If you are looking to travel from Tuscaloosa to Florence, you are in for a straightforward journey through the Alabama landscape. Spanning 121.7 miles, this trip typically takes about 2 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. Because the duration is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting around $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel. It is a practical, highway-focused route that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
60.8 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AL 13
87.8 mi
2h 1m
US 43
30.4 mi
42m
Main Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
1 mi
1m
US 278
0.5 mi
<1m
South Pine Street
0.2 mi
<1m
10th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AL 13
— 87.8 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Florence, 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
55 mi·1 hr 15 min·AL 13
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.8 mi·3 min·US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
437 ft·15 sec·West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto South Pine Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Pine Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Pine Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 121.7-mile trek, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the drive is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid any peak local traffic. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before starting that long 87.8-mile stretch on AL 13, as it is the primary leg of your journey. Because this is a relatively quick trip, you won't need to stress about complex logistics or multi-day pacing. Focus on maintaining a steady flow through the highway sections to ensure a smooth arrival in Florence.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.8 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 27 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.8 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, 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 121.7 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 AL 13 for about 87.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 121.4 — 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.
5
119.6 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Take the exit onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
121.4 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Turn left onto West Doctor Hicks Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.38 one way
$36.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$20.18
$40.35
premium
$4.56
$21.84
$43.69
diesel
$5.61
$26.87
$53.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
Efficient EV
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
EV Truck/SUV
48.7
0
$17.04
$7.79
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Tuscaloosa, AL
Late night
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Florence, AL
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Brilliant, AL
61 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
13 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
2h 51m 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?
This drive is defined by its efficiency, with 98% of the route consisting of highway travel. You will primarily navigate via AL 13, US 43, and Main Avenue, which provide a consistent rhythm behind the wheel. The most significant portion of your journey is an 87.8-mile stretch on AL 13, where you can settle into a steady pace. While the road is mostly highway-focused, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive moving along steadily. You should expect a functional, utilitarian experience that prioritizes direct travel over technical or winding backroads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.8 mi on AL 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 13 and US 43. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 7 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): 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.
The longest stretch is about 87.8 miles on AL 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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): 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 Florence, AL before heading back.
