Tuscaloosa to Malvern is 210.2 miles and takes about 4h 37m via McFarland Boulevard East and US 231, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays entirely within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way across the state. It's a straightforward drive for anyone looking to cover ground without a lot of complexity, making it a solid option for a single-day transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
McFarland Boulevard East
86.8 mi
1h 51m
US 231
53.8 mi
1h 9m
Troy Highway
34.7 mi
41m
West Boulevard
10.1 mi
15m
AL 605
9.4 mi
17m
Birmingham Highway
3.7 mi
5m
Hartford Highway
2.8 mi
3m
I 359
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
McFarland Boulevard East
— 86.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-359
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,407 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,814
Quietest
2 AM
~125 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Malvern, 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
87 mi·1 hr 51 min·McFarland Boulevard East
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 31
2.0 mi·2 min·South Memorial Drive
11
Continue on US 31
3.7 mi·5 min·Birmingham Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto US 31
10 mi·15 min·West Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 82; US 231
35 mi·41 min·Troy Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 231
7.7 mi·9 min·US 231
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on US 231; AL 10
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 231; AL 10
16
Continue on US 231; AL 10
2.0 mi·3 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on US 231; AL 10
7.6 mi·10 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 231; AL 10
36 mi·45 min·US 231; AL 10
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto AL 605
9.4 mi·17 min·AL 605
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto AL 52
2.8 mi·3 min·Hartford Highway
21
Continue on AL 52
1.5 mi·2 min·East White Street
22
Turn left onto South Main Street
53 ft·2 sec·South Main Street
23
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 4.5-hour drive, leaving Tuscaloosa in the morning will give you ample time to reach Malvern before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; consider making your break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $31 budget is an estimate and prices can vary. Since this is a single-day trip, you can afford to be spontaneous with your timing and don't need to worry about overnight accommodations.
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 105.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.8 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 46 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.1 miles or 2h 18m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Malvern, 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 210.2 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 86.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 196.5 — 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
98 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 31 / West Boulevard
Turn right onto US 31 / West Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
196.5 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|AL 605
Turn right onto AL 605
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.72 one way
$65.44 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.07
$72.15
premium
$4.71
$38.99
$77.97
diesel
$6.18
$51.13
$102.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.1
0
$22.07
$10.09
Efficient EV
52.6
0
$18.39
$8.41
EV Truck/SUV
84.1
1
$29.43
$13.45
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Late night
in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 7:08AM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Malvern, AL
Late night
in Malvern on Tuesday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
NE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 7:08AM CDT until October 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
4h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 31% of this drive will be on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 86.8 miles on McFarland Boulevard East before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to encounter denser traffic and more frequent exits during the highway portion, and then a more rural cruising feel once you're on US 231 and Troy Highway.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.8 mi on McFarland Boulevard East.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 37m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 3.4 miles (US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East): Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 86.8 miles on McFarland Boulevard East. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Malvern, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
