If you are planning to travel from Brookwood to Tuscaloosa, expect a straightforward 83.2-mile journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete. This route is best suited as a quick day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Dallas County 21, State Route 5, and East Avenue. Budgeting about $11 for fuel is sufficient for this trip, making it a budget-friendly option for travelers in the Southeast. Since the entire drive stays within Alabama, you can expect a consistent local atmosphere throughout the transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.5 miles from Brookwood, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Tuscaloosa Street
33.8 mi
46m
Water Avenue
18.1 mi
25m
State Route 5
10.8 mi
16m
US 80
9 mi
11m
AL 22
4.2 mi
7m
AL 69
3.6 mi
4m
State Street
1 mi
1m
Dallas County 109
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Tuscaloosa Street
— 33.8 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookwood, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Dallas County 109
0.8 mi·2 min·Dallas County 109
2
At end of road, turn right onto Dallas County 21
0.2 mi·57 sec·Dallas County 21
3
Turn right onto AL 22
4.2 mi·7 min·AL 22
4
Turn right
435 ft·19 sec
5
Turn straight onto AL 5
11 mi·16 min·State Route 5
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·20 sec
7
Turn right onto US 80
9.0 mi·11 min·US 80
8
Turn right onto AL 183
0.2 mi·43 sec·East Avenue
9
Turn left onto North Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Street
10
At end of road, turn right onto AL 61
18 mi·25 min·Water Avenue
11
Turn left onto AL 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
12
Turn right onto AL 25; AL 69
34 mi·46 min·Tuscaloosa Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on AL 69
3.6 mi·4 min·AL 69
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
15
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever best fits your schedule. With no planned stops included in the route, you can easily complete the 1-hour and 36-minute drive in one continuous effort. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of these roads can make the drive feel longer than the distance suggests, so ensure you are well-rested before departing. Since you will be spending roughly $11 on fuel, it is wise to check your levels before leaving Brookwood to avoid unnecessary pauses. Prioritize steady driving and caution on the curves to ensure a smooth arrival in Tuscaloosa.
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 41.5 miles from Brookwood, AL, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.8 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 18 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
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 Brookwood, 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 Brookwood, AL
This is one driving day of about 83 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Brookwood, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tuscaloosa Street for about 33.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.5 and 83 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
25.5 mi into trip|~40m in|North Street
Turn left onto North Street
Navigation decision point
5
25.7 mi into trip|~40m in|AL 61 / Water Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto AL 61 / Water Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
44.7 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|AL 25; AL 69 / Tuscaloosa Street
Turn right onto AL 25; AL 69 / Tuscaloosa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
83 mi into trip|~2h in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
83 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.53 one way
$25.07 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.76
$27.52
premium
$4.56
$14.90
$29.80
diesel
$5.61
$18.33
$36.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.9
0
$8.71
$3.98
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.26
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.62
$5.31
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Brookwood, AL
Late night
in Brookwood on Sunday
Local time
5:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Late night
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
5:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
78°F
Greensboro, AL
42 mi in
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
36 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 1m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this trip features a 0% highway share, meaning you will be navigating local roads for the entire 83.2 miles. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on Dallas County 21 is 0 miles, you should be ready for frequent adjustments and a more hands-on driving experience. The winding nature of these roads creates a distinct personality that feels much different from high-speed transit. It is a practical, technical drive that requires steady focus rather than long periods of cruising.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.8 mi on Tuscaloosa Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 25.5 miles in near North Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 1m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.5 miles (North Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.7 miles (AL 61 / Water Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 44.7 miles (AL 25; AL 69 / Tuscaloosa Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 33.8 miles on Tuscaloosa Street. 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 25.5 miles (North Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.7 miles (AL 61 / Water Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 44.7 miles (AL 25; AL 69 / Tuscaloosa Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tuscaloosa, AL before heading back.
