This straightforward 84.7-mile drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Margaret, AL takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with a fuel cost estimated at $13. The majority of your journey, 92%, will be on interstate highways, making it a quick and efficient trip across Alabama's Southeast region. You won't need to worry about overnight stays on this relatively short distance. Plan for a smooth, uninterrupted drive primarily focused on covering ground.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.4 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
58.2 mi
1h 4m
I 59
17.4 mi
18m
Argo-Margaret Road
3.3 mi
6m
I 359
2 mi
2m
County Road 12
1.1 mi
2m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
0.5 mi
1m
University Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 58.2 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Margaret, 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
58 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
17 mi·18 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North: GadsdenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 148Toward Argo
11
Keep slight right at fork
167 ft·4 sec
Exit 148Toward ArgoUse the right lane.
12
Turn slight right onto Liles Lane
0.1 mi·15 sec·Liles Lane
13
Turn left onto US 11
0.4 mi·39 sec·Main Street
14
Turn right onto CR 6
3.3 mi·6 min·Argo-Margaret Road
15
Continue on CR 12
1.1 mi·2 min·County Road 12
16
Continue on CR 12
0.3 mi·41 sec·Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
CR 12
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just under two hours, this route offers great flexibility; you can easily depart anytime. Consider leaving Tuscaloosa in the morning to arrive in Margaret with plenty of daylight. You'll spend most of your time on I-20 and I-59, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before that 58.2-mile stretch on I-20. While there are no mandatory stops suggested, planning for a brief stretch break is always wise on highway-focused drives. The $13 fuel cost is a good estimate for this distance.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.4 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.2 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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.4 miles or 48m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Margaret, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tuscaloosa, AL
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 58.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79.5 — 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
2.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
61.8 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
9
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Argo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 148
Toward Argo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.79 one way
$25.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.04
$28.08
premium
$4.56
$15.20
$30.41
diesel
$5.61
$18.70
$37.40
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: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.07
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.41
$3.39
EV Truck/SUV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Margaret, AL
Late night
in Margaret on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
2 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
1h 40m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 84.7-mile trip, with 92% of the route utilizing interstates. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 58.2 miles on I-20, indicating long periods of consistent highway driving. The primary roads guiding you are I-20, I-59, and Argo-Margaret Road. This profile suggests a drive where speed and efficiency are prioritized over winding scenic byways, allowing you to cover distance with ease.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 59. 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Margaret, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Argo along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 84.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.2 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 Margaret, AL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Margaret, AL before heading back.
