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Create accountDrive Time
3h 1m
Distance
163.3 mi
263 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ardmore, AL
Maximiliana Eligi Mtenga
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
The drive from Ardmore, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 163.3 miles and takes about 3h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I-65, I 20, Interstate 65 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.6 miles on I-65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.96 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
81.7 miles from Ardmore, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
This is a 3h 1m highway drive covering 163.3 miles, with most of the trip on I-65 and I 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.6 miles on I-65.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
543 ft
Total Descent
932 ft
Highest Point
953 ft
~54.4 mi in
Elevation Range
516 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I-65 and I 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 101.8 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 163.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 101.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 22 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Between Ardmore, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL, road signs point toward Fultondale and Montgomery.
Fultondale
Montgomery
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I-65 | 87.6 mi | 1h 33m |
| I 20 | 52.8 mi | 57m |
| Interstate 65 South | 10.8 mi | 11m |
| I 65 | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| 7th Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Ardmore Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ardmore, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
Start on TN 7
Turn right onto AL 53
Turn right onto AL 53
At end of road, turn left onto AL 53
Turn right onto AL 53
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 65; US 31
Continue on I 65
Continue on I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Take the exit
Merge onto I 359; US 11; AL 69
Continue on I 359; AL 69
Continue on US 43; AL 69
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Turn left
Arrive at destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.7 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tuscaloosa, AL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Ardmore, 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 Ardmore, AL
This is one driving day of about 163.3 miles and 3h 1m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.7 mi from Ardmore, AL · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 81.7 miles from Ardmore, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I-65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.6 miles.
The final approach into Tuscaloosa, AL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Tuscaloosa, AL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$24.96 one way
$49.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $27.38 | $54.76 |
| premium | $4.61 | $29.64 | $59.28 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.28 | $72.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49 | 0 | $17.15 | $7.84 |
| Efficient EV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.29 | $6.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.3 | 0 | $22.86 | $10.45 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Ardmore on Sunday
Local time
6:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
6:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
86°F
Hayden, AL
82 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
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.
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