Traveling from Andalusia to Tuscaloosa covers 189.2 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 54 minutes. Because the route is straightforward and manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $29 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable option for a quick transit across Alabama. By utilizing a combination of I-65, US-82, and AL-55, you stay within the Southeast region for the duration of your journey. This drive is best viewed as a practical, efficient connection between two distinct parts of the state rather than a leisurely excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
94.6 miles from Andalusia, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
86.7 mi
1h 51m
I 65
53.7 mi
57m
AL 55
17.9 mi
20m
Mobile Road
9.3 mi
11m
River Falls Street
4.7 mi
8m
South Boulevard
4.7 mi
7m
Birmingham Highway
3.7 mi
5m
US 11
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Andalusia, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Court Square
188 ft·5 sec·Court Square
2
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi·30 sec·Church Street
3
Turn right onto River Falls Street
0.4 mi·1 min·River Falls Street
4
Continue on River Falls Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·River Falls Road
5
Continue on River Falls Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·River Falls Street
6
Continue on US 29; AL 55
0.1 mi·20 sec·River Falls Street
7
Continue on US 84; AL 55
3.8 mi·6 min·River Falls Street
8
Turn right onto AL 55
18 mi·20 min·AL 55
9
Continue on US 31; AL 55
9.3 mi·11 min·Mobile Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 65
54 mi·57 min·I 65
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 168Toward US 80, US 82
13
Turn left onto US 80; US 82; AL 21
4.7 mi·7 min·South Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 31
3.7 mi·5 min·Birmingham Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 31
2.0 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto US 82; AL 14
513 ft·7 sec·US 82; AL 14
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 82; AL 14
87 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 82; AL 14
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
308 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on Old Montgomery Highway
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Montgomery Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·41 sec·Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto US 11; AL 69
2.4 mi·2 min·US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
23
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 54 minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since you are covering nearly 190 miles, leaving early in the morning helps you avoid the busiest traffic periods on the major highways. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that 86.7-mile stretch on US-82 where services might be more spread out. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule without needing to worry about lodging logistics. Prioritize consistency in your pace to ensure you reach Tuscaloosa comfortably before the end of the day.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 94.6 miles from Andalusia, AL, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 42 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.6 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tuscaloosa, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Andalusia, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Andalusia, AL
This is one driving day of about 189.2 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Andalusia, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 82 for about 86.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 32.4 and 189.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
32.4 mi into trip|~41m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 80, US 82
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 168
Toward US 80, US 82
6
86.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|US 80; US 82; AL 21 / South Boulevard
Turn left onto US 80; US 82; AL 21 / South Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
189.1 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
189.2 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.57 one way
$57.15 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$31.37
$62.73
premium
$4.56
$33.96
$67.92
diesel
$5.61
$41.77
$83.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
Efficient EV
47.3
0
$16.56
$7.57
EV Truck/SUV
75.7
0
$26.49
$12.11
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Andalusia, AL
Morning
in Andalusia on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
37 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 85% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself navigating a mix of interstate and state highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch occurring on US-82 for 86.7 miles. The personality of the drive shifts as you transition between these major arteries, moving from the flow of I-65 to the more consistent pace of the US highways. While the journey is functional and direct, the heavy reliance on these primary roads means you should stay alert for changing speed limits and traffic patterns. Expect a steady, predictable experience behind the wheel that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 mi on US 82.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 82 and I 65. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 32.4 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 54m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 86.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.6 miles (US 80; US 82; AL 21 / South Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Andalusia is a town of 8,800 people (2020) in the River Heritage portion of Alabama. This county seat in the southern fringe of the state was settled by white people back in 1841.
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on US 82. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 86.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.6 miles (US 80; US 82; AL 21 / South Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Tuscaloosa, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
