Trip from Madison, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL

Drive Time

2h 12m

Distance

147.2 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Madison, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 147.2 miles and takes about 2h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Main Street, Sullivan Street, Wall Triana Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.99 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

73.6 miles from Madison, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 12m drive with frequent turns across 147.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Sullivan Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Wall Triana Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
565	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 65	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 65 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 22 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
Montgomery	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Church Street

2

Continue straight

3

Continue on Main Street

4

Turn sharp left onto Sullivan Street

5

Continue on Wall Triana Highway

6

Take the ramp slight right toward 565: Decatur

7

Merge slight left

8

Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Birmingham, Nashville

9

Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Birmingham

10

Merge slight left

11

Take the exit slight right toward I 22 West, US 31: Memphis, Fultondale

12

Keep slight left to continue on I 22 West: Memphis

13

Keep slight left to continue on Montgomery

14

Merge slight left

15

Take the exit slight right toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa

16

Merge slight left

17

Take the exit slight right toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa

18

Merge slight left

19

Continue straight

20

Continue on Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North

21

Turn right onto University Boulevard

22

Turn left

23

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 73.6 miles from Madison, AL, or about 1h 6m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

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 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.6 miles or 1h 6m 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 48m

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 Madison, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Madison, AL

This is one driving day of about 147.2 miles and 2h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Madison, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Hayden, AL

74 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.

Popular next leg

Hayden, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL

85.3 mi · 1h 21m

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.6 mi from Madison, AL

Hoover, AL

Fuel and coffee

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

Hayden, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.6 miles from Madison, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.45	$19.99	$39.99
midgrade	$3.85	$22.31	$44.62
premium	$4.15	$24.05	$48.10
diesel	$3.75	$21.73	$43.46

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Madison, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 147.2 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Main Street, Sullivan Street, Wall Triana Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 73.6 miles from Madison, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.99 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.