Origin
Red Bay, AL
Evening in Red Bay on Sunday
Local time
8:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Bay, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Drive Time
2h
Distance
111.6 mi
180 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Bay, AL
Jan van der Wolf
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Red Bay, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 111.6 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 4th Avenue Southeast, 11th Street East, Highway 19 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.06 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
55.8 miles from Red Bay, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h drive with frequent turns across 111.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
4th Avenue Southeast 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Red Bay, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is easy. At 2h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Bay, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Avenue Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 11th Street East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 19 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-22 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 13 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
4th Avenue Southeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Bay, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on 4th Street Southeast
108 ft
·
7 sec
·
4th Street Southeast
2
Turn right onto 4th Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
4th Avenue Southeast
3
Turn right onto 11th Street East
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
11th Street East
4
Continue on Alabama Highway 19
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Alabama Highway 19
5
Keep slight right to continue on Alabama Highway 19
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Alabama Highway 19
6
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
7
Take the ramp slight left toward I-22 East: Birmingham
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
I-22 East: Birmingham
8
Merge slight left
31 mi
·
33 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward 13: Natural Bridge, Eldridge
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
13: Natural Bridge, Eldridge
10
Turn right
23 mi
·
31 min
11
Continue straight
29 mi
·
39 min
12
Continue on Main Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Avenue
13
Turn left onto 5th Street
364 ft
·
12 sec
·
5th Street
14
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
15
Merge slight left onto Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard
16
Turn left onto University Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
University Boulevard
17
Turn left
167 ft
·
12 sec
18
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 55.8 miles from Red Bay, AL, or about 1h 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 1h 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 38m
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 Red Bay, 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 Red Bay, AL
This is one driving day of about 111.6 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Red Bay, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.8 mi from Red Bay, AL · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 55.8 miles from Red Bay, 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
$17.06 one way
$34.12 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $18.71 | $37.43 |
| premium | $4.61 | $20.25 | $40.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.79 | $49.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.72 | $5.36 |
| Efficient EV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.76 | $4.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.62 | $7.14 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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
Evening in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
8:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°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
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
2h 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 Red Bay, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 111.6 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 4th Avenue Southeast, 11th Street East, Highway 19. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.8 miles from Red Bay, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.06 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.
The drive from Red Bay, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is easy. At 2h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Bay, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Red Bay, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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