This 194.4-mile journey from Daleville to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a straightforward drive that can comfortably be completed in about 4 hours and 18 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 82 and US 231, with a short segment on Neil Metcalf Road, this route is a highway-focused experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $29, it's an economical option for a single-day trip, making it ideal for a one-day adventure. The drive offers a consistent experience through the heart of Alabama, a region known for its rolling landscapes and Southern charm. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points without the need for an overnight stay.
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
97.2 miles from Daleville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
86.7 mi
1h 51m
US 231
43.2 mi
52m
Neil Metcalf Road
22.8 mi
34m
South Boulevard
10.1 mi
15m
AL 167
7.6 mi
11m
US 84
6.8 mi
8m
Birmingham Highway
3.7 mi
5m
Boll Weevil Circle
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Daleville, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on this road
205 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto AL 85
1.0 mi·1 min·Daleville Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 84; AL 134
6.8 mi·8 min·US 84; AL 134
4
Turn right onto US 84; AL 167
3.1 mi·4 min·Boll Weevil Circle
5
Turn right onto AL 167
1.9 mi·2 min·Neal Metcalf Road
6
Continue on AL 167
23 mi·34 min·Neil Metcalf Road
7
Turn slight left onto AL 167
7.6 mi·11 min·AL 167
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto US 231; AL 10
0.6 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 231; AL 10
10
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.2 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.8 mi·2 min·US 231; AL 10
12
Continue on US 231
3.4 mi·3 min·US 231
13
Continue on US 231
36 mi·42 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto US 80; US 82; AL 21
10 mi·15 min·South Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 31
3.7 mi·5 min·Birmingham Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 31
2.0 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto US 82; AL 14
513 ft·7 sec·US 82; AL 14
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 82; AL 14
87 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 82; AL 14
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Take the exit
308 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on Old Montgomery Highway
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Montgomery Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·41 sec·Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto US 11; AL 69
2.4 mi·2 min·US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
24
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 4 hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can depart from Daleville in the morning and arrive in Tuscaloosa by early afternoon, leaving ample time for your activities. The estimated fuel cost of $29 makes it an affordable trip, but it's wise to top off your tank before you leave Daleville, especially since the longest stretch without a significant change in main road is 86.7 miles. Plan for one stop along the way to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite, keeping your travel time on track. Given the highway-focused nature, most of your driving will be on US 82 and US 231.
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 97.2 miles from Daleville, AL, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 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 43 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.2 miles or 2h 12m 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 32m
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 Daleville, 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 Daleville, AL
This is one driving day of about 194.4 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Daleville, 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 82 for about 86.7 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 96.5 and 194.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
96.5 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|US 31 / Birmingham Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 31 / Birmingham Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
102.2 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|US 82; AL 14
Turn left onto US 82; AL 14
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
188.9 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
194.3 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
194.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.36 one way
$58.72 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.23
$64.46
premium
$4.56
$34.89
$69.79
diesel
$5.61
$42.92
$85.84
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: 68 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.3
0
$20.41
$9.33
Efficient EV
48.6
0
$17.01
$7.78
EV Truck/SUV
77.8
0
$27.22
$12.44
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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 15, 2026
Origin
Daleville, AL
Morning
in Daleville on Sunday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
7:11 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 18m 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?
Expect a drive that's predominantly on well-maintained highways, with 76% of the route being on these faster roads. The character of this trip is largely defined by its highway focus, offering a smooth and relatively uninterrupted travel experience. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 86.7 miles on US 82, allowing for extended periods of steady driving. While not overly technical, the route provides a consistent pace, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. The transition between US 82 and US 231 is part of the journey's straightforward progression.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 mi on US 82.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 82 and US 231. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 96.5 miles in near US 31 / Birmingham Highway.
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 18m 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 96.5 miles (US 31 / Birmingham Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 102.2 miles (US 82; AL 14): Lane positioning matters here; at 188.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on US 82. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 96.5 miles (US 31 / Birmingham Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 102.2 miles (US 82; AL 14): Lane positioning matters here; at 188.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Tuscaloosa, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
