How far is Madison, AL from Fairfield, AL?

The driving distance from Madison, AL to Fairfield, AL is about 272 miles (437.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 238.3 miles (383.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 40m 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
271.99 mi
05h 20m
Flight
238.27 mi
383.46 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Madison.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
238.27 mi
Kilometers
383.46 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
271.99 mi
Kilometers
437.73 km
Drive Time
05h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fairfield
Sat, Apr 18, 9:38 AM CDT
Return by in Madison
Sat, Apr 18, 2:58 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-04-18T04:18
Arrive Fairfield
Sat, Apr 18, 9:38 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:20 AM to 1:20 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
6:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Madison
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
Thorsby
AL

Town in Alabama, USA

From Madison
136.2 mi
02h 40m
To Fairfield
135.8 mi
02h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSW
Destination
89°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Church Street

    1683 ft · 46 sec · Church Street

  2. 2

    Continue straight

    678 ft · 19 sec

  3. 3

    Continue on Main Street

    572 ft · 26 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn sharp left onto Sullivan Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Sullivan Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Wall Triana Highway

    138 m · 11 sec · Wall Triana Highway

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward 565: Decatur

    2178 ft · 53 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    8.5 mi · 9 min

  8. 8

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

    864 ft · 16 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    73.7 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  11. 11

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

    2715 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis

    2666 ft · 38 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery

    1940 ft · 28 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    150.2 mi · 2 hr 45 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward 106, 55: Georgiana, Starlington

    1607 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  17. 17

    Continue on Crum Foshee Highway

    12.3 mi · 14 min · Crum Foshee Highway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto County Road 82

    1722 ft · 58 sec · County Road 82

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road 107

    62 m · 10 sec · County Road 107

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Ealum Mill Road

    2.3 mi · 6 min · Ealum Mill Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Loango Road

    8.5 mi · 21 min · Loango Road

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Judge Smith Road

    1.9 mi · 5 min · Judge Smith Road

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Judge Smith Road

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Montgomery
151 mi · 55%
I 65 South
74.5 mi · 27%
Crum Foshee Highway
12.3 mi · 5%
565
8.88 mi · 3%
Loango Road
8.46 mi · 3%
Ealum Mill Road
2.32 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Montgomery

Merge slight left

150 mi · 02h 45m

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 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.7 mi
238.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thorsby
02h 40m from Madison
Leave By
6:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Madison and Partly Sunny near Fairfield.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 272 miles (437.7 km) and usually takes 05h 20m 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?

Thorsby is a useful midpoint, sitting about 136.2 miles from Madison and 135.8 miles from Fairfield.

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

The direct path is about 238.3 miles (383.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.7 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 6:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.36 one way or $72.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Madison and Partly Sunny near Fairfield.

Stop Ideas Near Thorsby

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

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

BUS

Brent, AL

43 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
BUS

Selma, AL

63 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Marion, AL

64 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14
RAIL

Birmingham

67 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Fairfield. Straight-line distance: 238.27 mi (383.46 km).

Madison

#1 Madison

The most populous city in Madison County, Alabama.

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

#2 Fairfield

City in Alabama, United States

Population10,457
Coordinates31.2518400, -86.6455200
Altitude58
CountryUnited States
Start: Madison (-86.74833, 34.69926)
End: Fairfield (-86.64552, 31.25184)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 438 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.6 gal
36.33 L · about $36.36
Round trip
$72.71
19.2 gal · 72.66 L
Estimated CO2
85.3 kg one way
Round trip: 170.6 kg / 376 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $36.36 $72.71
Mid-grade $4.26 $40.89 $81.77
Premium $4.63 $44.40 $88.80
Diesel $5.42 $51.98 $103.97

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Madison and Fairfield. The current time is 04:18:10.

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.