Origin
Bessemer, AL
Afternoon in Bessemer on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bessemer, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
44.8 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bessemer, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Bessemer and Tuscaloosa, this 44.8-mile journey is as straightforward as it gets. Expect to spend about 51 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of roughly $7, it is a highly economical route for travelers moving through the Southeast. The path relies heavily on major infrastructure, ensuring a reliable transit rather than a slow-paced scenic tour. Because the distance is so manageable, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your actual destination rather than the time spent on the road.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 40.1 mi | 42m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| 19th Street North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 40.1 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bessemer, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on 3rd Avenue North
392 ft
·
22 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
2
Turn left onto 19th Street North
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
19th Street North
3
Take the ramp
307 ft
·
7 sec
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
5
Merge onto I 20; I 59
40 mi
·
42 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 359; US 11; AL 69
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 359; US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
9
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Bessemer, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 44.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
41.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
6
44.7 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
44.8 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.77 one way
$13.53 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.43 | $14.85 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.04 | $16.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Afternoon in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
30 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
51m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 94% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-20, which accounts for a 40.1-mile stretch of uninterrupted travel. The transition onto I-359 and 19th Street North marks the final phase as you enter Tuscaloosa. It is a no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads. Be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic as you navigate these major arteries across Alabama.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 359. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 44.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Bessemer, AL
Full guide →Bessemer is an industrial city in Metropolitan Alabama, just outside of Birmingham.
Arriving in Tuscaloosa, AL
Full guide →Tuscaloosa is a city of over 100,000 people (2020) in Metropolitan Alabama and home of the University of Alabama.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 44.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.1 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tuscaloosa, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tuscaloosa, AL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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