Origin
Muscle Shoals, AL
Late night in Muscle Shoals on Wednesday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Muscle Shoals, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
117.6 mi
189 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 33m
★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Muscle Shoals, AL
Tolga Ahmetler
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Muscle Shoals, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 117.6 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 43, AL 13, Main Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.3 miles on US 43. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.76 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
58.8 miles from Muscle Shoals, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 2h 43m highway drive covering 117.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 43 and AL 13. The longest continuous stretch is about 80.3 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 14 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 80.3 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 early in the drive near US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 43m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 53 miles (AL 13): Navigation decision point; at 53.5 miles (AL 13): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue
Turn left onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
53 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
AL 13
Take the ramp onto AL 13
Navigation decision point
6
53.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
AL 13
Turn left onto AL 13
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
117.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn left onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
117.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 43 | 80.3 mi | 1h 48m |
| AL 13 | 33.3 mi | 47m |
| Main Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Woodward Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Avalon Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 43
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muscle Shoals, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Avalon Avenue
49 ft
·
8 sec
·
Avalon Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Woodward Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Continue on US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 43; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
51 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
US 43; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp onto AL 13
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
AL 13
6
Turn left onto AL 13
33 mi
·
46 min
·
AL 13
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 43
29 mi
·
39 min
·
US 43
8
Continue on Main Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Avenue
9
Turn left onto 5th Street
364 ft
·
12 sec
·
5th Street
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
11
Merge onto US 43; AL 69
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
12
Turn left onto University Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
14
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 58.8 miles from Muscle Shoals, AL, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 20m 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 12m
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 Muscle Shoals, 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 Muscle Shoals, AL
This is one driving day of about 117.6 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Muscle Shoals, 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 43 for about 80.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.8 mi from Muscle Shoals, AL · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Muscle Shoals, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 43 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.3 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.
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
$17.76 one way
$35.52 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $19.50 | $38.99 |
| premium | $4.56 | $21.11 | $42.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.96 | $51.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.3 | 0 | $12.35 | $5.64 |
| Efficient EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47 | 0 | $16.46 | $7.53 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Late night in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday
Local time
5:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
1 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
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 Muscle Shoals, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 117.6 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 43, AL 13, Main Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Muscle Shoals, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.76 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 is a straightforward 2h 43m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 43; US 72; AL 13; AL 17; AL 20 / Woodward Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 53 miles (AL 13): Navigation decision point; at 53.5 miles (AL 13): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Muscle Shoals, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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