Origin
Warrior, AL
Morning in Warrior on Tuesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Warrior, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
78.1 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Warrior, AL
Fernando Cortés
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Spanning 78.1 miles through the heart of Alabama, this drive between Warrior and Tuscaloosa typically takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes. Because the trip is short and straightforward, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stops. You can expect to budget roughly $12 for fuel, making this an affordable journey within the Southeast region. Since the route is primarily highway-focused, you will spend the vast majority of your time cruising toward your destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that prioritizes efficiency over meandering detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 52.8 mi | 57m |
| I 65 | 17.5 mi | 19m |
| Louisa Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Service Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kemp Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 52.8 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Warrior, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Bluff Street
109 ft
·
6 sec
·
Bluff Street
2
Turn right onto 2nd Street
307 ft
·
13 sec
·
2nd Street
3
Turn right onto Kemp Drive
302 ft
·
13 sec
·
Kemp Drive
4
Turn right onto US 31
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Louisa Street
5
Turn slight right
255 ft
·
9 sec
6
Turn slight right onto Service Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Service Road
7
Take the ramp
103 ft
·
4 sec
8
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
9
Merge onto I 65
14 mi
·
14 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 65
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 261C
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
15
Merge onto I 20; I 59
53 mi
·
57 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 359; US 11; AL 69
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 359; US 11; AL 69
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
19
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39 miles from Warrior, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 16.6 and 78 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
16.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
7
17.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 22 West: Memphis
7
17.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Montgomery
8
74.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
7
78 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.79 one way
$23.59 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.95 | $25.90 |
| premium | $4.56 | $14.02 | $28.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.24 | $34.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.93 | $5.00 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
With 93% of the journey spent on highways, this trip is defined by a consistent, interstate-heavy pace. You will navigate a combination of I-65 and I-20, occasionally transitioning onto local roads like Louisa Street to round out the 78.1-mile trek. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a 52.8-mile run on I-20, which allows you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. Expect a functional, high-speed experience rather than a winding backroads adventure. As you progress, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive moving quickly toward Tuscaloosa.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.8 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.1 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: at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Warrior, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale and Montgomery.
Fultondale
16.6 mi in
|
~19m
Montgomery
17.6 mi in
|
~20m
About the Cities
Arriving in Tuscaloosa, AL
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 78.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.8 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 Tuscaloosa, 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: at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Tuscaloosa, AL before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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