How far is Madison, AL from Headland, AL?

The driving distance from Madison, AL to Headland, AL is about 286.2 miles (460.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 245.3 miles (394.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 25m 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
286.22 mi
05h 42m
Flight
245.24 mi
394.67 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
245.24 mi
Kilometers
394.67 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
286.22 mi
Kilometers
460.62 km
Drive Time
05h 42m

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 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Headland
Thu, Apr 30, 6:12 AM CDT
Return by in Madison
Thu, Apr 30, 11:55 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-04-30T00:30
Arrive Headland
Thu, Apr 30, 6:12 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:43 AM to 1:43 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
5:34 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
Clanton
AL

City in Chilton County, Alabama, United States

From Madison
143.3 mi
02h 51m
To Headland
142.9 mi
02h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NNE
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    93.2 mi · 1 hr 44 min

  15. 15

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

    120 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Atlanta

    1040 ft · 25 sec

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    2.7 mi · 4 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Ann Street

    1275 ft · 35 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Ann Street

    133 m · 9 sec · Ann Street

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Zelda Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Zelda Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Carter Hill Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Carter Hill Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto McGehee Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · McGehee Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Troy Highway

    34.7 mi · 41 min · Troy Highway

  24. 24

    Continue straight

    7.7 mi · 10 min

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    546 ft · 9 sec

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    2 mi · 4 min

  27. 27

    Continue straight

    7.6 mi · 11 min

  28. 28

    Continue straight

    36 mi · 45 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit uturn

    1557 ft · 46 sec

  30. 30

    Keep slight right

    65 m · 7 sec

  31. 31

    Turn right

    1.2 km · 1 min

  32. 32

    Turn left onto 3rd Street

    750 ft · 19 sec · 3rd Street

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Kelly Avenue

    10 mi · 18 min · Kelly Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1131 ft · 24 sec · Main Street

  35. 35

    Turn right onto East Church Street

    74 m · 7 sec · East Church Street

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Church Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
36 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Montgomery
93.5 mi · 33%
Troy Highway
88.3 mi · 31%
I 65 South
74.5 mi · 26%
Kelly Avenue
9.99 mi · 3%
565
8.88 mi · 3%
I 85 North
2.93 mi · 1%
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 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.9 mi
245.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clanton
02h 51m from Madison
Leave By
5:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Madison and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Headland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 286.2 miles (460.6 km) and usually takes 05h 42m 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?

Clanton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 143.3 miles from Madison and 142.9 miles from Headland.

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

The direct path is about 245.3 miles (394.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.9 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 5:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.25 one way or $76.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Madison and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Headland.

Stop Ideas Near Clanton

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

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

BUS

Brent, AL

52 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
BUS

Selma, AL

60 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Montgomery, AL

64 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
BUS

Marion, AL

68 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Headland. Straight-line distance: 245.24 mi (394.67 km).

Madison

#1 Madison

The most populous city in Madison County, Alabama.

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

#2 Headland

City in Alabama, United States

Population4,748
Coordinates31.3512800, -85.3421600
Altitude116
CountryUnited States
Start: Madison (-86.74833, 34.69926)
End: Headland (-85.34216, 31.35128)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 461 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.1 gal
38.23 L · about $38.25
Round trip
$76.50
20.2 gal · 76.46 L
Estimated CO2
89.8 kg one way
Round trip: 179.5 kg / 396 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $38.25 $76.50
Mid-grade $4.26 $43.02 $86.03
Premium $4.63 $46.71 $93.43
Diesel $5.42 $54.69 $109.38

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Madison and Headland. The current time is 00:30:02.

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.