Origin
Trussville, AL
Afternoon in Trussville on Thursday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Trussville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
72.4 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trussville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Trussville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 72.4 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, I 359, Gadsden Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.3 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 72.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 23m highway drive covering 72.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and I 359. The longest continuous stretch is about 65.3 miles on I 59.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 65.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and I 359. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Birmingham
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Birmingham
8
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 59 South: Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 33A
Toward I 59 South: Birmingham
8
69.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m 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
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 65.3 mi | 1h 12m |
| I 359 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Gadsden Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| John M. Harbert III Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Chalkville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 65.3 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Trussville, AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
1
Start on this road
197 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Linden Street
114 ft
·
7 sec
·
Linden Street
3
Turn right onto CR 94
384 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Chalkville Road
4
Turn right onto US 11
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on US 11
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Gadsden Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Birmingham
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 459
0.3 mi
·
16 sec
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 33A
Toward I 59 South: Birmingham
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 59
65 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 59
Use the straight lane.
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.2 mi from Trussville, AL · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Trussville, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.3 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.93 one way
$21.87 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.00 | $24.01 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.99 | $25.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.99 | $31.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.14 | $4.63 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 Thursday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 23m 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 Trussville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL covers 72.4 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, I 359, Gadsden Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.2 miles from Trussville, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.93 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Trussville, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.
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