Origin
Selma, AL
Morning in Selma on Wednesday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Selma, AL to Decatur, AL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
168.2 mi
271 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 24m
★
6 AM
3h 37m
8 AM
4h 1m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 43m
3 PM
3h 47m
5 PM
4h 0m
8 PM
3h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Selma, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Decatur, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Selma, AL to Decatur, AL covers 168.2 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, Citizens Parkway, AL 191 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.4 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.40 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.1 miles from Selma, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 36m highway drive covering 168.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and Citizens Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 101.4 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 17 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 101.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Citizens Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 80 Business / Broad Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 36m 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 0.1 miles (US 80 Business / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 160.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 80 Business / Broad Street
Turn left onto US 80 Business / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
160.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 334
Toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
5
164.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
|
US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
168 mi into trip
|
~3h 35m in
|
Lee Street Northeast
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 101.4 mi | 1h 51m |
| Citizens Parkway | 17.2 mi | 30m |
| AL 191 | 13.9 mi | 19m |
| US 31 | 13.1 mi | 18m |
| Alabama Highway 22 | 9.3 mi | 13m |
| Point Mallard Parkway Southeast | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| 6th Avenue Southeast | 3 mi | 5m |
| AL 22 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 101.4 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Selma, AL and Decatur, AL.
1
Start on Alabama Avenue
397 ft
·
18 sec
·
Alabama Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 80 Business
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Broad Street
3
Continue on AL 22
17 mi
·
30 min
·
Citizens Parkway
4
Continue on AL 22
9.3 mi
·
13 min
·
Alabama Highway 22
5
Turn right onto Foshee Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Foshee Avenue
6
Turn straight onto AL 22
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
AL 22
7
Turn left onto AL 191
14 mi
·
19 min
·
AL 191
8
Turn left onto US 31
13 mi
·
18 min
·
US 31
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
10
Merge onto I 65
101 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 334
Toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville
12
Turn left onto AL 67
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 31
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
6th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 31
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Lee Street Northeast
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right
82 ft
·
6 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 84.1 miles from Selma, AL, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.4 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.1 miles or 1h 58m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Selma, 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 Selma, AL
This is one driving day of about 168.2 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Selma, 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 101.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.1 mi from Selma, AL · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 84.1 miles from Selma, 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 101.4 miles.
Arriving in Decatur, AL
The final approach into Decatur, 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 Decatur, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.40 one way
$50.80 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $27.89 | $55.77 |
| premium | $4.56 | $30.19 | $60.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.14 | $74.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.5 | 0 | $17.66 | $8.07 |
| Efficient EV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.72 | $6.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.3 | 0 | $23.55 | $10.76 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Decatur, AL
Morning in Decatur on Wednesday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Columbiana, AL
84 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 36m 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 Selma, AL to Decatur, AL covers 168.2 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Citizens Parkway, AL 191. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.1 miles from Selma, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.40 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 36m 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 0.1 miles (US 80 Business / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 160.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Selma, AL to Decatur, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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