Origin
Tuscumbia, AL
Late night in Tuscumbia on Wednesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscumbia, AL to Madison, AL
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscumbia, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Madison, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tuscumbia, AL to Madison, AL covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Joe Wheeler Highway, I 565, US 72 Alternate for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.2 miles on Joe Wheeler Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.11 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
30.1 miles from Tuscumbia, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 60.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Joe Wheeler Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.2 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 South Dickson Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 60.3 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: near the start (South Dickson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.3 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Dickson Street
Turn right onto South Dickson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
5
44.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
58.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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.
Between Tuscumbia, AL and Madison, AL, road signs point toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park and Huntsville.
Decatur
7.1 mi in
|
~10m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Joe Wheeler State Park
7.1 mi in
|
~10m
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Huntsville
46.1 mi in
|
~1h
|
via US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wheeler Highway | 20.2 mi | 24m |
| I 565 | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| US 72 Alternate | 8.6 mi | 12m |
| Wheeler Highway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| East Lee Highway | 6 mi | 7m |
| Huntsville-Decatur Highway | 3 mi | 3m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Sullivan Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Joe Wheeler Highway
— 20.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscumbia, AL and Madison, AL.
1
Start on East 6th Street
107 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 6th Street
2
Turn right onto South Dickson Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Dickson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on South Woodmont Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Woodmont Drive
4
Turn left onto US 72
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Lee Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Wheeler Highway
Toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Joe Wheeler Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
US 72 Alternate; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Huntsville-Decatur Highway
Toward Huntsville
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on I 565; US 72 Alternate
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway
12
Keep slight left at fork
467 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 9
Toward Madison
Use the left lane.
13
Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Wall Triana Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on Sullivan Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Sullivan Street
15
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
16
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Church Street
17
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 30.1 miles from Tuscumbia, AL, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.2 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 60.3 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.1 miles or 37m 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 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 Tuscumbia, 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 Tuscumbia, AL
This is one driving day of about 60.3 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tuscumbia, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Joe Wheeler Highway for about 20.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.1 mi from Tuscumbia, AL · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 60.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.1 miles from Tuscumbia, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Madison, AL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.11 one way
$18.21 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.00 | $19.99 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.82 | $21.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.31 | $26.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Late night in Madison on Wednesday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph
2% chance
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
18 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
1h 18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Tuscumbia, AL to Madison, AL covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Joe Wheeler Highway, I 565, US 72 Alternate. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.1 miles from Tuscumbia, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.11 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 is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 60.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Dickson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / Wheeler Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.3 miles (US 31; US 72 Alternate; AL 20 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tuscumbia, AL and Madison, AL, road signs point toward Decatur, Joe Wheeler State Park and Huntsville.
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