How far is Chelsea, AL from Decatur, AL?

The driving distance from Chelsea, AL to Decatur, AL is about 25.5 miles (41.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22 miles (35.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
25.51 mi
00h 28m
Flight
22.02 mi
35.43 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chelsea.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.02 mi
Kilometers
35.43 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
25.51 mi
Kilometers
41.06 km
Drive Time
00h 28m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Decatur
Sat, Apr 18, 8:50 AM CDT
Return by in Chelsea
Sat, Apr 18, 9:19 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chelsea
2026-04-18T08:21
Arrive Decatur
Sat, Apr 18, 8:50 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:29 AM to 7:29 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Chelsea
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Madison
AL

The most populous city in Madison County, Alabama.

From Chelsea
12.7 mi
00h 14m
To Decatur
12.8 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
86°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chelsea and Decatur.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chelsea and Decatur.

  1. 1

    Start on Triana Boulevard Southwest

    2730 ft · 1 min · Triana Boulevard Southwest

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Drake Avenue Southwest

    1.6 km · 2 min · Drake Avenue Southwest

  3. 3

    Turn slight right

    53 m · 8 sec

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Patton Road Southwest

    1.6 km · 2 min · Patton Road Southwest

  5. 5

    Continue on Jordan Lane Southwest

    2662 ft · 1 min · Jordan Lane Southwest

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left

    1510 ft · 38 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    16.3 mi · 18 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    624 ft · 9 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Huntsville-Decatur Highway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Huntsville-Decatur Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Bee Line Highway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Bee Line Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on 6th Avenue Northeast

    1980 ft · 50 sec · 6th Avenue Northeast

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Lee Street Northeast

    1040 ft · 32 sec · Lee Street Northeast

  13. 13

    Turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chelsea and Decatur.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
54.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Jordan Lane Southwest
17.2 mi · 68%
Huntsville-Decatur Highway
3.52 mi · 14%
Bee Line Highway
1.62 mi · 6%
Drake Avenue Southwest
1 mi · 4%
Patton Road Southwest
0.98 mi · 4%
Triana Boulevard Southwest
0.52 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Jordan Lane Southwest

Merge slight left

16.3 mi · 00h 18m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 28m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.5 mi
22 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Madison
00h 14m from Chelsea
Leave By
7:32 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Chelsea and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Decatur.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chelsea to Decatur?

The road trip is about 25.5 miles (41.1 km) and usually takes 00h 28m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Madison is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.7 miles from Chelsea and 12.8 miles from Decatur.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 22 miles (35.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.41 one way or $6.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Chelsea and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Decatur.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chelsea and Decatur. Straight-line distance: 22.02 mi (35.43 km).

Chelsea

#1 Chelsea

City in Madison County, Alabama, United States

Population14,608
Coordinates34.6906500, -86.6099900
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Decatur

#2 Decatur

The most populous city in Morgan County, Alabama.

Population54,381
Coordinates34.6059300, -86.9833400
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Start: Triana Boulevard Southwest (-86.609778, 34.690646)
End: (-86.983514, 34.605804)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 41 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.9 gal
3.41 L · about $3.41
Round trip
$6.82
1.8 gal · 6.82 L
Estimated CO2
8 kg one way
Round trip: 16 kg / 35 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $3.41 $6.82
Mid-grade $4.26 $3.83 $7.67
Premium $4.63 $4.16 $8.33
Diesel $5.42 $4.87 $9.75

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Alabama · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Chelsea and Decatur. The current time is 08:21:26.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.