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Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Bear Creek, AL

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

2h 53m

Distance

114.5 mi

184 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 42m ★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Tuscaloosa, AL, AL

Tuscaloosa, AL

Kelly

Downtown Bear Creek, AL, AL

Bear Creek, AL

Yuanpang Wa

Trip Overview

The drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Bear Creek, AL covers 114.5 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on AL 13, US 43, Co Farm Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.4 miles on AL 13. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.29 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

57.2 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 2h 53m highway drive covering 114.5 miles, with most of the trip on AL 13 and US 43. The longest continuous stretch is about 75.4 miles on AL 13.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
AL 13 is the longest continuous segment at about 75.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AL 13 and US 43. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 9 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 (University Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (10th Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | University Boulevard

Turn right onto University Boulevard

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North

Turn right onto US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
1.1 mi into trip | ~1m in | 10th Street

Turn left onto 10th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in | Main Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Main Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
114.5 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in

Turn sharp right

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
AL 13 75.4 mi 1h 45m
US 43 28.6 mi 39m
Co Farm Road 2.9 mi 11m
Woodmont Drive 2.8 mi 6m
Main Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North 1 mi 1m
Jackson Highway 0.7 mi 1m
US 278 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: AL 13 — 75.4 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Bear Creek, AL.

1

Start on this road

132 ft · 11 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto University Boulevard

294 ft · 7 sec · University Boulevard
3

Turn right onto US 43; AL 69

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
Use the right lane.
4

Turn left onto 10th Street

0.2 mi · 43 sec · 10th Street
Use the left lane.
5

At end of road, turn right onto Main Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Avenue
6

Continue on US 43

29 mi · 39 min · US 43
Use the left lane.
7

Continue on AL 13

33 mi · 46 min · AL 13
8

Continue on US 278; AL 13

0.5 mi · 43 sec · US 278; AL 13
9

Continue on AL 13

43 mi · 59 min · AL 13
10

Turn slight left onto Colburn Mt Road

127 ft · 5 sec · Colburn Mt Road
11

Continue on Hickory Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Hickory Avenue
12

At end of road, turn right onto Jackson Highway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Jackson Highway
13

Continue on CR 55

0.5 mi · 1 min · Woodmont Drive
14

Keep slight left at fork onto CR 55

2.3 mi · 5 min · Woodmont Drive
15

Turn left onto Co Farm Road

2.9 mi · 11 min · Co Farm Road
16

At end of road, turn right onto CR 51

0.5 mi · 1 min · Underwood Mountain Road
17

Turn sharp right

80 ft · 3 sec
18

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 57.2 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 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 52m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 57.2 miles or 1h 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 2h 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bear Creek, AL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Tuscaloosa, 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 Tuscaloosa, AL

This is one driving day of about 114.5 miles and 2h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tuscaloosa, 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 AL 13 for about 75.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.2 mi from Tuscaloosa, AL · 1h 21m into the drive

Downtown Double Springs, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Double Springs, AL

57 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

Bear Creek, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Double Springs, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.2 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before AL 13 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.4 miles.

Arriving in Bear Creek, AL

The final approach into Bear Creek, 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 Bear Creek, 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

$17.29 one way

$34.58 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $18.98 $37.97
premium $4.56 $20.55 $41.10
diesel $5.61 $25.28 $50.56

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: 40.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.4 0 $12.02 $5.50
Efficient EV 28.6 0 $10.02 $4.58
EV Truck/SUV 45.8 0 $16.03 $7.33

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Tuscaloosa, AL

Late night in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday

Local time

1:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bear Creek, AL

Late night in Bear Creek on Wednesday

Local time

1:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°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

32 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 53m 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 Tuscaloosa, AL to Bear Creek, AL covers 114.5 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are AL 13, US 43, Co Farm Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.2 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.29 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 53m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (University Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (10th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tuscaloosa, AL to Bear Creek, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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