Origin
Kansas, AL
Morning in Kansas on Monday
Local time
7:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kansas, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
56.9 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Kansas, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 56.9 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 43, AL 13, AL 118 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.6 miles on US 43. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.70 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
28.4 miles from Kansas, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 20m highway drive covering 56.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 43 and AL 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.6 miles on US 43.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 43 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 43 and AL 13. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near AL 118.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (AL 118): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (AL 13): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles (5th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
AL 118
Turn left onto AL 118
Navigation decision point
6
4.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
AL 13
Turn left onto AL 13
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
56.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn left onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
56.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 43 | 28.6 mi | 39m |
| AL 13 | 20.8 mi | 28m |
| AL 118 | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Main Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Rutledge Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 43
— 28.6 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kansas, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on South Oak Avenue
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Oak Avenue
2
Continue on Rutledge Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Rutledge Street
3
Turn left
4.5 mi
·
6 min
4
Turn left
21 mi
·
28 min
5
Continue straight
29 mi
·
39 min
6
Continue on Main Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Avenue
7
Turn left onto 5th Street
364 ft
·
12 sec
·
5th Street
8
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
9
Merge slight left onto Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
10
Turn left onto University Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
University Boulevard
11
Turn left
167 ft
·
12 sec
12
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 28.4 miles from Kansas, AL, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 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 56.9 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.4 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 Kansas, 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 Kansas, AL
This is one driving day of about 56.9 miles and 1h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kansas, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 43 for about 28.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.4 mi from Kansas, AL · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 56.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.4 miles from Kansas, 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
$8.70 one way
$17.40 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
| premium | $4.61 | $10.33 | $20.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.64 | $25.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.97 | $2.73 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.97 | $3.64 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
7:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Cordova, AL
28 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
2 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 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 Kansas, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 56.9 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 43, AL 13, AL 118. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.4 miles from Kansas, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.70 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 is a straightforward 1h 20m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (AL 118): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (AL 13): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles (5th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Kansas, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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