Origin
Tuscaloosa, AL
Afternoon in Tuscaloosa on Saturday
Local time
1:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Jacksonville, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
132 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Kelly
Jacksonville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Jacksonville, AL covers 132 miles and takes about 2h 33m 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, I 459 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
66 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Boulevard | — | — |
| Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard South | — | — |
| I 459 North | — | — |
| John M | — | — |
| I 20 | — | — |
| I 20 East | — | — |
| AL 21 | — | — |
| McClellan Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
University Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscaloosa, AL and Jacksonville, 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
34 mi
·
36 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 459 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 459 North: Gadsden, Atlanta
10
Continue on John M. Harbert III Freeway
29 mi
·
30 min
·
John M. Harbert III Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 20: Birmingham, Atlanta
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 20: Birmingham, Atlanta
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 20 East: Atlanta
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20 East: Atlanta
13
Merge slight left
48 mi
·
51 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward AL 21: Oxford, Anniston
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
AL 21: Oxford, Anniston
15
Turn left
5.2 mi
·
10 min
16
Continue on McClellan Boulevard
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
McClellan Boulevard
17
Continue on Pelham Road South
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Pelham Road South
18
Turn left onto Public Square West
226 ft
·
7 sec
·
Public Square West
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 66 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, or about 1h 16m 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66 miles or 1h 16m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, 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 132 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.94 one way
$39.87 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $21.88 | $43.77 |
| premium | $4.56 | $23.69 | $47.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.14 | $58.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.86 | $6.34 |
| Efficient EV | 33 | 0 | $11.55 | $5.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.8 | 0 | $18.48 | $8.45 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Jacksonville, AL
Afternoon in Jacksonville on Saturday
Local time
1:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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 33m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
132 mi in 2h 33m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: University Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Jacksonville, AL is easy. At 2h 33m 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 Jacksonville, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 132 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tuscaloosa, AL to Jacksonville, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, AL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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