How far is Selma, AL from Madison, AL?

The driving distance from Selma, AL to Madison, AL is about 181.7 miles (292.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 159.1 miles (256.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 05m 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
181.7 mi
03h 02m
Flight
159.13 mi
256.1 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Selma.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
159.13 mi
Kilometers
256.1 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
181.7 mi
Kilometers
292.42 km
Drive Time
03h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Madison
Sat, Apr 25, 5:09 AM CDT
Return by in Selma
Sat, Apr 25, 8:12 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Selma
2026-04-25T02:06
Arrive Madison
Sat, Apr 25, 5:09 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:03 AM to 11:03 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
10:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Selma
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
Birmingham
AL

The most populous city in Alabama.

From Selma
89.2 mi
01h 31m
To Madison
92.5 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Alabama Avenue

    121 m · 18 sec · Alabama Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Broad Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Citizens Parkway

    17.2 mi · 30 min · Citizens Parkway

  4. 4

    Continue on Alabama Highway 22

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Alabama Highway 22

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Foshee Avenue

    1145 ft · 39 sec · Foshee Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn straight

    2.7 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Turn left

    13.9 mi · 20 min

  8. 8

    Turn left

    13.1 mi · 19 min

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left

    1231 ft · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    107.9 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 565 East, AL 20 West, US 72 Alternate: Decatur, Huntsville

    1665 ft · 41 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 565 East, US 72 Alternate East: Huntsville

    2761 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    8.4 mi · 9 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Madison Boulevard, Wall-Triana Highway

    1397 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Madison

    142 m · 9 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Wall Triana Highway

    1393 ft · 28 sec · Wall Triana Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Sullivan Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Sullivan Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1393 ft · 41 sec · Main Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Church Street

    1544 ft · 42 sec · Church Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Church Street

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Foshee Avenue
108 mi · 60%
Citizens Parkway
17.2 mi · 9%
Alabama Highway 22
9.3 mi · 5%
I 565 East
9.28 mi · 5%
Broad Street
1.87 mi · 1%
Sullivan Street
1.12 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Foshee Avenue

Merge slight left

108 mi · 01h 58m

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 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.6 mi
159.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Birmingham
01h 31m from Selma
Leave By
10:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Selma and Showers And Thunderstorms near Madison.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 181.7 miles (292.4 km) and usually takes 03h 02m 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?

Birmingham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.2 miles from Selma and 92.5 miles from Madison.

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

The direct path is about 159.1 miles (256.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 10:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.27 one way or $48.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms around Selma and Showers And Thunderstorms near Madison.

Stop Ideas Near Birmingham

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

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

RAIL

Birmingham

1 mi away
1819 Morris Ave.
BUS

Brent, AL

71 mi away
10393 Alabama Highway 5
RAIL

Tuscaloosa

79 mi away
2105 Greensboro Ave
RAIL

Anniston

91 mi away
126 West 4th St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Selma and Madison. Straight-line distance: 159.13 mi (256.1 km).

Selma

#1 Selma

City in and county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States

Population16,671
Coordinates32.4073600, -87.0211000
Altitude38
CountryUnited States
Madison

#2 Madison

The most populous city in Madison County, Alabama.

Population52,654
Coordinates34.6992600, -86.7483300
Altitude215
CountryUnited States
Start: Alabama Avenue (-87.021068, 32.407306)
End: Church Street (-86.748391, 34.699261)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 292 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.41 gal
24.27 L · about $24.27
Round trip
$48.55
12.82 gal · 48.54 L
Estimated CO2
57 kg one way
Round trip: 113.9 kg / 251 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $24.27 $48.55
Mid-grade $4.26 $27.30 $54.60
Premium $4.63 $29.65 $59.29
Diesel $5.42 $34.71 $69.42

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Selma and Madison. The current time is 02:06:43.

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.