Traveling from Samson to Tuscaloosa covers 202.8 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes of drive time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should budget about $28 for fuel to complete the journey. It is perfectly manageable as a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate through the Southeast region of Alabama, moving from the southern tip toward the central part of the state. Expect a slower, more deliberate pace compared to interstate travel, as the route relies on local roads rather than major expressways. It is a straightforward trip if you prefer avoiding heavy highway congestion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
102.9 miles from Samson, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
86.7 mi
1h 51m
US 231
43.2 mi
52m
Neil Metcalf Road
22.8 mi
34m
South Boulevard
10.1 mi
15m
AL 167
7.6 mi
11m
County Road 65
7.4 mi
12m
Geneva Highway
5.6 mi
7m
County Road 40
4.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Samson, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on AL 52
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Continue on East Main Street
319 ft·6 sec·East Main Street
3
Continue on Coffee Springs Road
2.3 mi·3 min·Coffee Springs Road
4
Continue on County Road 40
4.2 mi·6 min·County Road 40
5
Turn slight left onto County Road 65
7.4 mi·12 min·County Road 65
6
At end of road, turn left onto AL 27
5.6 mi·7 min·Geneva Highway
7
Turn straight onto AL 27; AL 88; AL 134
0.4 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
8
Continue on AL 27; AL 88; AL 134
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
9
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi·36 sec·Boll Weevil Circle
10
Turn left onto AL 167
1.9 mi·2 min·Neal Metcalf Road
11
Continue on AL 167
23 mi·34 min·Neil Metcalf Road
12
Turn slight left onto AL 167
7.6 mi·11 min·AL 167
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto US 231; AL 10
0.6 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 231; AL 10
15
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.2 mi·1 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 231; AL 10
1.8 mi·2 min·US 231; AL 10
17
Continue on US 231
3.4 mi·3 min·US 231
18
Continue on US 231
36 mi·42 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto US 80; US 82; AL 21
10 mi·15 min·South Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 31
3.7 mi·5 min·Birmingham Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 31
2.0 mi·2 min·Memorial Drive
Use the left lane.
22
Turn left onto US 82; AL 14
513 ft·7 sec·US 82; AL 14
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on US 82; AL 14
87 mi·1 hr 51 min·US 82; AL 14
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
308 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on Old Montgomery Highway
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Montgomery Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·41 sec·Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto US 11; AL 69
2.4 mi·2 min·US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
29
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this 3-hour and 40-minute drive is entirely local, plan for a steady pace rather than a quick sprint. You should factor in at least one stop to break up the navigation, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be more demanding than standard highway travel. Leaving early in the morning is a smart move to maximize your daylight hours and ensure you aren't rushing through local intersections at dusk. Keep your $28 fuel estimate in mind, and verify your route frequently to stay on track with the specific local streets provided. Because the path relies on local roads, remain alert for changing speed limits and residential traffic as you transition between towns.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 102.9 miles from Samson, AL, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 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 45 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.9 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 50m
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 Samson, 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 Samson, AL
This is one driving day of about 205.8 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Samson, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 82 for about 86.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.5 and 205.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.5 mi into trip|~33m in|AL 27; AL 88; AL 134 / North Main Street
Enter roundabout onto AL 27; AL 88; AL 134 / North Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
107.9 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 31 / Birmingham Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 31 / Birmingham Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
113.6 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|US 82; AL 14
Turn left onto US 82; AL 14
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
205.7 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
205.8 mi into trip|~4h 39m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.08 one way
$62.16 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$34.12
$68.24
premium
$4.56
$36.94
$73.88
diesel
$5.61
$45.44
$90.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.7
0
$21.61
$9.88
Efficient EV
51.5
0
$18.01
$8.23
EV Truck/SUV
82.3
1
$28.81
$13.17
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 20, 2026
Origin
Samson, AL
Late night
in Samson on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Late night
in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
4h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a unique experience behind the wheel, as this route features zero percent highway driving. Instead, you will navigate via North Johnson Street, East Davis Street, and Neal Grantham Drive. The road’s personality is defined by constant turns, making it a technical local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch on North Johnson Street is 0 miles, you will find that the road requires your full attention throughout the journey. This is a drive where you trade high-speed transit for a more grounded, local perspective of the Alabama landscape.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 mi on US 82.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 82 and US 231. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 20.5 miles in near AL 27; AL 88; AL 134 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 39m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.5 miles (AL 27; AL 88; AL 134 / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 107.9 miles (US 31 / Birmingham Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 113.6 miles (US 82; AL 14): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on US 82. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.5 miles (AL 27; AL 88; AL 134 / North Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 107.9 miles (US 31 / Birmingham Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 113.6 miles (US 82; AL 14): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Tuscaloosa, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
