Spanning 141 miles across Alabama, this journey from Crossville to Tuscaloosa typically takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $22 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable option for travelers in the Southeast. Navigating the route involves utilizing I-359 North, Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard North, and University Boulevard to reach your destination. Since the drive is straightforward, it offers a practical way to move between these two Alabama locations without the need for multiple stops.
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
72.8 miles from Crossville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
133.1 mi
2h 25m
Main Street
9 mi
15m
I 359
2.2 mi
2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
0.5 mi
1m
University Boulevard
<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 Crossville, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on AL 68
9.0 mi·15 min·Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
3
Merge onto I 59
133 mi·2 hr 25 min·I 59
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 71BToward I 359 North, I 69 North: TuscaloosaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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.
6
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
7
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 16-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to hit the road early if you want to avoid peak traffic, especially as you approach the local streets in Tuscaloosa. Because the route lacks traditional highway stretches, ensure your vehicle is in good condition to handle the constant turning and local road conditions. Keep your $22 fuel budget in mind when planning your trip to ensure you aren't caught off guard at the pump. My best advice for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the transition onto University Boulevard before you leave, as local navigation requires clear awareness of your turns.
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 72.8 miles from Crossville, AL, or about 1h 25m 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.8 miles or 1h 25m 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 16m
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 Crossville, 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 Crossville, AL
This is one driving day of about 145.5 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Crossville, 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.2 and 145.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.2 mi into trip|~16m in|I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
142.3 mi into trip|~2h 41m 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
5
142.8 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|I 359; US 11; AL 69
Merge onto I 359; US 11; AL 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
145.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
145.5 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.97 one way
$43.95 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$24.12
$48.24
premium
$4.56
$26.12
$52.23
diesel
$5.61
$32.12
$64.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.7
0
$15.28
$6.98
Efficient EV
36.4
0
$12.73
$5.82
EV Truck/SUV
58.2
0
$20.37
$9.31
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 16, 2026
Origin
Crossville, AL
Late night
in Crossville on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Late night
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph7% chanceLive 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
11 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 46m 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...
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 35.1
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 that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With a 0% highway share, this route avoids long, high-speed stretches in favor of more technical, winding roads that characterize local Alabama travel. You will find that the road's personality changes as you navigate through various turns, requiring you to stay alert behind the wheel. Because there are no designated stops along the way, you should prepare for a consistent drive from start to finish. This is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape throughout the entire 141-mile journey.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 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 Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.2 miles in near I 59.
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 46m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.2 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.8 miles (I 359; US 11; AL 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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: at 9.2 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.8 miles (I 359; US 11; AL 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
