This 88.1-mile drive from Locust Fork, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 49 minutes. It's an ideal day trip, requiring no overnight stays and with a modest estimated fuel cost of $13. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates, making it a convenient option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Given its short duration and predominantly interstate profile, this route offers a practical way to travel within the Southeast region of Alabama.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.1 miles from Locust Fork, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
56.3 mi
1h 2m
AL 79
28 mi
41m
I 359
2.2 mi
2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
0.5 mi
1m
Tallapoosa Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Old Town Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
University Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Spunky Hollow Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 56.3 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Locust Fork, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Spunky Hollow Road
41 ft·7 sec·Spunky Hollow Road
2
Turn left onto Old Town Road
385 ft·19 sec·Old Town Road
3
Turn left onto AL 79
28 mi·41 min·AL 79
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on AL 79
0.3 mi·31 sec·Tallapoosa Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: TuscaloosaUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 20; I 59
56 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 71BToward I 359 North, I 69 North: TuscaloosaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
10
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of under two hours, this drive from Locust Fork to Tuscaloosa offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but aiming for mid-morning can help you avoid potential rush hour traffic around Tuscaloosa. Since the longest stretch without a major change is 56.3 miles, consider planning your fuel stop before you begin or shortly after you merge onto I-20. For a quick tip, keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Tuscaloosa; while the route is short, services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates.
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 44.1 miles from Locust Fork, AL, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.1 miles or 59m 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 33m
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 Locust Fork, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Locust Fork, AL
This is one driving day of about 88.1 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Locust Fork, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 56.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 88.1 — 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|Old Town Road
Turn left onto Old Town Road
Navigation decision point
7
28.4 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
8
84.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
88 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
88.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.31 one way
$26.61 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.61
$29.21
premium
$4.56
$15.81
$31.63
diesel
$5.61
$19.45
$38.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.25
$4.23
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.71
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.33
$5.64
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Locust Fork, AL
Afternoon
in Locust Fork on Sunday
Local time
1:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Afternoon
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
1:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Birmingham, AL
44 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
17 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 49m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 88.1-mile journey, with 98% of the drive taking place on interstates like I-20 and I-359, plus AL-79. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 56.3 miles on I-20, offering a consistent pace. This route is designed for efficiency, meaning you'll primarily be on well-maintained, high-speed roadways rather than winding scenic byways. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, focusing on covering distance quickly and directly.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 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 79. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Old Town Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 88.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Old Town Road): Navigation decision point; at 28.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.9 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 1h 49m. Total distance: 88.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.3 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: near the start (Old Town Road): Navigation decision point; at 28.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.9 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.
