Origin
Childersburg, AL
Night in Childersburg on Wednesday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Childersburg, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
86.3 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Childersburg, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
This straightforward 86.3-mile drive from Childersburg, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is easily managed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 43 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-20, with a short segment on US 231 and the John M. Harbert III Freeway. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, this route is budget-friendly. The highway-focused profile means you'll cover ground efficiently, making it a practical option for getting between these two Southeast Alabama locations. Expect a smooth journey with minimal need to break up the drive.
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
43.2 miles from Childersburg, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a mostly highway-focused experience, with 97% of your journey on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.7 miles on I-20, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the primary roads are interstates and freeways, including I-20, US 231, and the John M. Harbert III Freeway, the consistent highway nature suggests a predictable and efficient driving experience. This route is designed for covering distance, rather than for a winding, scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 33.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 231. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AL 76 / 1st Street Southwest.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 (AL 76 / 1st Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 48.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AL 76 / 1st Street Southwest
Turn left onto AL 76 / 1st Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
8
48.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
8
83.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m 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
6
86.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
86.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 33.7 mi | 36m |
| US 231 | 28.3 mi | 37m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 19.2 mi | 20m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street Southwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 8th Avenue Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 33.7 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Childersburg, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on 8th Avenue Southwest
59 ft
·
8 sec
·
8th Avenue Southwest
2
Turn left onto AL 76
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
1st Street Southwest
3
Turn right onto US 231; US 280; AL 76
28 mi
·
37 min
·
US 231; US 280; AL 76
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 459 South
5
Merge onto I 459
19 mi
·
20 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5
34 mi
·
36 min
·
I 20; I 59; US 11; AL 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
11
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 1 hour and 43 minutes, this trip from Childersburg to Tuscaloosa offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart whenever it suits your schedule, as there's no pressing need to break up the 86.3 miles. With no specifically recommended stops, plan to refuel before you leave or at a convenient exit along I-20 if needed, keeping the $13 fuel cost in mind. The longest stretch without a major exit opportunity is over 33 miles on I-20, so ensure you're comfortable with your fuel level before entering that segment.
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 43.2 miles from Childersburg, AL, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.7 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 54m 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 28m
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 Childersburg, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Childersburg, AL
This is one driving day of about 86.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Childersburg, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 33.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.2 mi from Childersburg, AL · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.2 miles from Childersburg, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.03 one way
$26.07 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $14.31 | $28.61 |
| premium | $4.56 | $15.49 | $30.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.05 | $38.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
| Efficient EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.08 | $5.52 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Night in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
33 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 43m 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 Childersburg, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 86.3 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, US 231, John M. Harbert III Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.2 miles from Childersburg, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.03 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AL 76 / 1st Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 48.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Childersburg, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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