Origin
Lake View, AL
Morning in Lake View on Sunday
Local time
9:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake View, 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
40m
Distance
34.4 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake View, AL
waqed walid
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
This quick 34.4-mile drive from Lake View, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL takes about 40 minutes and is an easy day trip. With 97% of the journey on highways, you'll cover most of the distance on I-20. The estimated fuel cost is around $5, making it an economical option for getting between these two Southeast Alabama locations. Given its short length and straightforward highway focus, this route is best tackled in one go, with no need for an overnight stay. It's a simple point-to-point drive, perfect for when you just need to get from A to B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 28.4 mi | 30m |
| AL 216 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 28.4 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake View, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on AL 216
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
AL 216
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
3
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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.
6
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
7
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 34.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
31.2 mi into trip
|
~35m 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
5
31.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 359; US 11; AL 69
Merge onto I 359; US 11; AL 69
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
34.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
34.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.20 one way
$10.39 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $5.70 | $11.41 |
| premium | $4.56 | $6.17 | $12.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.60 | $15.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
9:57 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
1 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
40m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 40-minute trip, with 97% of the drive taking place on interstates. You'll primarily be on I-20, which allows for a consistent speed for much of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.4 miles on I-20, offering a smooth, fast-paced segment. The route incorporates AL 216 and I-359, but the dominant character is that of efficient interstate travel, minimizing delays and maximizing mileage covered quickly.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.4 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and AL 216. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 34.4 miles you will encounter 6 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 2.8 miles (I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.6 miles (I 359; US 11; AL 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 40m. Total distance: 34.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m 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 28.4 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2.8 miles (I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.6 miles (I 359; US 11; AL 69): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tuscaloosa, AL
More from Lake View, AL
More trips to Tuscaloosa, AL
Explore more options from Lake View, AL or browse trips ending in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.