How far is East Florence, AL from Gulf Shores, AL?

The driving distance from East Florence, AL to Gulf Shores, AL is about 391.2 miles (629.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 315.3 miles (507.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 17m 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
391.24 mi
07h 38m
Flight
315.32 mi
507.46 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from East Florence.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
315.32 mi
Kilometers
507.46 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
391.24 mi
Kilometers
629.64 km
Drive Time
07h 38m

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 07h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gulf Shores
Wed, Apr 29, 9:36 PM CDT
Return by in East Florence
Thu, Apr 30, 5:15 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave East Florence
2026-04-29T13:57
Arrive Gulf Shores
Wed, Apr 29, 9:36 PM CDT
Route Timing
07h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:39 PM to 3:09 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
8:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in East Florence
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
Millbrook
AL

City in Autauga and Elmore counties, Alabama, United States of America

From East Florence
195.9 mi
03h 49m
To Gulf Shores
195.4 mi
03h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph WNW
Destination
Gulf Shores Weather
AL
Live fallback forecast
79°F
Wednesday
Using Orange Beach as the closest live forecast in the Baldwin County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between East Florence and Gulf Shores.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Florence and Gulf Shores.

  1. 1

    Start on Midway Street

    18 m · 3 sec · Midway Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Huntsville Road

    2340 ft · 1 min · Huntsville Road

  3. 3

    Turn left

    7.9 mi · 11 min

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Wheeler Highway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Wheeler Highway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on University of North Alabama Highway

    55.1 mi · 1 hr 6 min · University of North Alabama Highway

  6. 6

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

    1557 ft · 38 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Heroes Highway

    43.8 mi · 47 min · Heroes Highway

  8. 8

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

    2715 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis

    2666 ft · 38 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery

    1940 ft · 28 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    226.4 mi · 4 hr 7 min

  12. 12

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

    1397 ft · 39 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Rabun Road

    4.3 mi · 7 min · Rabun Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Bay Minette Bypass

    5.5 mi · 9 min · Bay Minette Bypass

  15. 15

    Continue on Gulf Shores Parkway

    17.4 mi · 22 min · Gulf Shores Parkway

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    16.5 mi · 27 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on South McKenzie Street

    3.1 mi · 4 min · South McKenzie Street

  18. 18

    Continue on State Hwy 59

    1.5 mi · 2 min · State Hwy 59

  19. 19

    Continue on Gulf Shores Parkway

    4.4 mi · 8 min · Gulf Shores Parkway

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West Beach Boulevard

    1.1 km · 2 min · West Beach Boulevard

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Beach Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between East Florence and Gulf Shores.

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
21 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Montgomery
227 mi · 58%
University of North Alabama Highway
55.1 mi · 14%
Heroes Highway
43.8 mi · 11%
Gulf Shores Parkway
38.3 mi · 10%
Bay Minette Bypass
5.46 mi · 1%
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
07h 38m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+75.9 mi
315.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Millbrook
03h 49m from East Florence
Leave By
8:42 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy leaving East Florence and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Gulf Shores.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from East Florence to Gulf Shores?

The road trip is about 391.2 miles (629.6 km) and usually takes 07h 38m 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?

Millbrook is a useful midpoint, sitting about 195.9 miles from East Florence and 195.4 miles from Gulf Shores.

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

The direct path is about 315.3 miles (507.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 75.9 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 $52.30 one way or $104.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 122.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy around East Florence and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Gulf Shores.

Stop Ideas Near Millbrook

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

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

BUS

Montgomery, AL

17 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
BUS

Selma, AL

62 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Marion, AL

91 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14
BUS

Brent, AL

93 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between East Florence and Gulf Shores. Straight-line distance: 315.32 mi (507.46 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 East Florence

City in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States of America

Population35,733
Coordinates34.8095300, -87.6494700
Altitude167
CountryUnited States
Gulf Shores

#2 Gulf Shores

City in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States

Population13,166
Coordinates30.2460400, -87.7008200
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: East Florence (-87.64947, 34.80953)
End: Gulf Shores (-87.70082, 30.24604)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 630 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.81 gal
52.26 L · about $52.30
Round trip
$104.60
27.62 gal · 104.52 L
Estimated CO2
122.7 kg one way
Round trip: 245.5 kg / 541 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $52.30 $104.60
Mid-grade $4.26 $58.82 $117.63
Premium $4.63 $63.87 $127.74
Diesel $5.42 $74.78 $149.56

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 29, 2026

There is no time difference between East Florence and Gulf Shores. The current time is 13:57:29.

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.