Origin
Smoke Rise, AL
Morning in Smoke Rise on Saturday
Local time
10:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smoke Rise, 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 24m
Distance
67 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smoke Rise, AL
Marino Kurunić
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Smoke Rise to Madison is 67 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via Heroes Highway and I 565, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns, characteristic of local travel rather than a long interstate journey. With only one day recommended and minimal stops, this route is ideal for a quick, straightforward transit between these two locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 67 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route leans towards a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter more frequent directional changes than on a typical highway. Approximately 13% of this journey is on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 51.7 miles on Heroes Highway. As you progress, the road will likely transition between these main arteries and more local thoroughfares, offering a varied driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Heroes Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 51.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Crosshill Lane.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67 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: near the start (Crosshill Lane): Navigation decision point; at 55.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Crosshill Lane
Turn left onto Crosshill Lane
Navigation decision point
8
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
64.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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 Smoke Rise, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.
Huntsville
55.5 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Heroes Highway | 51.7 mi | 55m |
| I 565 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Valley Trail | 2.7 mi | 10m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Crosshill Lane | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Wall Triana Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Heroes Highway
— 51.7 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smoke Rise, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on this road
157 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Crosshill Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Crosshill Lane
3
Turn right onto Scenic Trail
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Scenic Trail
4
Turn right onto Valley Trail
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Valley Trail
5
Continue on Valley Trail
1.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Valley Trail
6
Turn left onto US 31
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Bee Line Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
8
Merge onto I 65
52 mi
·
55 min
·
Heroes Highway
9
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.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
11
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Use the left lane.
14
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sullivan Street
16
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
17
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Church Street
18
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.5 mi from Smoke Rise, AL · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.5 miles from Smoke Rise, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.12 one way
$20.24 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.11 | $22.22 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.03 | $24.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.79 | $29.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.22 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.86 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.38 | $4.29 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Madison, AL
Morning in Madison on Saturday
Local time
10:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 24m 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 Smoke Rise, AL to Madison, AL covers 67 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Heroes Highway, I 565, Valley Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.5 miles from Smoke Rise, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.12 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 67 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Crosshill Lane): Navigation decision point; at 55.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Smoke Rise, AL to Madison, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Huntsville along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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