Origin
Orange Beach, AL
Morning in Orange Beach on Monday
Local time
9:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Orange Beach, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Drive Time
4h 43m
Distance
278.5 mi
448 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 30m
★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 53m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Orange Beach, AL
Mohamed omar OMAR
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Orange Beach, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 278.5 miles and takes about 4h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Canal Road, Foley Beach Expressway, Baldwin Beach Express for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
139.2 miles from Orange Beach, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 43m drive with frequent turns across 278.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Canal Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 43m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Orange Beach, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Canal Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Foley Beach Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Baldwin Beach Express | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 90 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Spanish Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Africatown Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Africatown Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Canal Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orange Beach, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on Bay Circle
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Bay Circle
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Canal Road
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Canal Road
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Canal Road
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
Canal Road
4
Exit the roundabout onto Canal Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Canal Road
5
Turn right onto Foley Beach Expressway
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Foley Beach Expressway
6
Turn right onto Baldwin Beach Express
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Baldwin Beach Express
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
8
Merge slight left
21 mi
·
22 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 90, US 98: Government Street
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 90, US 98: Government Street
10
Keep slight right
371 ft
·
7 sec
11
Turn straight onto Old Spanish Trail
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Spanish Trail
12
Continue on Africatown Bridge
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Africatown Bridge
13
Continue on Africatown Boulevard
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Africatown Boulevard
14
Turn slight right
180 ft
·
4 sec
15
Take the ramp slight right
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
16
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
17
Merge slight left
1.6 mi
·
1 min
18
Keep slight right to continue on I 65: Montgomery
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 65: Montgomery
19
Merge slight left
9.2 mi
·
10 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
430: Satsuma, Creola
21
Keep slight left to continue on 430: Creola
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
430: Creola
22
Keep slight left to continue on 430: Creola
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
430: Creola
23
Merge slight left
82 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
24
Merge slight left
24 mi
·
27 min
25
Turn left
17 mi
·
19 min
26
Turn left
0.9 mi
·
1 min
27
Continue on South Cedar Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cedar Avenue
28
Turn left onto East Capitol Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Capitol Street
29
Turn right
24 mi
·
34 min
30
Turn right onto 1st Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
1st Avenue
31
Turn right onto Tuscaloosa Street
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Tuscaloosa Street
32
Turn left onto M L King Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
M L King Highway
33
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
34
Merge slight left
26 mi
·
27 min
35
Take the exit slight right toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
36
Merge slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
37
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
38
Continue on Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
39
Turn right onto University Boulevard
285 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
40
Turn left
167 ft
·
12 sec
41
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.2 miles from Orange Beach, AL, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.2 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 52m
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 Orange Beach, 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 Orange Beach, AL
This is one driving day of about 278.5 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Orange Beach, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 139.2 mi from Orange Beach, AL · 2h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 139.2 miles from Orange Beach, 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
$42.58 one way
$85.15 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $46.70 | $93.40 |
| premium | $4.61 | $50.55 | $101.09 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.87 | $123.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.6 | 1 | $29.24 | $13.37 |
| Efficient EV | 69.6 | 0 | $24.37 | $11.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.4 | 1 | $38.99 | $17.82 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
9:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Butler, AL
139 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
10 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
4h 43m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Orange Beach, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 278.5 miles and takes about 4h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Canal Road, Foley Beach Expressway, Baldwin Beach Express. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 139.2 miles from Orange Beach, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.58 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 43m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Orange Beach, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Orange Beach, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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