This 187.1-mile drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Satsuma, AL is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. Predominantly a highway-focused trip, you'll spend about 85% of your time on major roads like US 43 and I 20, with Demopolis Highway also a key segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, this route is budget-friendly for a day trip. You'll navigate through the Southeast region of Alabama, experiencing a consistent driving environment. This makes it a practical option if you're looking for a direct and efficient way to travel between these two locations without needing an overnight stay.
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
93.5 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
US 43
126.7 mi
2h 25m
I 20
25.6 mi
27m
Demopolis Highway
24 mi
34m
US 11
4.6 mi
6m
I 359
2 mi
2m
M L King Highway
1.3 mi
3m
North Cedar Avenue
1 mi
1m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 43
— 126.7 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Satsuma, 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 slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 20; I 59
26 mi·27 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward UnionUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto CR 208
1.3 mi·3 min·M L King Highway
11
Merge onto US 11; US 43
4.6 mi·6 min·US 11; US 43
12
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·1st Avenue
13
Merge onto US 43; AL 14
0.3 mi·33 sec·Greensboro Street
14
Turn slight right onto US 43
24 mi·34 min·Demopolis Highway
15
Turn left onto US 43
0.1 mi·13 sec·East Capitol Street
16
Turn right onto US 43
1.0 mi·1 min·North Cedar Avenue
17
Turn left onto US 43; US 80
1.0 mi·1 min·US 43; US 80
18
Turn right onto US 43
17 mi·19 min·US 43
19
Turn right onto US 43
108 mi·2 hr 5 min·US 43
20
Turn left onto Railroad Street
186 ft·10 sec·Railroad Street
21
Arrive at destination
Railroad Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 45 minute duration, starting your drive in Tuscaloosa earlier in the day is advisable to maximize daylight for the 187.1-mile journey. With only one planned stop, consider making it around the halfway point to break up the longest stretch of 126.7 miles on US 43. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is quite manageable, so keeping your tank full is a good idea, especially as you'll be on highways for 85% of the route. This drive is well-suited for a single day, offering flexibility to depart and arrive at your convenience without the need for an overnight stop.
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 93.5 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.7 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 41 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.5 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Satsuma, 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 187.1 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 43 for about 126.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28.7 — 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 slight right lane.
7
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
28.7 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward Union
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Union
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.26 one way
$56.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$31.02
$62.04
premium
$4.56
$33.58
$67.16
diesel
$5.61
$41.31
$82.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.1
0
$19.65
$8.98
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.37
$7.48
EV Truck/SUV
74.8
0
$26.19
$11.97
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Night
in Tuscaloosa on Saturday
Local time
11:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Satsuma, AL
Night
in Satsuma on Saturday
Local time
11:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Thomasville, AL
94 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
4 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 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 187.1-mile trip, with 85% of your journey on major thoroughfares. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 126.7 miles primarily on US 43, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. The character of the drive is largely defined by these main roads, suggesting a focus on efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. As you progress, the road character remains largely consistent, emphasizing the highway nature of this route from Tuscaloosa to Satsuma.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.7 mi on US 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 43 and I 20. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 187.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 Satsuma, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Union along the way.
Union
28.7 mi in|~32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 187.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 126.7 miles on US 43. 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 Satsuma, 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Satsuma, AL, but most travelers stay overnight.
