Origin
Fultondale, AL
Morning in Fultondale on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fultondale, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
62.8 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fultondale, AL
Tomás Asurmendi
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
This straightforward 62.8-mile drive from Fultondale, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily be on interstates, with a 93% highway share, so expect a focused, efficient journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, which is quite budget-friendly for such a short distance. Given its brevity and the direct interstate routing, this trip is best suited for a single day with no need for an overnight stop. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent driving experience across Alabama.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 52.8 mi | 57m |
| I 65 | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Decatur Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Whaley Road | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 52.8 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fultondale, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Whaley Road
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Whaley Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 31
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Decatur Highway
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 65 South: Birmingham
Use the slight right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 65
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
7
Merge onto I 20; I 59
53 mi
·
57 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
11
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Fultondale, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 62.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 31 / Decatur Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 31 / Decatur Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
6
6.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
8
59.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
7
62.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.48 one way
$18.97 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.41 | $20.82 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.27 | $22.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.87 | $27.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.59 | $3.01 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
61°F
Woodstock, AL
31 mi in
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
7 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
1h 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip. With 93% of the route on interstates, you'll experience predominantly fast-paced travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 52.8 miles on I-20, so be prepared for a significant period of consistent highway driving. You'll be utilizing I-65 and I-359 in addition to I-20. This road profile suggests a journey where efficiency and speed are key, rather than winding scenic byways.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.8 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 31 / Decatur Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (US 31 / Decatur Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Tuscaloosa, AL
Full guide →Tuscaloosa is a city of over 100,000 people (2020) in Metropolitan Alabama and home of the University of Alabama.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.8 miles on I 20. 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 31 / Decatur Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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