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 Cleveland, AL
Drive Time
2h
Distance
95.4 mi
153 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
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.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Tuscaloosa to Cleveland, Alabama, you can expect a straightforward 95.4-mile journey that takes approximately two hours. Because this is a compact drive, it works perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily utilize I-20, New Bradford Highway, and Pinson Valley Parkway to navigate through the Southeast. Budgeting around $15 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. This route is entirely contained within Alabama, offering a predictable travel experience that connects the two areas efficiently.
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
47.7 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 95.4-mile trek is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 56.3 miles while cruising along I-20 before transitioning to more local roads. The character of the drive shifts from high-speed interstate transit to the more measured pace of the New Bradford Highway and Pinson Valley Parkway. Expect a mix of fast-paced highway driving and the transition into regional thoroughfares as you approach your destination. It is a functional route designed for efficiency rather than leisure, keeping you moving steadily toward Cleveland.
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.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and New Bradford Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95.4 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
University Boulevard
Turn right onto University Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
Turn left onto US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 128
Toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
7
60.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AL 79
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward AL 79
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 56.3 mi | 1h 1m |
| New Bradford Highway | 21.7 mi | 30m |
| Pinson Valley Parkway | 10.4 mi | 16m |
| I 359 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Vanderbilt Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| AL 160 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| New Bradford Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 56.3 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Cleveland, AL.
1
Start on this road
132 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto University Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
University Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto US 43; AL 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on I 359; AL 69
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 359; AL 69
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 359; US 11; AL 69
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 359; US 11; AL 69
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Use the none lane.
8
Merge onto I 20; I 59
56 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 128
Toward AL 79: Tallapoosa Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward AL 79
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto AL 79
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Tallapoosa Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on AL 79
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Vanderbilt Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on AL 79
10 mi
·
16 min
·
Pinson Valley Parkway
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on AL 79
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
New Bradford Road
15
Continue on AL 79
22 mi
·
30 min
·
New Bradford Highway
Use the none lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto AL 160
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
AL 160
17
Continue on AL 160
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
AL 160
Use the straight lane.
18
Arrive at destination
AL 160
Trip Plan
Since the trip is only two hours long, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local traffic. You likely won't need scheduled stops for a drive of this length, but it is wise to fuel up in Tuscaloosa where you can easily manage your $15 budget. Keep a close eye on your transition points, specifically when moving from the interstate onto the Pinson Valley Parkway, as road types change quickly. Because this is a single-day journey, you can comfortably make the round trip without feeling fatigued. Pack some water and snacks to keep in the car, as the 56.3-mile stretch on I-20 offers limited opportunities to pull over for a quick break.
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 47.7 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 54m 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 miles or 54m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cleveland, 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 95.4 miles and 2h.
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.
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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.7 mi from Tuscaloosa, AL · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 47.7 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cleveland, AL
The final approach into Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, 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
$14.58 one way
$29.17 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $16.00 | $31.99 |
| premium | $4.61 | $17.31 | $34.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.19 | $42.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.02 | $4.58 |
| Efficient EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.35 | $3.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.36 | $6.11 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Cleveland, AL
Evening in Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
84°F
Hoover, AL
48 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
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 Tuscaloosa, AL to Cleveland, AL covers 95.4 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, New Bradford Highway, Pinson Valley Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.7 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 $14.58 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 95.4 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (University Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 43; AL 69 / Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tuscaloosa, AL to Cleveland, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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