Origin
Irondale, AL
Late night in Irondale on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irondale, 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 15m
Distance
64.8 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irondale, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Irondale to Tuscaloosa is 64.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via I 20, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip entirely within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a primarily highway-focused drive that's efficient for getting from point A to point B. With a short duration and minimal stops recommended, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a day trip where you want to maximize your time at your destination. Consider this your express lane between these two Alabama cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 60.7 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Montevallo Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 1st Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 16th Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| I-20 Frontage Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 60.7 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irondale, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on this road
29 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 1st Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
1st Avenue South
3
At end of road, turn left onto 16th Street South
429 ft
·
15 sec
·
16th Street South
4
Turn right onto Montevallo Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Montevallo Road
5
Turn right onto I-20 Frontage Road
163 ft
·
7 sec
·
I-20 Frontage Road
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 20 West
7
Merge onto I 20
61 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 20
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
32 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 32.4 miles from Irondale, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.7 miles.
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 64.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
16th Street South
At end of road, turn left onto 16th Street South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 West
8
61.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
64.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
64.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.79 one way
$19.57 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.74 | $21.49 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.63 | $23.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.31 | $28.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.07 | $4.15 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Late night in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
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
13 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 15m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of your journey on interstates and major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 20, experiencing a consistent highway environment for the longest stretch of 60.7 miles. This means efficient travel with limited distractions, allowing you to maintain a steady pace. The transition onto I 359 and Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North will mark the final approach to Tuscaloosa, offering a brief change in scenery as you near the city limits. Overall, anticipate a smooth and predictable driving experience on well-maintained roadways.
97% 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: 60.7 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 359. 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 16th Street South.
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 64.8 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 (16th Street South): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 15m. Total distance: 64.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.7 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 (16th Street South): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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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