How far is Decatur, AL from Selma, AL?

The driving distance from Decatur, AL to Selma, AL is about 168.3 miles (270.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 151.9 miles (244.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 14m 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
168.29 mi
03h 37m
Flight
151.92 mi
244.49 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
151.92 mi
Kilometers
244.49 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.29 mi
Kilometers
270.84 km
Drive Time
03h 37m

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 03h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Selma
Sat, Apr 25, 5:41 AM CDT
Return by in Decatur
Sat, Apr 25, 9:18 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Decatur
2026-04-25T02:04
Arrive Selma
Sat, Apr 25, 5:41 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:37 AM to 11:37 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:46 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
Homewood
AL

City in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

From Decatur
84.3 mi
01h 48m
To Selma
84 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph WSW
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    33.2 mi · 39 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 31, AL 3: Saginaw, Calera, Montevallo

    1183 ft · 29 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right

    12.9 mi · 18 min

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Church Street

    1582 ft · 39 sec · Church Street

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    13.6 mi · 19 min

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 4th Avenue North

    2.7 mi · 4 min · 4th Avenue North

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Foshee Avenue

    1145 ft · 40 sec · Foshee Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left

    28.4 mi · 47 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Alabama Avenue

    121 m · 11 sec · Alabama Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Alabama Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
12.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-65 South
67.5 mi · 40%
Montgomery
33.5 mi · 20%
Church Street
13.9 mi · 8%
Point Mallard Parkway
4.21 mi · 3%
6th Avenue Southeast
2.97 mi · 2%
4th Avenue North
2.75 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I-65 South

Merge slight left

67.1 mi · 01h 12m

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
03h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.4 mi
151.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Homewood
01h 48m from Decatur
Leave By
9:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Decatur and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms near Selma.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 168.3 miles (270.8 km) and usually takes 03h 37m 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?

Homewood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.3 miles from Decatur and 84 miles from Selma.

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

The direct path is about 151.9 miles (244.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.4 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 9:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.49 one way or $44.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Decatur and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms near Selma.

Stop Ideas Near Homewood

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

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

RAIL

Birmingham

5 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Brent, AL

67 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

77 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave
RAIL

Anniston

92 mi away
126 West 4th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Decatur and Selma. Straight-line distance: 151.92 mi (244.49 km).

Decatur

#1 Decatur

The most populous city in Morgan County, Alabama.

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

#2 Selma

City in and county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States

Population16,671
Coordinates32.4073600, -87.0211000
Altitude38
CountryUnited States
Start: Decatur (-86.98334, 34.60593)
End: Selma (-87.0211, 32.40736)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 271 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.94 gal
22.48 L · about $22.49
Round trip
$44.99
11.88 gal · 44.96 L
Estimated CO2
52.8 kg one way
Round trip: 105.6 kg / 233 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $22.49 $44.99
Mid-grade $4.26 $25.30 $50.60
Premium $4.63 $27.47 $54.95
Diesel $5.42 $32.17 $64.33

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Decatur and Selma. The current time is 02:04:22.

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.