Tuscaloosa to Jacksonville is 132 miles and takes about 2h 33m via I 20, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The drive is predominantly highway, making it a straightforward and efficient option for a quick trip. With just one recommended stop and a short duration, this route is well-suited for a same-day excursion without feeling rushed.
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
66 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
82.1 mi
1h 27m
John M. Harbert III Freeway
28.5 mi
30m
McClellan Boulevard
7 mi
10m
AL 21
5.2 mi
10m
Pelham Road South
4 mi
5m
I 359
2 mi
2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
0.5 mi
1m
University Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 82.1 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Jacksonville, 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
29 mi·30 min·John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 29Toward I 20: Birmingham, AtlantaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: AtlantaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 20
48 mi·51 min·I 20
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 185Toward AL 21: Oxford, AnnistonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto AL 21
5.2 mi·10 min·AL 21
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on AL 21
7.0 mi·10 min·McClellan Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on AL 21
4.0 mi·5 min·Pelham Road South
18
Turn left onto AL 21
228 ft·6 sec·Public Square West
19
Arrive at destination
AL 21
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 33m duration, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Tuscaloosa in the morning allows ample time to reach Jacksonville with daylight to spare. The primary road is I 20, so keep an eye on the exit numbers as you get closer to Jacksonville. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, filling up before you leave Tuscaloosa should be sufficient for the entire 132-mile trip. Since this is a single-day drive, there's no need to plan for overnight stays.
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 66 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.1 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66 miles or 1h 13m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, 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 132 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 I 20 for about 82.1 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 115.6 — 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.
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
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 20: Birmingham, Atlanta
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 29
Toward I 20: Birmingham, Atlanta
7
67 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Atlanta
8
115.6 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward AL 21: Oxford, Anniston
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 185
Toward AL 21: Oxford, Anniston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.94 one way
$39.87 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.88
$43.77
premium
$4.56
$23.69
$47.38
diesel
$5.61
$29.14
$58.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.6
0
$13.86
$6.34
Efficient EV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
EV Truck/SUV
52.8
0
$18.48
$8.45
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksonville, AL
Late night
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
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
2h 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on the highway, with an 89% highway share. The longest continuous stretch on I 20 is 82.1 miles, offering a good period of consistent cruising. As you approach your destination, expect the highway to transition to surface roads, with the John M. Harbert III Freeway and McClellan Boulevard forming the final approach. The density of exits on I 20 will be a noticeable feature for much of the drive.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 132 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 37.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.9 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 Jacksonville, AL, road signs point toward Atlanta and Anniston.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 132 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.1 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 Jacksonville, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (University Boulevard): 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; at 66.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, AL before heading back.
