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Trip from Dadeville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 43m

Distance

135.1 mi

217 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

43 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 32m ★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Alabama

Dadeville, AL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Tuscaloosa, AL, AL

Tuscaloosa, AL

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Dadeville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 135.1 miles and takes about 2h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 280, US 231, I 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.5 miles on US 280. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.40 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

67.5 miles from Dadeville, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 135.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 43m highway drive covering 135.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 280 and US 231. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.5 miles on US 280.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 280 is the longest continuous segment at about 38.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and US 231. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 77.8 miles in near I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 135.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 77.8 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
77.8 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in | I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway

Merge onto I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
96.9 mi into trip | ~1h 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
131.9 mi into trip | ~2h 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
135 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in | University Boulevard

Turn right onto University Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
135 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 280 38.5 mi 46m
US 231 38.4 mi 50m
I 20 33.7 mi 36m
John M. Harbert III Freeway 19.2 mi 20m
I 359 2.2 mi 2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North 0.5 mi 1m
North Broadnax Street 0.4 mi <1m
University Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 280 — 38.5 mi, about 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dadeville, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.

1

Start on AL 49

0.4 mi · 46 sec · North Broadnax Street
2

Turn left onto US 280; AL 49

13 mi · 15 min · US 280; AL 49
3

Continue on US 280; AL 22

26 mi · 30 min · US 280; AL 22
4

Continue on US 231; US 280

38 mi · 50 min · US 231; US 280
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn left

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 459 South
6

Merge onto I 459

19 mi · 20 min · John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

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.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 42 sec
Exit 71B Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

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.
11

Continue on I 359; AL 69

0.4 mi · 33 sec · I 359; AL 69
12

Continue on US 43; AL 69

0.5 mi · 1 min · Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
13

Turn right onto University Boulevard

284 ft · 10 sec · University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14

Turn left

168 ft · 12 sec
Use the left lane.
15

Arrive at 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.5 miles from Dadeville, AL, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 80 miles or 1h 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67.5 miles or 1h 24m 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 15m

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 Dadeville, 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 Dadeville, AL

This is one driving day of about 135.1 miles and 2h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dadeville, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 280 for about 38.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67.5 mi from Dadeville, AL · 1h 24m into the drive

city in Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbiana, AL

68 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

Columbiana, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hoover, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.5 miles from Dadeville, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

National Monument

In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...

7 mi from route ~19 min detour Free near mile 79.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.40 one way

$40.81 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $22.40 $44.80
premium $4.56 $24.25 $48.50
diesel $5.61 $29.83 $59.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

43 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Energy Center Charging Farm

Vance, AL

EVGATEWAY

23 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Birmingham, AL

Tesla

16 DCFC

Winn-Dixie - Tesla Supercharger

Alexander City, AL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Spirit Mart - Tesla Supercharger

Bessemer, AL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Sadie's Diner - Tesla Supercharger

Vance, AL

Tesla

12 DCFC

Lane Parke Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Mountain Brook, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tuscaloosa - Tesla Supercharger

Cottondale, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Tuscaloosa, AL

Tesla

8 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 21 Tesla: 7 eVgo Network: 3 Non-Networked: 3 EVGATEWAY: 2 EV Connect: 2 FLO: 1 FCN: 1 RED_E: 1 Electrify America: 1 IN_CHARGE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.5 0 $14.19 $6.48
Efficient EV 33.8 0 $11.82 $5.40
EV Truck/SUV 54 0 $18.91 $8.65

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Dadeville, AL

Afternoon in Dadeville on Thursday

Local time

1:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tuscaloosa, AL

Afternoon in Tuscaloosa on Thursday

Local time

1:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 5 mph 7% chance Live forecast

79°F

Columbiana, AL

68 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

8 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 43m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Dadeville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 135.1 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 280, US 231, I 20. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.5 miles from Dadeville, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.40 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 135.1 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 77.8 miles (I 459 / John M. Harbert III Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Dadeville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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