Deatsville to Tuscaloosa is 93 miles and takes about 2 hours and 8 minutes via US 82, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region toward the Southeast. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of your journey. With a total travel time under two and a half hours, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to connect these two Alabama locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.3 miles from Deatsville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
47.2 mi
57m
4th Avenue North
14.8 mi
21m
US 31
12.8 mi
19m
AL 143
9.8 mi
17m
US 11
2.4 mi
2m
County Road 10
2 mi
3m
Old Montgomery Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 47.2 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Deatsville, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Academy Lane
151 ft·10 sec·Academy Lane
2
Turn left onto AL 143
9.8 mi·17 min·AL 143
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 31
13 mi·19 min·US 31
4
Turn left onto AL 22
15 mi·21 min·4th Avenue North
5
Keep slight left at fork onto Foshee Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Foshee Avenue
6
Turn left onto AL 22
0.2 mi·24 sec·AL 22
7
Turn right onto County Road 10
2.0 mi·3 min·County Road 10
8
Merge onto US 82
47 mi·57 min·US 82
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
308 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on Old Montgomery Highway
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Montgomery Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·41 sec·Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto US 11; AL 69
2.4 mi·2 min·US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
14
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short drive of just over 2 hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Deatsville in the morning will get you to Tuscaloosa with ample time for the rest of your day. There are no designated stops mentioned, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; with a $14 estimated cost, it's a good idea to top off before you leave Deatsville to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted journey to 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 46.3 miles from Deatsville, AL, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 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 20 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.3 miles or 1h 10m 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 46m
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 Deatsville, 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 Deatsville, AL
This is one driving day of about 92.6 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Deatsville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 82 for about 47.2 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 39.8 and 92.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
39.8 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 82
Merge onto US 82
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
87 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
89.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|US 11; AL 69
Turn right onto US 11; AL 69
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
92.5 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
92.5 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.98 one way
$27.97 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.35
$30.70
premium
$4.56
$16.62
$33.24
diesel
$5.61
$20.44
$40.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.72
$4.44
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.10
$3.70
EV Truck/SUV
37
0
$12.96
$5.93
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Deatsville, AL
Morning
in Deatsville on Sunday
Local time
8:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
8:41 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 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 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 47.2 miles on US 82, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. The drive progresses with a consistent focus on highway travel, punctuated by segments on 4th Avenue North and US 31. Overall, it's a straightforward path designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic detours.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.2 mi on US 82.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 82 and 4th Avenue North. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 39.8 miles in near US 82.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 39.8 miles (US 82): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.2 miles (US 11; AL 69): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 92.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on US 82. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tuscaloosa, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.8 miles (US 82): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.2 miles (US 11; AL 69): 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.
