Trip from Selma, AL to Madison, AL

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 44m

Distance

178.1 mi

287 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 32m ★

6 AM

3h 45m

8 AM

4h 10m

10 AM

3h 54m

12 PM

3h 51m

3 PM

3h 55m

5 PM

4h 9m

8 PM

3h 37m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Selma, AL

Muhammad Nabeel

Madison, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Selma, AL to Madison, AL covers 178.1 miles and takes about 3h 44m 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 107.9 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.90 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

89.1 miles from Selma, AL

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

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 3h 44m highway drive covering 178.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 65 and Citizens Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 107.9 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 107.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Citizens Parkway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 58.7 miles in near I 65.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 178.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 58.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 166.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

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.

166.5 mi into trip | ~3h 29m 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:...

166.9 mi into trip | ~3h 29m 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...

175.8 mi into trip | ~3h 40m 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

176.1 mi into trip | ~3h 40m 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

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 Selma, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.

Huntsville

166.5 mi in | ~3h 29m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 65	107.9 mi	1h 58m
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
I 565	8.4 mi	9m
AL 22	2.7 mi	3m
Broad Street	1.9 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 65 — 107.9 mi, about 1h 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Alabama Avenue

397 ft · 18 sec · Alabama Avenue

Turn left onto US 80 Business

1.9 mi · 3 min · Broad Street

Continue on AL 22

17 mi · 30 min · Citizens Parkway

Continue on AL 22

9.3 mi · 13 min · Alabama Highway 22

Turn right onto Foshee Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Foshee Avenue

Turn straight onto AL 22

2.7 mi · 3 min · AL 22

Turn left onto AL 191

14 mi · 19 min · AL 191

Turn left onto US 31

13 mi · 18 min · US 31

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Merge onto I 65

108 mi · 1 hr 58 min · I 65

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 340A Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville

Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate

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

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec

Exit 9 Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway

Keep slight left at fork

467 ft · 9 sec

Exit 9 Toward Madison Use the left lane.

Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Wall Triana Highway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on Sullivan Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · Sullivan Street

Turn right onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Main Street

Continue on Church Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Church Street

Arrive at destination

Church Street

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 89.1 miles from Selma, AL, or about 2h 4m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.9 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 89.1 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 6m

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 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 178.1 miles and 3h 44m.

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 107.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89.1 mi from Selma, AL · 2h 4m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbiana, AL

89 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

Columbiana, AL

Fuel and coffee

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

Hoover, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.1 miles from Selma, 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 107.9 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.90 one way

$53.79 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$29.53	$59.05
premium	$4.56	$31.97	$63.93
diesel	$5.61	$39.32	$78.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	53.4	$18.70	$8.55
Efficient EV	44.5	$15.58	$7.12
EV Truck/SUV	71.2	$24.93	$11.40

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Forecast data refreshed 6 hours ago

Origin

Selma, AL

Late night in Selma on Wednesday

Local time

5:27 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Madison, AL

Late night in Madison on Wednesday

Local time

5:27 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

79°F

Columbiana, AL

89 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

2 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 44m 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 Madison, AL covers 178.1 miles and takes about 3h 44m 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 89.1 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 $26.90 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.

On the drive from Selma, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.

Explore maps for Selma, AL or Madison, AL on MapSof.net.

Trip from Selma, AL to Madison, AL

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Madison, AL

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Selma, AL

Madison, AL

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 44m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Madison, AL

More from Selma, AL

More trips to Madison, AL