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Trip from Southside, AL to Dothan, AL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 35m

Distance

217.8 mi

350 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 22m ★
6 AM
4h 36m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 45m
12 PM
4h 42m
3 PM
4h 46m
5 PM
5h 1m
8 PM
4h 28m

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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Downtown Southside, AL, AL

Southside, AL

Muhammad Nabeel

Trip Overview

The drive from Southside, AL to Dothan, AL covers 217.8 miles and takes about 4h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 231, Broadway Avenue, Troy Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.5 miles on US 231. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.89 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

108.9 miles from Southside, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 35m. Total distance: 217.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Southside, AL to Dothan, AL covers 217.8 miles and takes about 4h 35m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 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 69.5 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 AL 77.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 35m drive. You will face about 7 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 (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles (AL 21 / Western Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 112.9 miles (US 231; AL 21): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 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 | AL 77

Depart onto AL 77

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
4
34.5 mi into trip | ~48m in | AL 21 / Western Bypass

Turn right onto AL 21 / Western Bypass

Navigation decision point

6
112.9 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in | US 231; AL 21

Turn left onto US 231; AL 21

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
120.5 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in | US 82; US 231 / Troy Highway

Turn left onto US 82; US 231 / Troy Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
3
217.2 mi into trip | ~4h 33m in | West Powell Street

Turn left onto West Powell Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 231 69.5 mi 1h 33m
Broadway Avenue 54.6 mi 1h 2m
Troy Highway 34.7 mi 41m
AL 77 34.5 mi 48m
Western Bypass 22.7 mi 26m
Rockford Highway 1.2 mi 1m
North Saint Andrews Street 0.5 mi 1m
West Powell Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 231 — 69.5 mi, about 1h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Southside, AL and Dothan, AL.

1

Start on AL 77

34 mi · 48 min · AL 77
Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Turn right onto AL 21

23 mi · 26 min · Western Bypass
3

Continue on AL 21

1.2 mi · 1 min · Rockford Highway
4

Continue on US 231; AL 21

55 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Broadway Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn left onto US 231; AL 21

7.6 mi · 11 min · US 231; AL 21
Use the left lane.
6

Turn left onto US 82; US 231

35 mi · 41 min · Troy Highway
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on US 231

7.7 mi · 9 min · US 231
Use the right lane.
8

Continue on US 231; AL 10

0.1 mi · 9 sec · US 231; AL 10
9

Continue on US 231; AL 10

2.0 mi · 3 min · US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
10

Continue on US 231; AL 10

7.6 mi · 10 min · US 231; AL 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on US 231; AL 10

38 mi · 47 min · US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
12

Continue on US 231

6.2 mi · 11 min · US 231
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn left onto West Powell Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · West Powell Street
14

Turn right onto North Saint Andrews Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Saint Andrews Street
15

Turn left onto US 84 Business; AL 52

111 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street
16

Arrive at destination

US 84 Business; AL 52

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 108.9 miles from Southside, AL, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.5 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 48 miles or 1h 4m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.9 miles or 2h 14m 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 42m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Southside, 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 Southside, AL

This is one driving day of about 217.8 miles and 4h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Southside, 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 231 for about 69.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 108.9 mi from Southside, AL · 2h 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montgomery, AL

109 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Montgomery, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.9 miles from Southside, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 231 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.5 miles.

Arriving in Dothan, AL

The final approach into Dothan, 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 Dothan, AL.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Freedom Riders National Monument

Freedom Riders National Monument

National Monument

In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 15
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.89 one way

$65.79 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $36.11 $72.22
premium $4.56 $39.09 $78.19
diesel $5.61 $48.09 $96.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.3 0 $22.87 $10.45
Efficient EV 54.5 0 $19.06 $8.71
EV Truck/SUV 87.1 1 $30.49 $13.94

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Southside, AL

Morning in Southside on Friday

Local time

7:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dothan, AL

Morning in Dothan on Friday

Local time

7:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°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

2 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 35m 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 Southside, AL to Dothan, AL covers 217.8 miles and takes about 4h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 231, Broadway Avenue, Troy Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 108.9 miles from Southside, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.89 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 35m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles (AL 21 / Western Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 112.9 miles (US 231; AL 21): Lane positioning matters here.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Freedom Riders National Monument.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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