Traveling from Collinsville to Tuscaloosa covers 140.4 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 8 minutes. This route stays entirely within Alabama, keeping you in the Southeast region for the duration of your journey. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless your schedule demands it. Budgeting approximately $19 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel costs. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should expect a more active experience behind the wheel compared to a simple interstate cruise. It is a straightforward, manageable trek that connects two distinct Alabama communities without requiring a major time investment.
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
69 miles from Collinsville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
133.1 mi
2h 25m
I 359
2.2 mi
2m
AL 68
1.3 mi
2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
0.5 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
University Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
1st Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 133.1 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collinsville, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on 1st Avenue
73 ft·5 sec·1st Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·West Main Street
3
Continue on AL 68
1.3 mi·2 min·AL 68
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
5
Merge onto I 59
133 mi·2 hr 25 min·I 59
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 71BToward I 359 North, I 69 North: TuscaloosaUse 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
Trip Plan
Since this 2-hour and 8-minute journey is a local, turn-heavy drive, your primary concern should be maintaining focus on the frequent changes in direction. Departing early in the day is recommended to avoid the fatigue that can come from navigating local roads during peak traffic hours. Because there are no scheduled stops, you have the flexibility to plan your own breaks whenever you feel the need to stretch your legs. Keep your $19 fuel budget in mind as you prep your vehicle before leaving Collinsville. A concrete tip for this specific route is to stay alert for the transition onto Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard North, as the turn-heavy nature of the drive makes navigation a critical part of your transit experience.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69 miles from Collinsville, AL, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.1 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 30 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69 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 4m
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 Collinsville, 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 Collinsville, AL
This is one driving day of about 137.9 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Collinsville, 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 I 59 for about 133.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 137.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
134.8 mi into trip|~2h 28m 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
137.8 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
137.9 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.83 one way
$41.65 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.86
$45.72
premium
$4.56
$24.75
$49.50
diesel
$5.61
$30.45
$60.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 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
41.4
0
$14.48
$6.62
Efficient EV
34.5
0
$12.07
$5.52
EV Truck/SUV
55.2
0
$19.31
$8.83
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Collinsville, AL
Morning
in Collinsville on Sunday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
4 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 33m 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.
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...
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 28.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind on this 140.4-mile journey. You will navigate via West Main Street, I-359 North, and Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard North to reach your destination. With 0% of the route categorized as highway travel, you will spend your time navigating local roads that require your full attention. There is no long, uninterrupted interstate stretch, as the longest segment consists of 0 miles on West Main Street. The road's personality is defined by its technical nature, keeping you engaged as you transition from the local streets of Collinsville toward the final arrival in Tuscaloosa.
99% 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: 133.1 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and I 359. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main 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 33m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 133.1 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: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.8 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.
