Dale County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Taylor, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 34m
Distance
207.1 mi
333 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 21m
★
6 AM
4h 34m
8 AM
5h 1m
10 AM
4h 43m
12 PM
4h 41m
3 PM
4h 45m
5 PM
4h 59m
8 PM
4h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Taylor, AL
Muhammad Nabeel
Trip Overview
Tuscaloosa, AL to Taylor, AL is 207.1 miles and takes about 4h 34m via McFarland Boulevard East and US 231, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alabama, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. You'll find the drive mixes highway cruising with surface road travel. It's a straightforward trip, suitable for a single day of driving if you want to get there without an overnight stay.
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
103.6 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m 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 |
| AL 605 | 10.6 mi | 20m |
| West Boulevard | 10.1 mi | 15m |
| Birmingham Highway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| I 359 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| South Memorial Drive | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
McFarland Boulevard East
— 86.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-359
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,412 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~125 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Taylor, 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
11 mi
·
20 min
·
AL 605
Use the right lane.
20
Turn sharp left onto Taylor Road
85 ft
·
2 sec
·
Taylor Road
21
Arrive at destination
Taylor Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day drive, leaving Tuscaloosa in the morning gives you ample time to reach Taylor. With a total duration of around 4.5 hours, you might want to plan for one stop around the halfway point for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, as gas stations might be less frequent. The $33 fuel estimate is a helpful guide for budgeting your trip.
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 103.6 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 2h 16m 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 103.6 miles or 2h 16m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Taylor, 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 207.1 miles and 4h 34m.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.6 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 86.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Chilton County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 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
$28.75 one way
$57.50 round trip
$3.53/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.95 | $32.17 | $64.33 |
| premium | $4.29 | $34.97 | $69.94 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $39.10 | $78.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.75 | $9.94 |
| Efficient EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.12 | $8.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.8 | 1 | $28.99 | $13.25 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Afternoon in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
0 mph
22% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:02PM CDT by NWS Birmingham AL
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:53PM CDT until July 18 at 8:45PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Taylor, AL
Afternoon in Taylor on Sunday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph
69% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:02PM CDT by NWS Birmingham AL
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:53PM CDT until July 18 at 8:45PM 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
3 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 34m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
About 32% of this drive is on highways. The longest continuous stretch on highway is 86.8 miles, primarily on McFarland Boulevard East. You'll experience a mix of highway driving and surface roads, with the latter becoming more prominent after highway sections conclude. Expect to navigate denser traffic and more frequent exits during highway portions.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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 Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 34m drive. You will face about 10 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
483 ft
198 ft
Total Climb
643 ft
Total Descent
538 ft
Highest Point
483 ft
~44.4 mi in
Elevation Range
285 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 Taylor, 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 4h 34m. Total distance: 207.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Taylor, 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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