Origin
Springville, AL
Afternoon in Springville on Tuesday
Local time
12:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Springville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
86.1 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springville, AL
Nicholas Derio Palacios
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
This 86.1-mile journey from Springville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL takes approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily travel on major highways, with about 98% of the route being interstate driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $13, suggesting an economical way to travel between these two points in the Southeast region. Given the relatively short duration and focus on high-speed roads, this route is best suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43 miles from Springville, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 81.9 mi | 1h 30m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Marietta Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Robinson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 81.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springville, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Robinson Street
4 ft
·
6 sec
·
Robinson Street
2
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn left onto AL 174
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Marietta Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
5
Merge onto I 59
82 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
I 59
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
9
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a travel time of just under two hours, this 86.1-mile trip from Springville to Tuscaloosa offers great flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive by lunchtime, or even head out in the afternoon. The route's highway-focused nature means you can cover the 81.9-mile stretch on I-59 without many interruptions. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $13, and plan for a quick stop if needed, though the short duration may not necessitate one. Arriving in Tuscaloosa will be straightforward given the direct interstate routing.
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 43 miles from Springville, AL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.9 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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 48m 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 21m
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 Springville, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Springville, AL
This is one driving day of about 86.1 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Springville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 59 for about 81.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43 miles from Springville, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.9 miles.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86 — 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
|
US 11 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 11 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
82.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m 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
86 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
86 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.00 one way
$26.01 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $14.27 | $28.55 |
| premium | $4.56 | $15.45 | $30.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.01 | $38.02 |
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: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.04 | $4.13 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.05 | $5.51 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Afternoon in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday
Local time
12:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph
7% chance
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
28 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 37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 98% of the 86.1 miles spent on interstates. The main roads you'll navigate include I-59, I-359, and Marietta Road. You'll encounter one continuous stretch of 81.9 miles on I-59, which means extended periods of consistent driving. This profile suggests a route designed for efficient travel rather than scenic detours, allowing you to cover ground quickly and smoothly.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.9 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and I 359. 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 US 11 / Main Street.
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 86.1 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 (US 11 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.9 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 37m. Total distance: 86.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m 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 81.9 miles on I 59. 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 (US 11 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. 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 trips to Tuscaloosa, AL
Explore more options from Springville, AL or browse trips ending in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.