0 $20.16 $9.22
Efficient EV 48 0 $16.80 $7.68
EV Truck/SUV 76.8 0 $26.88 $12.29

Gas CO2

67 kg

EV CO2

22 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 8 hours ago

Origin

Scottsboro, AL

Morning in Scottsboro on Wednesday

Local time

7:17 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Auburn, AL

Morning in Auburn on Wednesday

Local time

7:17 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Oneonta, AL

96 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

4h 3m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Scottsboro, AL to Auburn, AL covers 192 miles and takes about 4h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 280, West Grand Avenue, I 59. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96 miles from Scottsboro, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AL 35 / East Willow Street): Navigation decision point; at 27 miles: Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Scottsboro, AL to Auburn, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Rainbow City along the way.

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