How far is Headland, AL from Decatur, AL?

The driving distance from Headland, AL to Decatur, AL is about 285.3 miles (459.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 244.1 miles (392.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 13m 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
285.25 mi
04h 36m
Flight
244.16 mi
392.93 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Headland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
244.16 mi
Kilometers
392.93 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
285.25 mi
Kilometers
459.07 km
Drive Time
04h 36m

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 04h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Decatur
Thu, Apr 30, 3:55 AM CDT
Return by in Headland
Thu, Apr 30, 8:31 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Headland
2026-04-29T23:18
Arrive Decatur
Thu, Apr 30, 3:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:37 AM to 12:37 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
7:46 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Headland
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
Enterprise
AL

City in Coffee County, Alabama, United States

From Headland
138.1 mi
02h 18m
To Decatur
147.2 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph WSW
Destination
80°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Church Street

    74 m · 11 sec · East Church Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1131 ft · 25 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East King Street

    10 mi · 18 min · East King Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 3rd Street

    750 ft · 17 sec · 3rd Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right

    3270 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left

    1469 ft · 45 sec

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right

    15.4 mi · 20 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    20.5 mi · 24 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    2262 ft · 35 sec

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    5.1 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    2531 ft · 56 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    2938 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    1.2 km · 1 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    859 ft · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    3.4 mi · 4 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    36.1 mi · 43 min

  20. 20

    Continue on McGehee Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · McGehee Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Carter Hill Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Carter Hill Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Zelda Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Zelda Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Ann Street

    911 ft · 27 sec · Ann Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Ann Street South

    1322 ft · 32 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    2.5 mi · 3 min

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on I-65 North: Birmingham

    1759 ft · 43 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    161.4 mi · 2 hr 57 min

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville

    2021 ft · 51 sec

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Point Mallard Parkway Southeast

    4.5 mi · 7 min · Point Mallard Parkway Southeast

  30. 30

    Turn right onto 6th Avenue Southeast

    3 mi · 6 min · 6th Avenue Southeast

  31. 31

    Continue on 6th Avenue Northeast

    580 ft · 15 sec · 6th Avenue Northeast

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast

    1085 ft · 38 sec · Lee Street Northeast

  33. 33

    Turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
34 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-65 North
162 mi · 57%
3rd Street
72.9 mi · 26%
East King Street
9.99 mi · 4%
Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
4.48 mi · 2%
6th Avenue Southeast
2.97 mi · 1%
Ann Street South
2.79 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I-65 North

Merge slight left

161 mi · 02h 57m

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
04h 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.2 mi
244.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Enterprise
02h 18m from Headland
Leave By
7:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Headland and 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 Headland to Decatur?

The road trip is about 285.3 miles (459.1 km) and usually takes 04h 36m 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?

Enterprise is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.1 miles from Headland and 147.2 miles from Decatur.

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

The direct path is about 244.1 miles (392.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.2 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 7:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.10 one way or $76.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Enterprise

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

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

BUS

Selma, AL

52 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Montgomery, AL

53 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
BUS

Brent, AL

57 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
BUS

Marion, AL

66 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Headland and Decatur. Straight-line distance: 244.16 mi (392.93 km).

Headland

#1 Headland

City in Alabama, United States

Population4,748
Coordinates31.3512800, -85.3421600
Altitude116
CountryUnited States
Decatur

#2 Decatur

The most populous city in Morgan County, Alabama.

Population54,381
Coordinates34.6059300, -86.9833400
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Start: East Church Street (-85.342135, 31.351477)
End: (-86.983514, 34.605804)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 459 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.06 gal
38.1 L · about $38.10
Round trip
$76.19
20.12 gal · 76.2 L
Estimated CO2
89.4 kg one way
Round trip: 178.8 kg / 394 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $38.10 $76.19
Mid-grade $4.26 $42.85 $85.69
Premium $4.63 $46.53 $93.06
Diesel $5.42 $54.47 $108.95

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Headland and Decatur. The current time is 23:18:20.

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.