Origin
Riverside, AL
Afternoon in Riverside on Saturday
Local time
3:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Riverside, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
105 mi
169 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverside, AL
🇻🇳🇻🇳 Việt Anh Nguyễn 🇻🇳🇻🇳
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Riverside, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 105 miles and takes about 2h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, AL 79, US 231 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.3 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.86 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.
Midpoint
52.5 miles from Riverside, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 56.3 mi | 1h 2m |
| AL 79 | 38.9 mi | 58m |
| US 231 | 3 mi | 4m |
| CR 26 | 3 mi | 5m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Tallapoosa Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 56.3 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on CR 26
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
CR 26
2
Turn left onto AL 79
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
AL 79
3
Turn left onto US 231
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
US 231
4
Continue on AL 79
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
AL 79
5
Enter roundabout onto AL 79
195 ft
·
3 sec
·
AL 79
6
Continue on AL 79
34 mi
·
49 min
·
AL 79
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on AL 79
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Tallapoosa Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 20; I 59
56 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 71B
Toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
13
Continue on US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn right onto University Boulevard
284 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
16
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 52.5 miles from Riverside, AL, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.3 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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.5 miles or 1h 16m 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 53m
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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, AL
This is one driving day of about 105 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Riverside, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 56.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.5 miles from Riverside, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 45.3 and 105 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
45.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 West, I 59 South: Tuscaloosa
5
45.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
101.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m 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
6
104.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
105 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.86 one way
$31.71 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $17.41 | $34.82 |
| premium | $4.56 | $18.85 | $37.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.18 | $46.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.02 | $5.04 |
| Efficient EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.19 | $4.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42 | 0 | $14.70 | $6.72 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Tuscaloosa on Saturday
Local time
3:40 PM
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
3 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 16m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
In 1963, images of snarling police dogs unleashed against non-violent protesters and of children being sprayed with high-pressure hoses appeared in print and television news around the world. These dr...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 47.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
105 mi in 2h 16m, mostly highway — 56.3 mi of that is on I 20.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.3 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and AL 79. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 45.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 105 miles you will encounter 9 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 45.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.5 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 105 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.3 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 45.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.5 miles (I 20; I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tuscaloosa, AL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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