How far is Huntsville, AL from Clayton, AL?

The driving distance from Huntsville, AL to Clayton, AL is about 265.8 miles (427.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 207.7 miles (334.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 34m 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
265.77 mi
05h 17m
Flight
207.7 mi
334.26 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Huntsville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
207.7 mi
Kilometers
334.26 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
265.77 mi
Kilometers
427.72 km
Drive Time
05h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clayton
Sat, May 2, 5:18 PM CDT
Return by in Huntsville
Sat, May 2, 10:35 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Huntsville
2026-05-02T12:01
Arrive Clayton
Sat, May 2, 5:18 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:17 AM to 1:17 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
6:26 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Huntsville
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
Calera
AL

City in Shelby County, Alabama, United States

From Huntsville
133 mi
02h 38m
To Clayton
132.7 mi
02h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Saturday

Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N
Destination
66°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Huntsville and Clayton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Huntsville and Clayton.

  1. 1

    Start on Spring Street Southwest

    1 m · 4 sec · Spring Street Southwest

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Side Square

    115 m · 16 sec · West Side Square

  3. 3

    Continue on South Side Square

    113 m · 16 sec · South Side Square

  4. 4

    Turn left onto East Side Square

    113 m · 9 sec · East Side Square

  5. 5

    Continue on Washington Street Southeast

    111 m · 9 sec · Washington Street Southeast

  6. 6

    Continue on Washington Street Northeast

    2489 ft · 54 sec · Washington Street Northeast

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight left

    1580 ft · 41 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    18.9 mi · 20 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville

    864 ft · 16 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham

    1.3 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    73.7 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  12. 12

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

    2715 ft · 38 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis

    2666 ft · 38 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery

    1940 ft · 28 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    93.2 mi · 1 hr 44 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I-85 North: Atlanta

    120 m · 10 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Atlanta

    1040 ft · 25 sec

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    2.7 mi · 4 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Ann Street

    1275 ft · 35 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Ann Street

    133 m · 9 sec · Ann Street

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Zelda Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Zelda Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Carter Hill Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Carter Hill Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto McGehee Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · McGehee Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Troy Highway

    12.4 mi · 16 min · Troy Highway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight left toward US 82 East: Union Springs

    27.2 mi · 37 min

  26. 26

    Turn slight right

    1780 ft · 59 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Martin Luther King Boulevard

    1013 ft · 33 sec · Martin Luther King Boulevard

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Conecuh Avenue West

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Conecuh Avenue West

  29. 29

    Continue straight

    11.8 mi · 15 min

  30. 30

    Turn slight right onto AL 51 South: Clayton, Wehle Land Conservation Center

    15 mi · 22 min

  31. 31

    Turn left onto North Midway Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Midway Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Midway Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Huntsville and Clayton.

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
32 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Montgomery
93.5 mi · 35%
I 65 South
74.5 mi · 28%
US 82 East
27.2 mi · 10%
Washington Street Northeast
19.7 mi · 7%
AL 51 South
15 mi · 6%
Conecuh Avenue West
13.4 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Montgomery

Merge slight left

93.2 mi · 01h 44m

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 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.1 mi
207.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Calera
02h 38m from Huntsville
Leave By
6:26 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy leaving Huntsville and Showers And Thunderstorms near Clayton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Huntsville to Clayton?

The road trip is about 265.8 miles (427.7 km) and usually takes 05h 17m 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?

Calera is a useful midpoint, sitting about 133 miles from Huntsville and 132.7 miles from Clayton.

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

The direct path is about 207.7 miles (334.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.1 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 6:26 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.52 one way or $71.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 83.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy around Huntsville and Showers And Thunderstorms near Clayton.

Stop Ideas Near Calera

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

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

BUS

Brent, AL

42 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Birmingham

46 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Marion, AL

74 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

76 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Huntsville and Clayton. Straight-line distance: 207.7 mi (334.26 km).

Huntsville

#1 Huntsville

The second most populous city in Alabama.

Population202,964
Coordinates34.7304000, -86.5859400
Altitude193
CountryUnited States
Clayton

#2 Clayton

Town in Alabama, United States of America

Population2,829
Coordinates31.8782200, -85.4496600
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Start: Huntsville (-86.58594, 34.7304)
End: Clayton (-85.44966, 31.87822)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 428 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.38 gal
35.5 L · about $35.52
Round trip
$71.04
18.76 gal · 71 L
Estimated CO2
83.4 kg one way
Round trip: 166.7 kg / 368 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $35.52 $71.04
Mid-grade $4.26 $39.95 $79.90
Premium $4.63 $43.38 $86.77
Diesel $5.42 $50.79 $101.59

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 · May 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Huntsville and Clayton. The current time is 12:01:02.

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.