Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Friday
Local time
6:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Ladonia, 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
3h 47m
Distance
179.5 mi
289 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 35m
★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 13m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Ladonia, AL
Barnabas Davoti
Trip Overview
The drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Ladonia, AL covers 179.5 miles and takes about 3h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on McFarland Boulevard East, I 85, US 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89 miles on McFarland Boulevard East. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
89.8 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| McFarland Boulevard East | 89 mi | 1h 54m |
| I 85 | 42.1 mi | 46m |
| US 80 | 30.1 mi | 41m |
| AL 186 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| I 359 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Old Montgomery Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Cobbs Ford Road | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
McFarland Boulevard East
— 89 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 50 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,128 veh/hr typical · worst 3,842
Quietest
2 AM
~272 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
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 Ladonia, 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
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 359; US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Skyland Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
7
Turn slight right
223 ft
·
9 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Turn slight right onto AL 215
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Montgomery Highway
9
Turn right onto US 82
89 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
McFarland Boulevard East
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 82; AL 14
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Cobbs Ford Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
7.6 mi
·
9 min
12
Take the exit
393 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 171
Toward I-85 North: Atlanta
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
14
Continue on I 85
42 mi
·
46 min
·
I 85
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward AL 186 East: Wire Road
16
Turn right onto AL 186
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
AL 186
17
Merge onto US 80
30 mi
·
41 min
·
US 80
18
Arrive at destination
US 80
Trip Plan
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 89.8 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89 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 39 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.8 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ladonia, 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 179.5 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 McFarland Boulevard East for about 89 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.8 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before McFarland Boulevard East if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 103 — 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.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East
Turn left onto US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
94.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
US 82; AL 14 / Cobbs Ford Road
Turn right onto US 82; AL 14 / Cobbs Ford Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
103 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.30 one way
$52.59 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $29.19 | $58.39 |
| premium | $4.49 | $31.70 | $63.40 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $39.57 | $79.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.85 | $8.62 |
| Efficient EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.71 | $7.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.13 | $11.49 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Ladonia, AL
Morning in Ladonia on Friday
Local time
7:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
3h 47m 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?
179.5 mi in 3h 47m — 44% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: McFarland Boulevard East.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89 mi on McFarland Boulevard East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 179.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.4 miles (US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
564 ft
202 ft
Total Climb
648 ft
Total Descent
400 ft
Highest Point
564 ft
~51.3 mi in
Elevation Range
362 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 Ladonia, 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 3h 47m. Total distance: 179.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89 miles on McFarland Boulevard East. 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 Ladonia, 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 3.4 miles (US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Ladonia, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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