Origin
Columbiana, AL
Morning in Columbiana on Monday
Local time
11:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbiana, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
78.3 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbiana, AL
Andrius La Rotta
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbiana, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 78.3 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West College Street, Highway 70, County Road 26 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.97 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Columbiana, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 19m drive with frequent turns across 78.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West College Street 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 Columbiana, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is easy. At 1h 19m 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 Columbiana, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West College Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 70 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 26 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-65 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 459 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 459 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John M | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West College Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbiana, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on South Main Street
49 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto West College Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West College Street
3
Continue on Alabama Highway 70
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Alabama Highway 70
4
Turn right onto County Road 26
9.2 mi
·
14 min
·
County Road 26
5
Turn right onto 1st Street South
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street South
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I-65 North: Birmingham
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I-65 North: Birmingham
7
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
11 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 459: Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 459: Atlanta, Gadsden, Tuscaloosa
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 459 South: Tuscaloosa
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 459 South: Tuscaloosa
10
Merge slight left onto John M. Harbert III Freeway
14 mi
·
15 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
12
Merge slight left
34 mi
·
36 min
13
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
14
Merge slight left
1.8 mi
·
2 min
15
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
16
Continue on Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
17
Turn right onto University Boulevard
285 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
18
Turn left
167 ft
·
12 sec
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 39.2 miles from Columbiana, AL, or about 39m 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 78.3 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 39m 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 7m
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 Columbiana, 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 Columbiana, AL
This is one driving day of about 78.3 miles and 1h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbiana, 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 39.2 mi from Columbiana, AL · 39m into the drive
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 78.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Columbiana, 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
$11.97 one way
$23.94 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $13.13 | $26.26 |
| premium | $4.61 | $14.21 | $28.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.40 | $34.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
| Efficient EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.96 | $5.01 |
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 Monday
Local time
11:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Hayden, AL
39 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 19m 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 Columbiana, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 78.3 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West College Street, Highway 70, County Road 26. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 miles from Columbiana, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.97 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 Columbiana, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is easy. At 1h 19m 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 Columbiana, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbiana, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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