This 194.2-mile drive from Flomaton to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 4 hours and 4 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 43 and US 84 before merging onto I-20, this route offers a highway-focused experience, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $29, it's an economical option for exploring more of the Southeast region. You'll find the road profile lends itself to a consistent pace, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Plan for a full day of travel, but one that doesn't require extensive planning 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
97.1 miles from Flomaton, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 43
83.6 mi
1h 42m
US 84
32.3 mi
39m
I 20
25.8 mi
27m
AL 41
18.4 mi
27m
AL 113
13.4 mi
16m
I 65
7.6 mi
8m
Tuscaloosa Street
4.6 mi
6m
I 359
2.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 43
— 83.6 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flomaton, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Houston Street
116 ft·7 sec·Houston Street
2
Turn right onto Ringold Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·Ringold Street
3
Turn left onto Palafox Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Palafox Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 29; US 31; AL 113
1.0 mi·2 min·US 29; US 31; AL 113
5
Turn left onto AL 113
13 mi·16 min·AL 113
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 65
7.6 mi·8 min·I 65
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 77Toward SR 41: Brewton, Repton
9
Turn left onto AL 41
18 mi·27 min·AL 41
10
Continue on US 84; AL 47 Truck
32 mi·39 min·US 84; AL 47 Truck
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
12
Merge onto US 43
17 mi·20 min·US 43
13
Merge onto US 43
24 mi·27 min·US 43
14
Turn left onto US 43
17 mi·19 min·US 43
15
Turn left onto US 43; US 80
0.9 mi·1 min·US 43; US 80
16
Continue on US 43
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cedar Avenue
17
Turn left onto US 43
0.1 mi·13 sec·East Capitol Street
18
Turn right onto US 43
24 mi·34 min·US 43
19
Turn right onto 1st Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·1st Avenue
20
Turn right onto US 11; US 43
4.6 mi·6 min·Tuscaloosa Street
21
Turn left onto CR 208
1.2 mi·2 min·M L King Highway
22
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
23
Merge onto I 20; I 59
26 mi·27 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 71BToward I 359 North, I 69 North: TuscaloosaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 359; US 11; AL 69
2.1 mi·2 min·I 359; US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
27
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
28
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
29
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, departing in the morning from Flomaton will allow you ample time to reach Tuscaloosa without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing where to refuel or take a break; consider planning this around the 83.6-mile stretch on US 43. The $29 fuel cost is a helpful estimate, but it's always wise to check current prices. Keep an eye on road conditions, especially as you merge onto I-20, where traffic can increase. This trip is well-suited for a single day, so you can focus on enjoying the drive rather than breaking it up.
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 97.1 miles from Flomaton, AL, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.6 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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.1 miles or 2h 3m 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 22m
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 Flomaton, 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 Flomaton, AL
This is one driving day of about 194.2 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Flomaton, 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 43 for about 83.6 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 194.2 — 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|Ringold Street
Turn right onto Ringold Street
Navigation decision point
6
23.1 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward SR 41: Brewton, Repton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 77
Toward SR 41: Brewton, Repton
8
191 mi into trip|~3h 59m 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
194.1 mi into trip|~4h 4m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
194.2 mi into trip|~4h 4m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.33 one way
$58.66 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.20
$64.39
premium
$4.56
$34.86
$69.71
diesel
$5.61
$42.88
$85.75
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: 67.9 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
$20.39
$9.32
Efficient EV
48.6
0
$16.99
$7.77
EV Truck/SUV
77.7
0
$27.19
$12.43
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 16, 2026
Origin
Flomaton, AL
Night
in Flomaton on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Night
in Tuscaloosa on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Thomasville, AL
97 mi in
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
23 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 4m 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 driving experience that is predominantly highway-focused, with 95% of the journey on major roads. The route largely follows US 43 and US 84, offering substantial stretches where you can maintain a steady speed. You'll encounter an uninterrupted segment of 83.6 miles on US 43, which is the longest stretch of continuous driving on this particular path. While the overall profile is highway-centric, be prepared for potential shifts in road type as you transition between different highways, particularly as you approach and enter I-20. This suggests a drive that prioritizes efficiency over meandering backroads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.6 mi on US 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 43 and US 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ringold Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 194.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ringold Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Flomaton, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Repton along the way.
Repton
23.1 mi in|~29m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 194.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.6 miles on US 43. 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.
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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ringold Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Tuscaloosa, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
