Origin
Lake Purdy, AL
Morning in Lake Purdy on Sunday
Local time
11:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Purdy, 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 14m
Distance
62.5 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 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Purdy, AL
Damir K .
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Lake Purdy to Tuscaloosa is 62.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via I 20 and US 280, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its highway-focused profile and reasonable duration, it's a straightforward drive, perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making for an efficient journey between these two cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 33.7 mi | 36m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 19.2 mi | 20m |
| US 280 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Brook Highland Parkway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Somerset Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Brook Highland Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 33.7 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Purdy, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Ashford Lane
214 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ashford Lane
2
Turn right onto Somerset Lane
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Somerset Lane
3
At end of road, turn right onto Hampton Place
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hampton Place
4
Turn right onto Brook Highland Drive
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Brook Highland Drive
5
Turn right onto Brook Highland Parkway
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Brook Highland Parkway
6
Turn right onto US 280
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 280
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 459 South
8
Merge onto I 459
19 mi
·
20 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
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
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 31.2 miles from Lake Purdy, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 62.4 — 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
|
Somerset Lane
Turn right onto Somerset Lane
Navigation decision point
8
24.3 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
59.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
62.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
62.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.44 one way
$18.88 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.36 | $20.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.22 | $22.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.80 | $27.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 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 | $6.56 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
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
11:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
30 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 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 95% of the route utilizing major roads like I 20 and US 280. Expect long stretches of fast driving, including one continuous segment of 33.7 miles on I 20. The John M. Harbert III Freeway also contributes to this predominantly interstate character. You'll find the journey efficient and direct, with minimal deviations from high-speed travel.
95% 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: 33.7 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Somerset Lane.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Somerset Lane): Navigation decision point; at 24.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.3 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 14m. Total distance: 62.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.7 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: near the start (Somerset Lane): Navigation decision point; at 24.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.3 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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