Origin
Chelsea, AL
Evening in Chelsea on Sunday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chelsea, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
156.1 mi
251 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chelsea, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling from Chelsea to Tuscaloosa covers 156.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is relatively short and direct, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel for the round trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Both locations are situated in the Southeast, keeping the travel experience localized to Alabama. This route is ideal if you prefer a quick transit between cities without the hassle of long-haul logistics. Overall, it serves as a practical, efficient connection that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.1 miles from Chelsea, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than lulled by a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you will spend the entire 156.1 miles navigating local roads like Drake Avenue Southwest, Patton Road Southwest, and Jordan Lane Southwest. You won't find any long, straight stretches here, as the longest uninterrupted segment on Drake Avenue Southwest is 0 miles. This configuration requires your full attention, as the route relies entirely on surface streets rather than high-speed thoroughfares. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that prioritizes navigation through local infrastructure over high-speed travel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Drake Avenue Southwest is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Chelsea, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chelsea, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Drake Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Patton Road Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jordan Lane Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 22 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Montgomery | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 20 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Drake Avenue Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chelsea, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Triana Boulevard Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Triana Boulevard Southwest
2
Turn left onto Drake Avenue Southwest
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Drake Avenue Southwest
3
Turn slight right
174 ft
·
8 sec
4
Turn slight right onto Patton Road Southwest
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Patton Road Southwest
5
Continue on Jordan Lane Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jordan Lane Southwest
6
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
7
Merge slight left
16 mi
·
17 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 65: Birmingham, Nashville
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 65 South: Birmingham
10
Merge slight left
74 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 22 West: Memphis
13
Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Montgomery
14
Merge slight left
3.7 mi
·
4 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
16
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
57 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
18
Merge slight left
1.8 mi
·
2 min
19
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
20
Continue on Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
21
Turn right onto University Boulevard
285 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
22
Turn left
167 ft
·
12 sec
23
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2 hour and 20 minute trip with no mandatory stops required, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your navigation settings before you pull out of Chelsea to ensure you are prepared for the frequent transitions between Drake Avenue, Patton Road, and Jordan Lane. Budgeting $21 for fuel is sufficient, but keep an eye on your gauge before leaving, as local roads may offer fewer convenient fueling opportunities than a major interstate. Because there are no scheduled stops, consider building in your own breaks along the way to stretch your legs if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Staying alert is key, as the constant turns demand more focus than a standard highway drive.
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 78.1 miles from Chelsea, AL, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
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 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.1 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tuscaloosa, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chelsea, 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 Chelsea, AL
This is one driving day of about 156.1 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chelsea, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.1 mi from Chelsea, AL · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.1 miles from Chelsea, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tuscaloosa, AL
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.86 one way
$47.73 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $26.17 | $52.35 |
| premium | $4.61 | $28.33 | $56.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.68 | $69.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.8 | 0 | $16.39 | $7.49 |
| Efficient EV | 39 | 0 | $13.66 | $6.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.4 | 0 | $21.85 | $9.99 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Evening in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Hayden, AL
78 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
1 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
2h 20m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chelsea, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 156.1 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Drake Avenue Southwest, Patton Road Southwest, Jordan Lane Southwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.1 miles from Chelsea, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Chelsea, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chelsea, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chelsea, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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