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Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Mount Olive, AL

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h 19m

Distance

69.5 mi

112 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m

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 Mount Olive, AL, AL

Mount Olive, AL

Lachcim Kejarko

Trip Overview

The drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Mount Olive, AL covers 69.5 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 20, I 65, I 359 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.9 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.50 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 69.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 19m highway drive covering 69.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and I 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 52.9 miles on I 20.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 52.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near University Boulevard.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.5 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These 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.
5
2.7 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
3.6 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 20; I 59

Merge onto I 20; I 59

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
56.5 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in

Take the exit toward I 65 North: Huntsville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 124C Toward I 65 North: Huntsville

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 20 52.9 mi 56m
I 65 10.6 mi 12m
I 359 2 mi 2m
Mount Olive Road 1.6 mi 2m
Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South 0.5 mi 1m
University Boulevard 0.1 mi <1m
Mount Olive Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 20 — 52.9 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Mount Olive, 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 straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on I 359; US 11; AL 69

1.7 mi · 1 min · I 359; US 11; AL 69
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
8

Merge onto I 20; I 59

53 mi · 56 min · I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

149 ft · 3 sec
Exit 124C Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
10

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · this road
Exit 124B Toward I 65 North: Huntsville
11

Merge onto I 65

11 mi · 12 min · I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 272 Toward Mount Olive Road
13

Turn left onto Mount Olive Boulevard

314 ft · 6 sec · Mount Olive Boulevard
14

Continue on Mount Olive Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Mount Olive Road
15

Arrive at destination

Mount Olive Road

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 34.7 mi from Tuscaloosa, AL · 39m into the drive

suburb city of Birmingham, located in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bessemer, AL

35 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

Coaling, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bessemer, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 34.7 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mount Olive, AL

The final approach into Mount Olive, AL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.50 one way

$20.99 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $11.52 $23.04
premium $4.56 $12.47 $24.95
diesel $5.61 $15.34 $30.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.8 0 $7.30 $3.34
Efficient EV 17.4 0 $6.08 $2.78
EV Truck/SUV 27.8 0 $9.73 $4.45

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Tuscaloosa, AL

Late night in Tuscaloosa on Friday

Local time

12:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 5 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Destination

Mount Olive, AL

Late night in Mount Olive on Friday

Local time

12:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

7 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

1h 19m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Mount Olive, AL covers 69.5 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, I 65, I 359. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.7 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 $10.50 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 69.5 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tuscaloosa, AL to Mount Olive, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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