Origin
Birmingham, AL
Late night in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Birmingham, 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
1h 6m
Distance
58.1 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Birmingham, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, you will find this 58.1-mile journey to be a straightforward affair. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 6 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, this route is highly efficient for those looking to travel between these two Southeastern cities. Because the drive is short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. You can easily complete the round trip in one day, giving you plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading out for business or a casual visit, this highway-focused transit keeps things simple and predictable.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 52.9 mi | 57m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 65 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 24th Street North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 52.9 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Birmingham, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on 24th Street North
523 ft
·
19 sec
·
24th Street North
2
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Avenue North
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 65 North
4
Merge onto I 65
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 65
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Merge onto I 20; I 59
53 mi
·
57 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
10
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29 miles from Birmingham, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 58 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
6th Avenue North
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
8
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.77 one way
$17.55 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.63 | $19.26 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.43 | $20.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.83 | $25.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.08 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.13 | $3.72 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Late night in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Woodstock, AL
29 mi in
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
1h 6m 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 drive is dominated by high-speed interstate travel, with 95% of the journey taking place on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time—specifically 52.9 miles—cruising along I-20, which provides a consistent and efficient path for the bulk of the trip. The transition into Tuscaloosa utilizes I-359 and 6th Avenue North to navigate you into the heart of the city. While the route lacks the winding character of rural backroads, the highway-focused profile ensures a steady pace from start to finish. Expect a functional, no-frills experience behind the wheel where the road conditions remain uniform for nearly the entire hour-long duration.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.9 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 359. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Avenue North.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (6th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.9 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 Birmingham, AL
Full guide →Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama, and its cultural and economic nucleus. While it's best remembered as the site of protest, bombings, and other racial tumult during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, visitors to the Birmingham of today will find a pleasant green city of ridges, valleys, attractive views, and friendly, hospitable people.
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 1h 6m. Total distance: 58.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.9 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 0.1 miles (6th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.9 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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