How far is Pelham, AL from Decatur, AL?

The driving distance from Pelham, AL to Decatur, AL is about 223.9 miles (360.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 173.5 miles (279.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 55m 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
223.93 mi
03h 27m
Flight
173.57 mi
279.34 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pelham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
173.57 mi
Kilometers
279.34 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
223.93 mi
Kilometers
360.38 km
Drive Time
03h 27m

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 03h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Decatur
Tue, May 12, 11:27 PM CDT
Return by in Pelham
Wed, May 13, 2:55 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pelham
2026-05-12T19:59
Arrive Decatur
Tue, May 12, 11:27 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:28 AM to 11:28 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:04 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pelham
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
Woodstock
AL

Town in Alabama, United States

From Pelham
109.5 mi
01h 43m
To Decatur
114.5 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NE
Destination
80°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pelham and Decatur.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pelham and Decatur.

  1. 1

    Start on County Road 42

    1191 ft · 52 sec · County Road 42

  2. 2

    Turn straight onto Pine Grove Road

    1894 ft · 52 sec · Pine Grove Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Ward Chapel Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Ward Chapel Road

  4. 4

    Continue on County Road 15

    1.5 mi · 4 min · County Road 15

  5. 5

    Continue on Short Street

    2.8 mi · 7 min · Short Street

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right

    15.9 mi · 23 min

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right

    2191 ft · 53 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    116.2 mi · 2 hr 5 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward I 65 North: Huntsville

    45 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on I 65 North: Huntsville

    1027 ft · 25 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    72.1 mi · 1 hr 18 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward 67: Decatur, Priceville, Somerville

    2021 ft · 51 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Point Mallard Parkway Southeast

    4.5 mi · 7 min · Point Mallard Parkway Southeast

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 6th Avenue Southeast

    3 mi · 6 min · 6th Avenue Southeast

  15. 15

    Continue on 6th Avenue Northeast

    580 ft · 15 sec · 6th Avenue Northeast

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Lee Street Northeast

    1085 ft · 38 sec · Lee Street Northeast

  17. 17

    Turn right

    25 m · 6 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pelham and Decatur.

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
18 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Short Street
119 mi · 53%
I 65 North
72.3 mi · 32%
Point Mallard Parkway Southeast
4.48 mi · 2%
6th Avenue Southeast
2.97 mi · 1%
County Road 15
1.46 mi · 1%
Ward Chapel Road
0.86 mi
Longest Stretch

Short Street

Merge slight left

116 mi · 02h 05m

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
03h 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.4 mi
173.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woodstock
01h 43m from Pelham
Leave By
10:04 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Pelham and Sunny near Decatur.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pelham to Decatur?

The road trip is about 223.9 miles (360.4 km) and usually takes 03h 27m 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?

Woodstock is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.5 miles from Pelham and 114.5 miles from Decatur.

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

The direct path is about 173.5 miles (279.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.4 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:04 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.92 one way or $59.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pelham and Sunny near Decatur.

Stop Ideas Near Woodstock

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

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

BUS

Brent, AL

28 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

38 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave
RAIL

Birmingham

47 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Marion, AL

65 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pelham and Decatur. Straight-line distance: 173.57 mi (279.34 km).

Pelham

#1 Pelham

City in Alabama

Population24,231
Coordinates32.2795900, -88.1200200
Altitude33
CountryUnited States
Decatur

#2 Decatur

The most populous city in Morgan County, Alabama.

Population54,381
Coordinates34.6059300, -86.9833400
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Start: County Road 42 (-88.120018, 32.279732)
End: (-86.983514, 34.605804)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 360 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.9 gal
29.91 L · about $29.92
Round trip
$59.83
15.8 gal · 59.82 L
Estimated CO2
70.2 kg one way
Round trip: 140.4 kg / 310 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $29.92 $59.83
Mid-grade $4.26 $33.65 $67.29
Premium $4.63 $36.54 $73.08
Diesel $5.42 $42.78 $85.56

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Pelham and Decatur. The current time is 19:59:39.

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.