Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Evening in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL
Drive Time
55m
Distance
58.7 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Birmingham, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
Connecting Tuscaloosa to Birmingham is a quick, straightforward journey covering 58.7 miles through the Southeast. You can easily complete this trip in about 55 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $8 for fuel is sufficient for the one-way trek. Since both cities are located within Alabama, you will remain in the same region throughout your transit. Whether you are heading to Birmingham for business or leisure, this drive offers a simple transition between the two urban centers.
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
29.4 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate through city streets, utilizing University Boulevard, Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard South, and 17th Street North to reach your destination. Because the entire path is comprised of local roads, there is no long-distance highway stretch; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on University Boulevard. This setup keeps you engaged behind the wheel, requiring more focus on turns and local intersections than a typical high-speed sprint.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
University Boulevard 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 Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 55m 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 Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 17th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 19th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 24th Street North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
University Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Birmingham, AL.
1
Start on the route
131 ft
·
12 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto University Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
University Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
4
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
5
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
1 min
6
Take the exit slight right
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
7
Keep slight left
0.8 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
56 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward 17th Street North, Downtown
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
17th Street North, Downtown
10
Turn left onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard
11
Turn right onto 19th Street North
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
19th Street North
12
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
5th Avenue North
13
Turn right onto 24th Street North
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
24th Street North
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, sub-one-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You do not need to worry about planning formal stops or rest breaks along the way, as the journey is quick enough to handle in a single session. Keep your $8 fuel budget in mind when filling up, but know that you won't face the fatigue associated with longer hauls. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert for frequent turns, as the local road navigation requires constant attention compared to a standard highway drive.
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 29.4 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 27m 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 58.7 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.4 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birmingham, 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 58.7 miles and 55m.
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.
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 29.4 mi from Tuscaloosa, AL · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 58.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.4 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Birmingham, AL
The final approach into Birmingham, 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 Birmingham, 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
$8.97 one way
$17.95 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $9.84 | $19.69 |
| premium | $4.61 | $10.65 | $21.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.04 | $26.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.16 | $2.82 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Birmingham, AL
Evening in Birmingham on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Cordova, AL
29 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
55m 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 Birmingham, AL covers 58.7 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are University Boulevard, Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South, 17th Street North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.4 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 $8.97 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 Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL is easy. At 55m 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 Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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