This 77.2-mile drive from Selma to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a straightforward 1 hour and 44 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 91% of the route utilizing them. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, so it's an economical journey. Given the relatively short duration and minimal stops suggested, this trip is best tackled in a single day. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of the US, moving from one part of Alabama to another.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.6 miles from Selma, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 219
34.5 mi
47m
US 82
28.3 mi
32m
AL 14
2.9 mi
4m
US 11
2.4 mi
2m
Old Montgomery Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Medical Center Parkway
1.6 mi
2m
Dallas Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Birmingham Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
AL 219
— 34.5 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Selma, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Alabama Avenue
292 ft·9 sec·Alabama Avenue
2
Turn right onto Church Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Church Street
3
Turn left onto AL 22
1.3 mi·2 min·Dallas Avenue
4
Turn right onto Hooper Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Hooper Drive
5
Continue on Medical Center Parkway
1.6 mi·2 min·Medical Center Parkway
6
Continue on AL 14
2.9 mi·4 min·AL 14
7
Turn right onto AL 219
21 mi·28 min·AL 219
8
At end of road, turn right onto AL 183; AL 219
0.4 mi·41 sec·AL 183; AL 219
9
Turn left onto AL 219
14 mi·19 min·AL 219
10
Turn left onto AL 219
0.4 mi·59 sec·Montgomery Road
11
Turn left onto Walnut Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·Walnut Street
12
Turn right onto Birmingham Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Birmingham Road
13
Take the ramp
155 ft·4 sec
14
Merge onto US 82; AL 219
0.2 mi·12 sec·US 82; AL 219
15
Take the exit
315 ft·14 sec
Use the uturn lane.
16
Turn left onto US 82; AL 219
28 mi·32 min·US 82; AL 219
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
308 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on Old Montgomery Highway
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Montgomery Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·41 sec·Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto US 11; AL 69
2.4 mi·2 min·US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi·33 sec·I 359; AL 69
22
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft·10 sec·University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left
168 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This 1 hour and 44-minute drive is easily manageable in one day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Tuscaloosa and still have the afternoon for activities. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops, though it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge. Pay attention to the transition between AL 219 and US 82, as this is where the road designation changes during your journey.
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 38.6 miles from Selma, AL, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.6 miles or 55m 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 29m
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 Selma, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Selma, AL
This is one driving day of about 77.2 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Selma, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on AL 219 for about 34.5 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.1 and 77.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
27.1 mi into trip|~39m in|AL 183; AL 219
At end of road, turn right onto AL 183; AL 219
Navigation decision point
6
43.5 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the uturn lane.
6
43.5 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 82; AL 219
Turn left onto US 82; AL 219
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.66 one way
$23.32 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.80
$25.60
premium
$4.56
$13.86
$27.71
diesel
$5.61
$17.04
$34.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.11
$3.71
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
EV Truck/SUV
30.9
0
$10.81
$4.94
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 17, 2026
Origin
Selma, AL
Afternoon
in Selma on Sunday
Local time
2:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Afternoon
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
2:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
60°F
Centreville, AL
39 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
2 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 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 77.2-mile journey. With 91% of the drive on highways, you'll encounter a predominantly fast-paced route. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 34.5 miles on AL 219. While the route primarily utilizes major roads like AL 219, US 82, and AL 14, the highway-focused profile suggests consistent speed and efficient travel, rather than winding scenic byways.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on AL 219.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 219 and US 82. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in near AL 183; AL 219.
Driving Effort6/10
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 77.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 27.1 miles (AL 183; AL 219): Navigation decision point; at 43.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.5 miles (US 82; AL 219): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 77.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on AL 219. 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 27.1 miles (AL 183; AL 219): Navigation decision point; at 43.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.5 miles (US 82; AL 219): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tuscaloosa, AL before heading back.
