Origin
Lincoln, AL
Night in Lincoln on Wednesday
Local time
9:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lincoln, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
99.8 mi
161 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lincoln, AL
Ramon Perucho
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Lincoln, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 99.8 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, John M. Harbert III Freeway, I 359 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.1 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.07 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
49.9 miles from Lincoln, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 52m highway drive covering 99.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.1 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 64.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and John M. Harbert III Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 99.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 West: Birmingham
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I-20 West: Birmingham
8
32.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
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 136
Toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
8
61.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
96.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m 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
7
99.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lincoln, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Gadsden along the way.
Gadsden
32.1 mi in
|
~36m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 64.1 mi | 1h 8m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 28.4 mi | 30m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Magnolia Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| AL 77 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 64.1 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincoln, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on 1st Avenue
222 ft
·
15 sec
·
1st Avenue
2
Turn left onto Magnolia Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Magnolia Street
3
Turn right onto AL 77
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
AL 77
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I-20 West: Birmingham
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 20
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 136
Toward I 459: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 459 South: Montgomery, Tuscaloosa
8
Merge onto I 459
28 mi
·
30 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
14
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
17
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.9 miles from Lincoln, AL, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.1 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.9 miles or 56m 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 32m
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 Lincoln, AL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lincoln, AL
This is one driving day of about 99.8 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Lincoln, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 64.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.9 mi from Lincoln, AL · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.9 miles from Lincoln, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.1 miles.
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
$15.07 one way
$30.14 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $16.55 | $33.09 |
| premium | $4.56 | $17.91 | $35.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.03 | $44.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.48 | $4.79 |
| Efficient EV | 25 | 0 | $8.73 | $3.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.97 | $6.39 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Tuscaloosa, AL
Night in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday
Local time
9:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
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
40 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 52m 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 Lincoln, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 99.8 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, John M. Harbert III Freeway, I 359. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.9 miles from Lincoln, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.07 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 99.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Lincoln, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL, road signs begin pointing toward Gadsden along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tuscaloosa, AL
More from Lincoln, AL
More trips to Tuscaloosa, AL
Explore more options from Lincoln, AL or browse trips ending in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AL road trips.
Explore maps for Lincoln, AL or Tuscaloosa, AL on MapSof.net.