How far is Madison, AL from Chelsea, AL?

The driving distance from Madison, AL to Chelsea, AL is about 11.2 miles (18 km), with a travel time of about 00h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 7.9 miles (12.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
11.21 mi
00h 17m
Flight
7.88 mi
12.68 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Madison.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
7.88 mi
Kilometers
12.68 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
11.21 mi
Kilometers
18.04 km
Drive Time
00h 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 00h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chelsea
Tue, Apr 14, 10:32 PM CDT
Return by in Madison
Tue, Apr 14, 10:49 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-04-14T22:14
Arrive Chelsea
Tue, Apr 14, 10:32 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:18 AM to 7:18 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:54 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Madison
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Huntsville
AL

The second most populous city in Alabama.

From Madison
5.6 mi
00h 08m
To Chelsea
5.6 mi
00h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 8:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 mph S
Destination
84°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 5:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Madison and Chelsea.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison and Chelsea.

  1. 1

    Start on Church Street

    21 m · 4 sec · Church Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Mill Road

    1847 ft · 48 sec · Mill Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Hughes Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Hughes Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Madison Boulevard

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Madison Boulevard

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight

    2557 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward AL 53: Jordan Lane

    1417 ft · 30 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Jordan Lane Southwest

    2054 ft · 45 sec · Jordan Lane Southwest

  9. 9

    Continue on Patton Road Southwest

    1 mi · 2 min · Patton Road Southwest

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Drake Avenue Southwest

    1 mi · 2 min · Drake Avenue Southwest

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Triana Boulevard Southwest

    2730 ft · 1 min · Triana Boulevard Southwest

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Triana Boulevard Southwest

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Madison and Chelsea.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
107.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Madison Boulevard
6.37 mi · 57%
Hughes Road
1.28 mi · 11%
Drake Avenue Southwest
1.02 mi · 9%
Patton Road Southwest
1 mi · 9%
Triana Boulevard Southwest
0.52 mi · 5%
Jordan Lane Southwest
0.39 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Madison Boulevard

Merge slight left

3.31 mi · 00h 04m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 17m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.3 mi
7.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Huntsville
00h 08m from Madison
Leave By
7:54 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Madison and Sunny near Chelsea.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Madison to Chelsea?

The road trip is about 11.2 miles (18 km) and usually takes 00h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Huntsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5.6 miles from Madison and 5.6 miles from Chelsea.

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

The direct path is about 7.9 miles (12.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:54 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.51 one way or $3.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Madison and Sunny near Chelsea.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Chelsea. Straight-line distance: 7.88 mi (12.68 km).

Madison

#1 Madison

The most populous city in Madison County, Alabama.

Population52,654
Coordinates34.6992600, -86.7483300
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Chelsea

#2 Chelsea

City in Madison County, Alabama, United States

Population14,608
Coordinates34.6906500, -86.6099900
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Start: Madison (-86.74833, 34.69926)
End: Chelsea (-86.60999, 34.69065)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 18 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.4 gal
1.5 L · about $1.51
Round trip
$3.03
0.8 gal · 3 L
Estimated CO2
3.6 kg one way
Round trip: 7.1 kg / 16 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $1.51 $3.03
Mid-grade $4.26 $1.70 $3.41
Premium $4.63 $1.85 $3.70
Diesel $5.42 $2.17 $4.33

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Madison and Chelsea. The current time is 22:14:26.

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.