Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Morning in Tuscaloosa on Monday
Local time
10:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Dauphin Island, AL
Drive Time
4h 46m
Distance
234 mi
377 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 33m
★
6 AM
4h 46m
8 AM
5h 13m
10 AM
4h 56m
12 PM
4h 53m
3 PM
4h 57m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Dauphin Island, AL covers 234 miles and takes about 4h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on University Boulevard, Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South, Union for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
117 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 46m drive with frequent turns across 234 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Dauphin Island, 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 |
| Union | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| M L King Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Greensboro Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Demopolis Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Capitol Street | 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 Dauphin Island, 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 right
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
8
Merge slight left
26 mi
·
27 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward Union
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Union
10
Turn left onto M L King Highway
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
M L King Highway
11
Merge slight left
4.6 mi
·
6 min
12
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
1st Avenue
13
Merge slight right onto Greensboro Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Greensboro Street
14
Turn slight right onto Demopolis Highway
24 mi
·
34 min
·
Demopolis Highway
15
Turn left onto East Capitol Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Capitol Street
16
Turn right onto North Cedar Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cedar Avenue
17
Turn left
1.0 mi
·
1 min
18
Turn right
17 mi
·
19 min
19
Turn right
107 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
20
Take the exit right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
21
Merge slight left
19 mi
·
21 min
22
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: Mississippi
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 10 West: Mississippi
23
Merge slight left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward AL 193: Dauphin Island, Tillmans Corner
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
AL 193: Dauphin Island, Tillmans Corner
25
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
26
Keep slight right
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
27
Turn straight onto Rangeline Road
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Rangeline Road
28
Continue on West Range Line Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Range Line Road
29
At the end of the road, turn left onto Laurendine Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Laurendine Road
30
Turn right onto Dauphin Island Parkway
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Dauphin Island Parkway
31
Continue on Gordon Persons Bridge
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Gordon Persons Bridge
32
Continue on Le Moyne Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Le Moyne Drive
33
Turn left onto Cadillac Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Cadillac Avenue
34
Turn left
39 ft
·
4 sec
35
Turn right
7 ft
·
1 sec
36
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 117 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 2h 23m 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dauphin Island, 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 234 miles and 4h 46m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 117 mi from Tuscaloosa, AL · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 117 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dauphin Island, AL
The final approach into Dauphin Island, 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 Dauphin Island, 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
$35.77 one way
$71.55 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $39.24 | $78.47 |
| premium | $4.61 | $42.47 | $84.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $51.99 | $103.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.2 | 0 | $24.57 | $11.23 |
| Efficient EV | 58.5 | 0 | $20.47 | $9.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.6 | 1 | $32.76 | $14.98 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Dauphin Island, AL
Morning in Dauphin Island on Monday
Local time
10:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Butler, AL
117 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
12 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
4h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Dauphin Island, AL covers 234 miles and takes about 4h 46m 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, Union. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117 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 $35.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Dauphin Island, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tuscaloosa, AL to Dauphin Island, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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