How far is Rainbow City, AL from Dothan, AL?

The driving distance from Rainbow City, AL to Dothan, AL is about 255.5 miles (411.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 192.5 miles (309.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 16m 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
255.5 mi
04h 08m
Flight
192.51 mi
309.81 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rainbow City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
192.51 mi
Kilometers
309.81 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
255.5 mi
Kilometers
411.18 km
Drive Time
04h 08m

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 04h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dothan
Tue, Apr 14, 10:03 PM CDT
Return by in Rainbow City
Wed, Apr 15, 2:11 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rainbow City
2026-04-14T17:55
Arrive Dothan
Tue, Apr 14, 10:03 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 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
8:44 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rainbow City
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
Wetumpka
AL

City in Alabama, USA

From Rainbow City
110.4 mi
02h 04m
To Dothan
145.2 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S
Destination
87°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rainbow City and Dothan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rainbow City and Dothan.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    17 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    53 m · 6 sec

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto East Grand Avenue

    37 mi · 53 min · East Grand Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Western Bypass

    22.7 mi · 26 min · Western Bypass

  5. 5

    Continue on Rockford Highway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Rockford Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Broadway Avenue

    54.6 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Broadway Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left

    7.6 mi · 11 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Troy Highway

    34.7 mi · 41 min · Troy Highway

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    7.7 mi · 10 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    546 ft · 9 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    2 mi · 4 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    7.6 mi · 11 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    38.4 mi · 47 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    6.2 mi · 11 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Powell Street

    703 ft · 23 sec · West Powell Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto North Saint Andrews Street

    2494 ft · 1 min · North Saint Andrews Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    34 m · 3 sec · East Main Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rainbow City and Dothan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
18 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Troy Highway
96.7 mi · 38%
Broadway Avenue
54.6 mi · 21%
East Grand Avenue
37 mi · 14%
Western Bypass
22.7 mi · 9%
Rockford Highway
1.19 mi
North Saint Andrews Street
0.47 mi
Longest Stretch

Broadway Avenue

Continue on Broadway Avenue

54.6 mi · 01h 02m

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
04h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63 mi
192.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wetumpka
02h 04m from Rainbow City
Leave By
8:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Rainbow City and Sunny near Dothan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rainbow City to Dothan?

The road trip is about 255.5 miles (411.2 km) and usually takes 04h 08m 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?

Wetumpka is a useful midpoint, sitting about 110.4 miles from Rainbow City and 145.2 miles from Dothan.

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

The direct path is about 192.5 miles (309.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 63 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 8:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.16 one way or $68.32 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Rainbow City and Sunny near Dothan.

Stop Ideas Near Wetumpka

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

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

BUS

Montgomery, AL

26 mi away
950 West South Boulevard
BUS

Selma, AL

77 mi away
434 Broad Street
BUS

Brent, AL

101 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
BUS

Marion, AL

104 mi away
26400 Alabama Highway 14

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rainbow City and Dothan. Straight-line distance: 192.51 mi (309.81 km).

Rainbow City

#1 Rainbow City

City in Alabama, United States

Population9,611
Coordinates33.9548200, -86.0419200
Altitude170
CountryUnited States
Dothan

#2 Dothan

The most populous city in Houston County, Alabama.

Population69,414
Coordinates31.2232300, -85.3904900
Altitude98
CountryUnited States
Start: Rainbow Drive (-86.04174, 33.954709)
End: East Main Street (-85.390469, 31.223396)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 411 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.02 gal
34.13 L · about $34.16
Round trip
$68.32
18.04 gal · 68.26 L
Estimated CO2
80.2 kg one way
Round trip: 160.3 kg / 353 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $34.16 $68.32
Mid-grade $4.26 $38.42 $76.83
Premium $4.63 $41.72 $83.44
Diesel $5.42 $48.84 $97.69

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Rainbow City and Dothan. The current time is 17:55:00.

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.