How far is Decatur, AL from Orange Beach, AL?

The driving distance from Decatur, AL to Orange Beach, AL is about 359.5 miles (578.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 299.9 miles (482.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
359.48 mi
06h 58m
Flight
299.88 mi
482.61 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
299.88 mi
Kilometers
482.61 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
359.48 mi
Kilometers
578.52 km
Drive Time
06h 58m

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 06h 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Orange Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 7:57 AM CDT
Return by in Decatur
Sun, Apr 19, 2:55 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Decatur
2026-04-19T00:59
Arrive Orange Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 7:57 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:58 PM to 2:28 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Decatur
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Montgomery
AL

The capital of Alabama.

From Decatur
180 mi
03h 29m
To Orange Beach
179.5 mi
03h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NNW
Destination
76°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Decatur and Orange Beach.

  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

    226.4 mi · 4 hr 7 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 287: Gulf Shores, Parkway, Bay Minette, Rabun

    1397 ft · 39 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Rabun Road

    4.3 mi · 7 min · Rabun Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Bay Minette Bypass

    5.5 mi · 9 min · Bay Minette Bypass

  16. 16

    Continue on Gulf Shores Parkway

    17.4 mi · 22 min · Gulf Shores Parkway

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    11.5 mi · 17 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Foley Beach Express

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Foley Beach Express

  19. 19

    Continue on Foley Beach Expressway

    12.9 mi · 19 min · Foley Beach Expressway

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Canal Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · Canal Road

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Canal Road

    42 m · 3 sec · Canal Road

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto Canal Road

    1133 ft · 24 sec · Canal Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Bay Circle

    789 ft · 35 sec · Bay Circle

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bay Circle

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
24 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Montgomery
227 mi · 63%
I-65 South
67.5 mi · 19%
Gulf Shores Parkway
28.9 mi · 8%
Foley Beach Expressway
12.9 mi · 4%
Bay Minette Bypass
5.46 mi · 2%
Rabun Road
4.35 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Montgomery

Merge slight left

226 mi · 04h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 58m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.6 mi
299.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Montgomery
03h 29m from Decatur
Leave By
10:04 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Decatur and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Orange Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Decatur to Orange Beach?

The road trip is about 359.5 miles (578.5 km) and usually takes 06h 58m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Montgomery is a useful midpoint, sitting about 180 miles from Decatur and 179.5 miles from Orange Beach.

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

The direct path is about 299.9 miles (482.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.6 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.06 one way or $96.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Decatur and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Orange Beach.

Stop Ideas Near Montgomery

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Montgomery, 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 Montgomery.

BUS

Montgomery, AL

5 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
BUS

Selma, AL

68 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Marion, AL

100 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14
BUS

Camden, AL

101 mi away
8 Claiborne Street \r\n8 Claiborne Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Decatur and Orange Beach. Straight-line distance: 299.88 mi (482.61 km).

Decatur

#1 Decatur

The most populous city in Morgan County, Alabama.

Population54,381
Coordinates34.6059300, -86.9833400
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Orange Beach

#2 Orange Beach

City in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States

Population6,343
Coordinates30.2943700, -87.5735900
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Decatur (-86.98334, 34.60593)
End: Orange Beach (-87.57359, 30.29437)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 579 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.69 gal
48.02 L · about $48.06
Round trip
$96.11
25.38 gal · 96.04 L
Estimated CO2
112.8 kg one way
Round trip: 225.6 kg / 497 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $48.06 $96.11
Mid-grade $4.26 $54.05 $108.09
Premium $4.63 $58.69 $117.38
Diesel $5.42 $68.72 $137.43

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Decatur and Orange Beach. The current time is 00:59:12.

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.