How far is Decatur, AL from Fairfield, AL?

The driving distance from Decatur, AL to Fairfield, AL is about 261.9 miles (421.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 232.6 miles (374.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
261.89 mi
05h 12m
Flight
232.57 mi
374.29 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Decatur.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
232.57 mi
Kilometers
374.29 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
261.89 mi
Kilometers
421.47 km
Drive Time
05h 12m

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 05h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fairfield
Sat, Apr 18, 9:21 AM CDT
Return by in Decatur
Sat, Apr 18, 2:33 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Decatur
2026-04-18T04:08
Arrive Fairfield
Sat, Apr 18, 9:21 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:12 AM to 1:12 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Decatur
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Clanton
AL

City in Chilton County, Alabama, United States

From Decatur
131.2 mi
02h 36m
To Fairfield
130.7 mi
02h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
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
Destination
89°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    130 m · 37 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Ferry Street Northeast

    50 m · 9 sec · Ferry Street Northeast

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast

    1583 ft · 53 sec · Lee Street Northeast

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 6th Avenue Northeast

    580 ft · 15 sec · 6th Avenue Northeast

  5. 5

    Continue on 6th Avenue Southeast

    3 mi · 6 min · 6th Avenue Southeast

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Point Mallard Parkway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Point Mallard Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I-65 South: Birmingham

    1944 ft · 47 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    67.1 mi · 1 hr 12 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale

    2715 ft · 38 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis

    2666 ft · 38 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery

    1940 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    150.2 mi · 2 hr 45 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward 106, 55: Georgiana, Starlington

    1607 ft · 47 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  15. 15

    Continue on Crum Foshee Highway

    12.3 mi · 14 min · Crum Foshee Highway

  16. 16

    Turn right onto County Road 82

    1722 ft · 58 sec · County Road 82

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road 107

    62 m · 10 sec · County Road 107

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Ealum Mill Road

    2.3 mi · 6 min · Ealum Mill Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Loango Road

    8.5 mi · 21 min · Loango Road

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Judge Smith Road

    1.9 mi · 5 min · Judge Smith Road

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Judge Smith Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Montgomery
151 mi · 57%
I-65 South
67.5 mi · 26%
Crum Foshee Highway
12.3 mi · 5%
Loango Road
8.46 mi · 3%
Point Mallard Parkway
4.21 mi · 2%
6th Avenue Southeast
2.97 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Montgomery

Merge slight left

150 mi · 02h 45m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.3 mi
232.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clanton
02h 36m from Decatur
Leave By
6:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 261.9 miles (421.5 km) and usually takes 05h 12m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Clanton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 131.2 miles from Decatur and 130.7 miles from Fairfield.

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

The direct path is about 232.6 miles (374.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.99 one way or $69.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Clanton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Clanton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clanton.

BUS

Brent, AL

52 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
BUS

Selma, AL

60 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Montgomery, AL

64 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
BUS

Marion, AL

68 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Decatur and Fairfield. Straight-line distance: 232.57 mi (374.29 km).

Decatur

#1 Decatur

The most populous city in Morgan County, Alabama.

Population54,381
Coordinates34.6059300, -86.9833400
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Fairfield

#2 Fairfield

City in Alabama, United States

Population10,457
Coordinates31.2518400, -86.6455200
Altitude58
CountryUnited States
Start: Decatur (-86.98334, 34.60593)
End: Fairfield (-86.64552, 31.25184)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 421 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.24 gal
34.98 L · about $34.99
Round trip
$69.98
18.48 gal · 69.96 L
Estimated CO2
82.1 kg one way
Round trip: 164.2 kg / 362 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $34.99 $69.98
Mid-grade $4.26 $39.35 $78.71
Premium $4.63 $42.74 $85.47
Diesel $5.42 $50.03 $100.07

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 Decatur and Fairfield. The current time is 04:08:59.

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.