Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
84.2 mi
135 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Marbury, AL
Samson Bush
Tuscaloosa, AL to Marbury, AL is 84.2 miles and takes about 1h 53m via McFarland Boulevard East and AL 22, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Alabama, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a route with numerous turns, characteristic of local travel, rather than a long, straight highway. It's a straightforward, single-day trip, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| McFarland Boulevard East | 47.3 mi | 57m |
| AL 22 | 15 mi | 21m |
| 7th Street North | 12.8 mi | 19m |
| I 359 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| County Road 10 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Old Montgomery Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| AL 143 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Marbury, AL.
Start on this road
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Turn left onto US 43; AL 69
Continue on I 359; AL 69
Continue on I 359; US 11; AL 69
Turn left onto US 11
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto AL 215
Turn right onto US 82
Turn left onto County Road 10
Turn left onto AL 22
Turn right onto Foshee Avenue
Turn straight onto AL 22
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto US 31; AL 22
Turn left onto AL 143
Turn right onto Autauga County 20
Turn left onto Hunter Loop Road
Arrive at destination
Given the 1h 53m duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. Plan to leave in the morning to enjoy the drive in daylight and avoid any potential evening navigation challenges. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, topping off your tank before you leave Tuscaloosa is a good idea, as there are no specific stops recommended along the way. Keep an eye on your GPS, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be making several directional changes throughout the 84.2 miles.
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.
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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 53m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marbury, AL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Tuscaloosa, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tuscaloosa, AL
This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 1h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 5.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 11 / Skyland Boulevard East
Lane positioning matters here
Turn slight right
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 82 / McFarland Boulevard East
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$12.72 one way
$25.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $13.96 | $27.92 |
| premium | $4.56 | $15.11 | $30.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.59 | $37.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.84 | $4.04 |
| Efficient EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.37 | $3.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.79 | $5.39 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Marbury on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
49°F
Centreville, AL
42 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This journey is best described as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 23% of the route on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.3 miles on McFarland Boulevard East, offering a brief period of more consistent driving. As you proceed, the road will transition between these more open sections and more involved segments requiring frequent adjustments. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged with the road.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
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 84.2 miles you will encounter 11 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.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 84.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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