Cowarts, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is 212.3 miles and takes about 4h 37m via US 231 and US 82, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting the Southeast region from beginning to end. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a straightforward drive. Plan for a single day of travel, as the duration is manageable. The estimated fuel cost is approximately $32, making it an economical option for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.2 miles from Cowarts, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 231
89.1 mi
1h 51m
US 82
86.7 mi
1h 51m
South Boulevard
10.1 mi
15m
Ross Clark Circle
5.5 mi
8m
Montgomery Highway
5.2 mi
7m
US 84
3.9 mi
5m
Birmingham Highway
3.7 mi
5m
US 11
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 231
— 89.1 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-359
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,412 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~125 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cowarts, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on North Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
2
Turn right onto US 84
3.9 mi·5 min·US 84
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck
5.5 mi·8 min·Ross Clark Circle
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto US 231
5.2 mi·7 min·Montgomery Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 231
0.6 mi·39 sec·US 231
6
Continue on US 231
16 mi·20 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 231
21 mi·24 min·US 231
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 231; AL 10
9
Continue on US 231; AL 10
5.1 mi·6 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.1 mi·3 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.5 mi·55 sec·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.6 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.7 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
14
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 231; AL 10
15
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.2 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.8 mi·2 min·US 231; AL 10
17
Continue on US 231
3.4 mi·3 min·US 231
18
Continue on US 231
36 mi·42 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto US 80; US 82; AL 21
10 mi·15 min·South Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 31
3.7 mi·5 min·Birmingham Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 31
2.0 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto US 82; AL 14
513 ft·7 sec·US 82; AL 14
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on US 82; AL 14
87 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 82; AL 14
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
308 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on Old Montgomery Highway
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Montgomery Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·41 sec·Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto US 11; AL 69
2.4 mi·2 min·US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
29
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 37 minute estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from Cowarts, AL will allow you to reach Tuscaloosa, AL with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance of 212.3 miles, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 89.1-mile stretch on US 231, as services might be less frequent there. The estimated fuel cost of $32 is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra budgeted for unexpected needs.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.2 miles from Cowarts, AL, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.1 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 47 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.2 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
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 Cowarts, 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 Cowarts, AL
This is one driving day of about 212.3 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Cowarts, 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 US 231 for about 89.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 212.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 84
Turn right onto US 84
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.5 mi into trip|~6m in|US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle
Turn right onto US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
10 mi into trip|~15m in|US 231 / Montgomery Highway
Turn right onto US 231 / Montgomery Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
212.2 mi into trip|~4h 37m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
212.3 mi into trip|~4h 37m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.47 one way
$58.94 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.97
$65.95
premium
$4.29
$35.85
$71.70
diesel
$4.80
$40.09
$80.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.7
0
$22.29
$10.19
Efficient EV
53.1
0
$18.58
$8.49
EV Truck/SUV
84.9
1
$29.72
$13.59
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Cowarts, AL
Morning
in Cowarts on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NW 0 to 5 mph70% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Birmingham AL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:13PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Birmingham AL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 6:13PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
22 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
4h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 86% of the driving occurring on major roadways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway driving for 89.1 miles on US 231. After this segment, the route transitions to surface roads, including South Boulevard, for the remainder of the trip. Expect a generally smooth driving experience on the highway portions, with potential for more local traffic as you approach Tuscaloosa.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.1 mi on US 231.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 231 and US 82. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 84.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 37m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle): Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (US 231 / Montgomery Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Dothan is a city in southeastern Alabama, serving as the county seat of Houston County, and the chief city of the western Wiregrass region, an area encompassing portions of southeastern Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the panhandle of Florida. Its population in 2018 was about 68,000, making it the largest metropolitan area in southeastern Alabama.
The longest stretch is about 89.1 miles on US 231. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.5 miles (US 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles (US 431; AL 210; AL 52 Truck / Ross Clark Circle): Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (US 231 / Montgomery Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Tuscaloosa, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
