Tuscaloosa to Goodwater is 111.7 miles and takes about 2 hours 23 minutes via I 20 and US 280, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making for a relatively straightforward trip. It's a good option for a quick day trip or a short leg of a longer journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.8 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
34.2 mi
36m
US 280
24.8 mi
31m
John M. Harbert III Freeway
19.1 mi
20m
United States Highway 280
12.6 mi
17m
Goodwater Highway
8.8 mi
15m
County Road 511
2.8 mi
4m
Sylacauga Street
2.2 mi
3m
I 359
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 34.2 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Goodwater, 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
1.7 mi·1 min·I 359; US 11; AL 69
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto I 20; I 59
34 mi·36 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 106Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, AtlantaUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 459
19 mi·20 min·John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 19Toward US 280: Mountain Brook, ChildersburgUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 280 East: ChildersburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 280
13 mi·17 min·United States Highway 280
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 280
25 mi·31 min·US 280
15
Turn left onto West Fort Williams Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West Fort Williams Street
16
Turn right onto AL 21
0.7 mi·47 sec·South Broadway Avenue
17
Continue on AL 21
507 ft·11 sec·Rockford Highway
18
Turn left
244 ft·10 sec
19
Turn straight onto CR 511
8.8 mi·15 min·Goodwater Highway
20
Continue on County Road 511
2.8 mi·4 min·County Road 511
21
Continue on Sylacauga Street
2.2 mi·3 min·Sylacauga Street
22
Arrive at destination
Railroad Place
Trip Plan
Starting your drive in Tuscaloosa in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Goodwater. Since this is a shorter drive, you have flexibility with stops. The longest stretch without a major road change is 34.2 miles on I 20. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you get closer to Goodwater, and plan to fill up if needed. The estimated fuel cost is around $17.
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 55.8 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.2 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 25 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 1h 2m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goodwater, 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 111.7 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 34.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.6 — 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.
8
37.8 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 106
Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
8
57.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 280: Mountain Brook, Childersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19
Toward US 280: Mountain Brook, Childersburg
7
57.6 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 280 East: Childersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 280 East: Childersburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.87 one way
$33.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.52
$37.04
premium
$4.56
$20.05
$40.10
diesel
$5.61
$24.66
$49.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.77
$4.47
EV Truck/SUV
44.7
0
$15.64
$7.15
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Late night
in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Goodwater, AL
Late night
in Goodwater on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
2 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 23m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 57.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway driving, with 83% of the route on interstates and freeways. You'll encounter a 34.2-mile stretch on I 20 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a good amount of highway cruising, with the density of exits likely increasing as you approach your destination.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 280. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 111.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 37.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tuscaloosa, AL and Goodwater, AL, road signs point toward Atlanta and Childersburg.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 111.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.2 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
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 Goodwater, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 37.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Goodwater, AL before heading back.
