Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Evening in Tuscaloosa on Sunday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Crossville, AL
Drive Time
2h 47m
Distance
146.1 mi
235 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 36m
★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Crossville, AL
Taryn Elliott
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Tuscaloosa to Crossville, you are looking at a 146.1-mile drive that typically takes about 2 hours and 47 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is manageable without requiring an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $22 on fuel for the journey, making it a cost-effective way to traverse this part of the Southeast. Because the path is almost entirely highway-focused, you will spend the majority of your time on major routes like I-59 and I-20. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, the route offers a straightforward path between these two Alabama locations.
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
73.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highly efficient journey, as 99% of this trip is spent on highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the interstate, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 75 miles on I-59. The drive maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm that is ideal for those who prefer interstate travel over navigating local backroads. While the final leg utilizes AL-68, the vast majority of your time behind the wheel will involve steady cruising on high-speed roads. It is a functional and direct route that minimizes the need for complex maneuvers or frequent stops.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 75 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and I 20. You will hit about 8 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 146.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 8 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
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
6
136.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward 68: Collinsville, Crossville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 205
Toward 68: Collinsville, Crossville
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Crossville, AL, road signs begin pointing toward 68: Collinsville along the way.
68: Collinsville
136.8 mi in
|
~2h 30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 75 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 20 | 58.2 mi | 1h 4m |
| AL 68 | 9.1 mi | 16m |
| I 359 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| University Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 75 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Crossville, 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
58 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the none lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
75 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
I 59
Toward I 59 North: Gadsden
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 205
Toward 68: Collinsville, Crossville
11
Turn left onto AL 68
9.1 mi
·
16 min
·
AL 68
12
Arrive at destination
AL 68
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving early can help you avoid any potential peak traffic on the interstate segments. Plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly three-hour duration and keep your focus sharp behind the wheel. Given that your fuel budget is approximately $22, consider topping off your tank in Tuscaloosa before you hit the highway to avoid higher prices at busy interstate stations. Because the drive is dominated by I-59 and I-20, make sure to monitor real-time traffic reports for those specific corridors before you depart. This straightforward path allows you to reach your destination in Crossville with ease, provided you pace yourself appropriately.
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 73.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.1 miles or 1h 22m 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 Crossville, 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 146.1 miles and 2h 47m.
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 I 59 for about 75 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.1 mi from Tuscaloosa, AL · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 73.1 miles from Tuscaloosa, 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 75 miles.
Arriving in Crossville, AL
The final approach into Crossville, 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 Crossville, 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
$22.33 one way
$44.67 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $24.50 | $49.00 |
| premium | $4.61 | $26.52 | $53.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.46 | $64.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.34 | $7.01 |
| Efficient EV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.78 | $5.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.4 | 0 | $20.45 | $9.35 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Crossville, AL
Evening in Crossville on Sunday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
84°F
Hoover, AL
73 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
2 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 47m 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 Crossville, AL covers 146.1 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, I 20, AL 68. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.1 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 $22.33 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 146.1 miles you will encounter 8 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.
On the drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Crossville, AL, road signs begin pointing toward 68: Collinsville along the way.
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