How far is Madison, AL from Gulf Shores, AL?

The driving distance from Madison, AL to Gulf Shores, AL is about 366.8 miles (590.3 km), with a travel time of about 07h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 312.7 miles (503.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
366.8 mi
07h 04m
Flight
312.65 mi
503.16 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
312.65 mi
Kilometers
503.16 km
Flight Time
00h 37m

Driving Distance

Road route
366.8 mi
Kilometers
590.3 km
Drive Time
07h 04m

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 07h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gulf Shores
Fri, May 1, 12:24 PM CDT
Return by in Madison
Fri, May 1, 7:29 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-05-01T05:19
Arrive Gulf Shores
Fri, May 1, 12:24 PM CDT
Route Timing
07h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:05 PM to 2:35 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:50 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Madison
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Montgomery
AL

The capital of Alabama.

From Madison
183.7 mi
03h 32m
To Gulf Shores
183.1 mi
03h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE
Destination
Gulf Shores Weather
AL
Live fallback forecast
75°F
Friday
Using Orange Beach as the closest live forecast in the Baldwin County weather hub.

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison and Gulf Shores.

  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

    226.4 mi · 4 hr 7 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 287: Gulf Shores, Parkway, Bay Minette, Rabun

    1397 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Rabun Road

    4.3 mi · 7 min · Rabun Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Bay Minette Bypass

    5.5 mi · 9 min · Bay Minette Bypass

  18. 18

    Continue on Gulf Shores Parkway

    17.4 mi · 22 min · Gulf Shores Parkway

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    16.5 mi · 27 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on South McKenzie Street

    3.1 mi · 4 min · South McKenzie Street

  21. 21

    Continue on State Hwy 59

    1.5 mi · 2 min · State Hwy 59

  22. 22

    Continue on Gulf Shores Parkway

    4.4 mi · 8 min · Gulf Shores Parkway

  23. 23

    Turn right onto West Beach Boulevard

    1.1 km · 2 min · West Beach Boulevard

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Beach Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
24 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Montgomery
227 mi · 62%
I 65 South
74.5 mi · 20%
Gulf Shores Parkway
38.3 mi · 10%
565
8.88 mi · 2%
Bay Minette Bypass
5.46 mi · 1%
Rabun Road
4.35 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Montgomery

Merge slight left

226 mi · 04h 07m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 04m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.1 mi
312.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Montgomery
03h 32m from Madison
Leave By
9:50 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Madison and Chance Rain Showers near Gulf Shores.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Madison to Gulf Shores?

The road trip is about 366.8 miles (590.3 km) and usually takes 07h 04m 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?

Montgomery is a useful midpoint, sitting about 183.7 miles from Madison and 183.1 miles from Gulf Shores.

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

The direct path is about 312.7 miles (503.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.1 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 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 $49.00 one way or $98.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 115 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Madison and Chance Rain Showers near Gulf Shores.

Stop Ideas Near Montgomery

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

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

BUS

Montgomery, AL

5 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
BUS

Selma, AL

68 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Marion, AL

100 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14
BUS

Camden, AL

101 mi away
8 Claiborne Street \r\n8 Claiborne Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Gulf Shores. Straight-line distance: 312.65 mi (503.16 km).

Madison

#1 Madison

The most populous city in Madison County, Alabama.

Population52,654
Coordinates34.6992600, -86.7483300
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Gulf Shores

#2 Gulf Shores

City in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States

Population13,166
Coordinates30.2460400, -87.7008200
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: Madison (-86.74833, 34.69926)
End: Gulf Shores (-87.70082, 30.24604)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 590 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.94 gal
48.99 L · about $49.00
Round trip
$98.01
25.88 gal · 97.98 L
Estimated CO2
115 kg one way
Round trip: 230 kg / 507 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $49.00 $98.01
Mid-grade $4.26 $55.11 $110.22
Premium $4.63 $59.85 $119.70
Diesel $5.42 $70.07 $140.14

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 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Madison and Gulf Shores. The current time is 05:19:22.

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.