Tuscaloosa to Cottonwood is 220.4 miles and takes about 4h 50m via McFarland Boulevard East and US 231, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a route mostly on surface roads, so expect a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate drive. With a recommended one-day drive time, this is a straightforward trip for moving between these two locations or exploring central Alabama.
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
110.2 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
McFarland Boulevard East
86.8 mi
1h 51m
US 231
59.6 mi
1h 17m
Troy Highway
34.7 mi
41m
East Cottonwood Road
11.5 mi
17m
West Boulevard
10.1 mi
15m
Ross Clark Circle
6.5 mi
10m
Birmingham Highway
3.7 mi
5m
I 359
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
McFarland Boulevard East
— 86.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-359
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,412 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~125 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Cottonwood, AL.
1
Start on this road
132 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto University Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·University Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi·1 min·Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.3 mi·24 sec·I 359; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 359; US 11; AL 69
2.4 mi·2 min·I 359; US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·32 sec·Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
7
Turn slight right
223 ft·9 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Turn slight right onto AL 215
1.8 mi·2 min·Old Montgomery Highway
9
Turn right onto US 82
87 mi·1 hr 51 min·McFarland Boulevard East
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 31
2.0 mi·2 min·South Memorial Drive
11
Continue on US 31
3.7 mi·5 min·Birmingham Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto US 31
10 mi·15 min·West Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 82; US 231
35 mi·41 min·Troy Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 231
7.7 mi·9 min·US 231
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 231; AL 10
16
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.0 mi·3 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on US 231; AL 10
7.6 mi·10 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 231; AL 10
38 mi·47 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on US 231
3.8 mi·6 min·US 231
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit onto US 231
255 ft·8 sec·US 231
21
Merge onto US 84; US 231; AL 210
6.5 mi·10 min·Ross Clark Circle
Use the left lane.
22
Take the exit
173 ft·6 sec
23
Turn right onto AL 53
11 mi·17 min·East Cottonwood Road
24
Turn slight right onto Sealy Wells Road
280 ft·7 sec·Sealy Wells Road
25
Arrive at destination
Sealy Wells Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 50m estimated drive time, leaving Tuscaloosa in the morning should allow you to reach Cottonwood with plenty of daylight remaining. While the drive is manageable in one day, consider breaking it up if you prefer a more leisurely pace. The fuel cost is estimated at $35, so plan accordingly. Keep an eye out for the transition from McFarland Boulevard East to US 231, as this is a key point in the route where the driving environment changes.
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 110.2 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.8 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 48 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 2h 25m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonwood, 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.
+
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 Tuscaloosa, AL
This is one driving day of about 220.4 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Tuscaloosa, 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 McFarland Boulevard East for about 86.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 202.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
Turn left onto US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in|US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East
Turn left onto US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
98 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 31 / West Boulevard
Turn right onto US 31 / West Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
202.4 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|US 84; US 231; AL 210 / Ross Clark Circle
Merge onto US 84; US 231; AL 210 / Ross Clark Circle
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.60 one way
$61.19 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$34.23
$68.46
premium
$4.29
$37.22
$74.43
diesel
$4.80
$41.62
$83.23
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: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.14
$10.58
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.86
$14.11
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Late night
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
5:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 5 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:57PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:49PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Cottonwood, AL
Late night
in Cottonwood on Sunday
Local time
5:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
N 5 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:57PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:49PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
1 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 50m 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?
This route features 28% highway driving, with the majority of your time spent on surface roads. You'll experience an 86.8-mile stretch on McFarland Boulevard East. Expect to navigate through areas with frequent exits and local traffic before transitioning to more open cruising on US 231.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.8 mi on McFarland Boulevard East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
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 50m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 86.8 miles on McFarland Boulevard East. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Cottonwood, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
