Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
10:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to La Fayette, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
160.1 mi
258 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 12m
★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
La Fayette, AL
Magda Ehlers
Trip Overview
Tuscaloosa to La Fayette is 160.1 miles and takes about 3h 23m via US 280 and I 20, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, traversing the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day trip, you have plenty of flexibility to take your time or get there quickly.
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
80.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 70 mi | 1h 26m |
| I 20 | 34.2 mi | 36m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 19.1 mi | 20m |
| AL 50 | 18.2 mi | 31m |
| United States Highway 280 | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| I 359 | 2 mi | 2m |
| LaFayette Street North | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 70 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and La Fayette, 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 106
Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
Use 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 19
Toward US 280: Mountain Brook, Childersburg
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 280 East: Childersburg
Use 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
70 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
US 280
15
Turn left onto AL 50; CR 34
18 mi
·
31 min
·
AL 50; CR 34
16
Turn left onto US 431
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
LaFayette Street North
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Alabama Avenue East
55 ft
·
1 sec
·
Alabama Avenue East
18
Arrive at destination
Alabama Avenue East
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 23m drive time, starting your trip in Tuscaloosa in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive with ample daylight. This is a one-day route, so you can easily complete it without an overnight stay. Plan for one stop if you need to stretch your legs or refuel; the longest stretch before needing to potentially exit is 70 miles on US 280. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $24, and it’s always wise to top off before embarking on longer highway segments.
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 80.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70 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 35 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.1 miles or 1h 34m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Fayette, 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 160.1 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 US 280 for about 70 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 280 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70 miles.
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 135 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
$24.18 one way
$48.36 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $26.54 | $53.09 |
| premium | $4.56 | $28.74 | $57.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.35 | $70.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48 | 0 | $16.81 | $7.68 |
| Efficient EV | 40 | 0 | $14.01 | $6.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64 | 0 | $22.41 | $10.25 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
La Fayette, AL
Morning in La Fayette on Sunday
Local time
10:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Vincent, AL
80 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
3 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
3h 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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 55.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 97% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of your trip. The longest continuous stretch on US 280 covers 70 miles. You'll transition to surface roads as you approach La Fayette, though the exact mileage for this change isn't specified. Expect a steady cruising pace for most of the route, with urban merging patterns as you depart Tuscaloosa on John M. Harbert III Freeway.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and I 20. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 160.1 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.
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 La Fayette, AL, road signs point toward Atlanta and Childersburg.
Atlanta
37.8 mi in
|
~42m
Childersburg
57.4 mi in
|
~1h 4m
About the Cities
Starting in Tuscaloosa, AL
Full guide →Tuscaloosa is a city of over 100,000 people (2020) in Metropolitan Alabama and home of the University of Alabama.
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 3h 23m. Total distance: 160.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70 miles on US 280. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 La Fayette, 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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at La Fayette, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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