Origin
Boaz, AL
Morning in Boaz on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boaz, 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
2h 29m
Distance
130 mi
209 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boaz, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Boaz to Tuscaloosa is 130 miles and takes about 2 hours and 29 minutes via I 59 and AL 77, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. Expect a highway-focused drive that makes for a straightforward journey. It's a relatively short distance, so you can easily complete it within a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace or a quick transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
65 miles from Boaz, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 109 mi | 1h 59m |
| Florida Short Route | 11.7 mi | 14m |
| AL 77 | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| AL 168 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Broad Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 109 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boaz, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on College Avenue
237 ft
·
11 sec
·
College Avenue
2
Turn right onto Bel Air Street
210 ft
·
9 sec
·
Bel Air Street
3
Turn right onto AL 205
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Broad Street
4
Turn left onto AL 168
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
AL 168
5
Turn sharp right onto US 431
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Florida Short Route
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto AL 77
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
AL 77
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Toward I-59 South: Birmingham
8
Merge onto I 59
109 mi
·
1 hr 59 min
·
I 59
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
12
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 29 minute duration, leaving Boaz in the morning will get you to Tuscaloosa well before dark. With only 130 miles, you have the flexibility to make a brief stop if needed, but it's not essential for pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 109-mile stretch on I 59, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments. The $20 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting your trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 65 miles from Boaz, AL, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
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 Boaz, 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 Boaz, AL
This is one driving day of about 130 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Boaz, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 59 for about 109 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65 miles from Boaz, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 130 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 431 / Florida Short Route
Turn sharp right onto US 431 / Florida Short Route
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
12.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
AL 77
Turn right onto AL 77
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
126.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m 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
130 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
130 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.63 one way
$39.27 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $21.55 | $43.10 |
| premium | $4.56 | $23.33 | $46.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.70 | $57.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39 | 0 | $13.65 | $6.24 |
| Efficient EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52 | 0 | $18.20 | $8.32 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph
2% chance
Live 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
44 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
2h 29m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 71.7
View on nps.gov
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 22.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 90% of the route utilizing major roads like I 59. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 109 miles on I 59, which means consistent speed and minimal local traffic for a significant portion of your journey. The inclusion of Florida Short Route and AL 77 suggests a potential shift in scenery or road type as you approach your destination, offering a change from the interstate.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and Florida Short Route. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 431 / Florida Short Route.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 130 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.1 miles (US 431 / Florida Short Route): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 126.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
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 2h 29m. Total distance: 130 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109 miles on I 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.1 miles (US 431 / Florida Short Route): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (AL 77): Lane positioning matters here; at 126.9 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 and Freedom Riders 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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