Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Friday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Grayson Valley, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
74.4 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Grayson Valley, AL
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Grayson Valley, AL covers 74.4 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, I 59, I 359 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.2 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 58.2 mi | 1h 4m |
| I 59 | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| I 359 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Chalkville Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Grayson Valley Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 58.2 mi, about 1h 4m
Traffic on I-59
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 80 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,895 veh/hr typical · worst 3,433
Quietest
2 AM
~277 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Grayson Valley, 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
58 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 59
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 141
Toward Trussville, Pinson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn slight left
128 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 141
Toward Trussville, Pinson
12
Turn left onto CR 10
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Chalkville Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto Grayson Valley Drive
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Grayson Valley Drive
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Grayson Valley Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.7 — 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.
7
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
8
72.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward Trussville, Pinson
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 141
Toward Trussville, Pinson
6
72.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
CR 10 / Chalkville Road
Turn left onto CR 10 / Chalkville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.90 one way
$21.80 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $12.10 | $24.20 |
| premium | $4.49 | $13.14 | $26.28 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $16.40 | $32.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Grayson Valley, AL
Morning in Grayson Valley on Friday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Brighton, AL
37 mi in
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
4 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 25m 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?
74.4 mi in 1h 25m, mostly highway — 58.2 mi of that is on I 20.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 59. 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 Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 (University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South): Lane positioning matters here; at 61.8 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
941 ft
225 ft
Total Climb
843 ft
Total Descent
127 ft
Highest Point
941 ft
~74.4 mi in
Elevation Range
716 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Tuscaloosa, AL
Full guide →Founded 1819
Tuscaloosa is a city of over 100,000 people (2020) in Metropolitan Alabama and home of the University of Alabama.
Top landmarks
- • Gorgas-Manly Historic District — historic district in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- • Pinehurst Historic District — historic district in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- • Audubon Place Historic District — historic district in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
Arriving in Grayson Valley, AL
Full guide →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 25m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.2 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Grayson Valley, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South): Lane positioning matters here; at 61.8 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Grayson Valley, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. 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 Grayson Valley, AL
More trips to Grayson Valley, AL
Explore more options from Tuscaloosa, AL or browse trips ending in Grayson Valley, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.