How far is Huntsville, AL from Cottonwood, AL?
The driving distance from Huntsville, AL to Cottonwood, AL is about 308.4 miles (496.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 265 miles (426.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 08m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Chilton County, Alabama, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers Likely
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Huntsville and Cottonwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Huntsville and Cottonwood.
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1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
1 m · 4 sec · Spring Street Southwest
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2
Turn right onto West Side Square
115 m · 16 sec · West Side Square
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3
Continue on South Side Square
113 m · 16 sec · South Side Square
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4
Turn left onto East Side Square
113 m · 9 sec · East Side Square
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5
Continue on Washington Street Southeast
111 m · 9 sec · Washington Street Southeast
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6
Continue on Washington Street Northeast
2489 ft · 54 sec · Washington Street Northeast
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7
Take the ramp slight left
1580 ft · 41 sec
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8
Merge slight left
18.9 mi · 20 min
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
864 ft · 16 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham
1.3 km · 2 min
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11
Merge slight left
73.7 mi · 1 hr 19 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
2715 ft · 38 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis
2666 ft · 38 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery
1940 ft · 28 sec
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15
Merge slight left
93.2 mi · 1 hr 44 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I-85 North: Atlanta
120 m · 10 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Atlanta
1040 ft · 25 sec
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18
Continue straight
2.7 mi · 4 min
-
19
Take the exit slight right toward Ann Street
1275 ft · 35 sec
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20
Turn right onto Ann Street
133 m · 9 sec · Ann Street
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Zelda Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Zelda Road
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22
Continue on Carter Hill Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Carter Hill Road
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23
Turn left onto McGehee Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · McGehee Road
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24
Continue on Troy Highway
34.7 mi · 41 min · Troy Highway
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25
Continue straight
7.7 mi · 10 min
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26
Continue straight
546 ft · 9 sec
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27
Continue straight
2 mi · 4 min
-
28
Continue straight
7.6 mi · 11 min
-
29
Continue straight
38.4 mi · 47 min
-
30
Continue straight
3.8 mi · 6 min
-
31
Take the exit slight right
78 m · 8 sec
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32
Merge slight left onto Ross Clark Circle
6.5 mi · 10 min · Ross Clark Circle
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33
Take the exit right
53 m · 6 sec
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34
Turn right onto East Cottonwood Road
11.5 mi · 18 min · East Cottonwood Road
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35
Turn slight right onto Sealy Wells Road
85 m · 8 sec · Sealy Wells Road
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Sealy Wells Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Huntsville and Cottonwood.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Rain Showers Likely leaving Huntsville and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cottonwood.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Huntsville to Cottonwood?
The road trip is about 308.4 miles (496.3 km) and usually takes 06h 08m 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?
Clanton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.4 miles from Huntsville and 154 miles from Cottonwood.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 265 miles (426.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.4 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 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 $41.20 one way or $82.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Huntsville and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Cottonwood.
Stop Ideas Near Clanton
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clanton.
Brent, AL
Selma, AL
Montgomery, AL
Marion, AL
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Huntsville and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 265 mi (426.48 km).
#1 Huntsville
The second most populous city in Alabama.
| Population | 202,964 |
| Coordinates | 34.7304000, -86.5859400 |
| Altitude | 193 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cottonwood
Town in Houston County, Alabama, United States
| Population | 1,247 |
| Coordinates | 31.0487900, -85.3049300 |
| Altitude | 50 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cottonwood (-85.30493, 31.04879)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 496 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 16m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 42m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 24m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 50m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $41.20 | $82.41 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $46.34 | $92.68 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $50.32 | $100.64 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $58.92 | $117.83 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.