The drive from Goodwater, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 111.5 miles and takes about 2h 22m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 231, I 20, John M. Harbert III Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.8 miles on US 231.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.84 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.8 miles from Goodwater, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 231
37.8 mi
50m
I 20
33.7 mi
36m
John M. Harbert III Freeway
19.2 mi
20m
Goodwater Highway
8.9 mi
15m
County Road 511
2.8 mi
4m
I 359
2.2 mi
2m
Sylacauga Street
2.1 mi
3m
West Fort Williams Street
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 231
— 37.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goodwater, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Railroad Place
133 ft·7 sec·Railroad Place
2
Continue on CR 511
2.1 mi·3 min·Sylacauga Street
3
Continue on County Road 511
2.8 mi·4 min·County Road 511
4
Continue on Goodwater Highway
8.9 mi·15 min·Goodwater Highway
5
Continue on AL 21
0.7 mi·55 sec·South Broadway Avenue
6
Turn left onto CR 511
1.5 mi·2 min·West Fort Williams Street
7
Turn right onto US 231; US 280
38 mi·50 min·US 231; US 280
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 459 South
9
Merge onto I 459
19 mi·20 min·John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: TuscaloosaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5
34 mi·36 min·I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 71BToward I 359 North, I 69 North: TuscaloosaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
15
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 55.8 miles from Goodwater, AL, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 25 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 1h 20m 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 59m
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 Goodwater, 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 Goodwater, AL
This is one driving day of about 111.5 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Goodwater, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 231 for about 37.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 54.2 and 111.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway
Merge onto I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
8
108.4 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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
111.5 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
111.5 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.84 one way
$33.68 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.49
$36.97
premium
$4.56
$20.01
$40.03
diesel
$5.61
$24.62
$49.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
39 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Energy Center Charging Farm
Vance, AL
EVGATEWAY
23 DCFC
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Birmingham, AL
Tesla
16 DCFC
Spirit Mart - Tesla Supercharger
Bessemer, AL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Sadie's Diner - Tesla Supercharger
Vance, AL
Tesla
12 DCFC
Lane Parke Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Mountain Brook, AL
Tesla
8 DCFC
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tuscaloosa - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.4
0
$11.71
$5.35
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.76
$4.46
EV Truck/SUV
44.6
0
$15.61
$7.14
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 19, 2026
Origin
Goodwater, AL
Afternoon
in Goodwater on Sunday
Local time
12:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Afternoon
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
12:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Sunny
N 10 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 19 at 2:02AM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
79°F
Columbiana, AL
56 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
7 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
2h 22m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 53.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
111.5 mi in 2h 22m, mostly highway — 37.8 mi of that is on US 231.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on US 231.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 231 and I 20. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 54.2 miles in near I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway.
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 111.5 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 54.2 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 111.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on US 231. 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 54.2 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tuscaloosa, AL before heading back.
