Origin
Trussville, AL
Afternoon in Trussville on Saturday
Local time
1:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Trussville, 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
2h 1m
Distance
102.7 mi
165 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 19m
8 PM
1h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trussville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Trussville, AL to Madison, AL covers 102.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 65, I 565, I 59 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.4 miles on I 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.51 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.
Midpoint
51.4 miles from Trussville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 73.4 mi | 1h 18m |
| I 565 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| I 59 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Gadsden Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Vanderbilt Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Decatur Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 73.4 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trussville, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on this road
197 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Linden Street
114 ft
·
7 sec
·
Linden Street
3
Turn right onto CR 94
384 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Chalkville Road
4
Turn right onto US 11
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on US 11
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Gadsden Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Birmingham
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 459
0.3 mi
·
16 sec
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 33A
Toward I 59 South: Birmingham
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 59
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 59
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 128
Toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
324 ft
·
7 sec
Toward AL 79 North: Tallapoosa Street North, Tarrant
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on AL 79
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Tallapoosa Street
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on AL 79
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Vanderbilt Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Cedar Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Cedar Street
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn right onto Erwin Dairy Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Erwin Dairy Road
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Continue on 47th Avenue North
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
47th Avenue North
17
Turn sharp right onto US 31
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Decatur Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 65
73 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
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.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 340A
Toward I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville
22
Merge onto I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
24
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Use the left lane.
25
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sullivan Street
27
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
28
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Church Street
29
Arrive at destination
Church Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.4 miles from Trussville, AL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.4 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 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.4 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
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 Trussville, 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 Trussville, AL
This is one driving day of about 102.7 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Trussville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 73.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.4 miles from Trussville, 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 73.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 100.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 59 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 33A
Toward I 59 South: Birmingham
7
12.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 128
Toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
8
12.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AL 79 North: Tallapoosa Street North, Tarrant
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward AL 79 North: Tallapoosa Street North, Ta...
8
91.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m 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:...
9
100.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.51 one way
$31.02 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $17.03 | $34.05 |
| premium | $4.56 | $18.43 | $36.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.67 | $45.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.78 | $4.93 |
| Efficient EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.99 | $4.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.1 | 0 | $14.38 | $6.57 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Madison, AL
Afternoon in Madison on Saturday
Local time
1:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
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
2h 1m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 14.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
102.7 mi in 2h 1m, mostly highway — 73.4 mi of that is on I 65.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.4 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 565. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 102.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Trussville, AL and Madison, AL, road signs point toward Tarrant and Huntsville.
Tarrant
12.6 mi in
|
~16m
Huntsville
91.2 mi in
|
~1h 46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 102.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.4 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Madison, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Madison, AL before heading back.
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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