Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Bear Creek, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
81.3 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Bear Creek, AL
patrice schoefolt
Trip Overview
This 81.3-mile drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Bear Creek, AL is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes. It's primarily a highway-focused experience, with 97% of the journey on major roads, making it efficient for covering ground. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this route is budget-friendly for a short excursion within the Southeast region. Given its relatively short distance and direct nature, this trip is ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and return times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.7 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| AL 13 | 49.6 mi | 1h 11m |
| US 43 | 28.6 mi | 39m |
| Main Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 1 mi | 1m |
| US 278 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 10th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grover Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
AL 13
— 49.6 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Bear Creek, AL.
1
Start on this road
132 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto University Boulevard
294 ft
·
7 sec
·
University Boulevard
3
Turn right onto US 43; AL 69
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto 10th Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
10th Street
Use the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn right onto Main Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Avenue
6
Continue on US 43
29 mi
·
39 min
·
US 43
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on AL 13
33 mi
·
46 min
·
AL 13
8
Continue on US 278; AL 13
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 278; AL 13
9
Continue on AL 13
17 mi
·
25 min
·
AL 13
10
Turn left onto Grover Avenue
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
Grover Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Grover Avenue
Trip Plan
With a duration of under two hours and a low fuel cost of $12, this route offers significant flexibility. You can leave Tuscaloosa at your leisure, perhaps after morning traffic has cleared, and still arrive in Bear Creek with plenty of daylight. Since there are no suggested stops, plan your own brief breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 49.6-mile stretch on AL 13, to ensure you don't need to search for a station unexpectedly.
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 40.7 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.6 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.7 miles or 57m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bear Creek, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tuscaloosa, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tuscaloosa, AL
This is one driving day of about 81.3 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on AL 13 for about 49.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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
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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Turn right onto US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
10th Street
Turn left onto 10th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Main Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Main Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
81.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
Grover Avenue
Turn left onto Grover Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.28 one way
$24.56 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $13.48 | $26.96 |
| premium | $4.56 | $14.59 | $29.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.95 | $35.90 |
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: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.54 | $3.90 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.38 | $5.20 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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
Bear Creek, AL
Morning in Bear Creek on Sunday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
33 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
1h 56m 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 road that is overwhelmingly highway-focused, accounting for 97% of the total mileage. You'll spend most of your time on AL 13 and US 43, which are designed for steady progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.6 miles on AL 13, offering a good period of consistent driving without frequent turns. This drive is about efficient travel, with minimal time spent on slower, more winding local roads.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.6 mi on AL 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 13 and US 43. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Bear Creek, AL is easy. At 1h 56m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (University Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (10th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting 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 56m. Total distance: 81.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.6 miles on AL 13. 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 (University Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (10th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bear Creek, 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.
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