Origin
Tuscumbia, AL
Night in Tuscumbia on Thursday
Local time
11:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tuscumbia, AL to Gadsden, AL
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
118.1 mi
190 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tuscumbia, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Gadsden, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tuscumbia, AL to Gadsden, AL covers 118.1 miles and takes about 2h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Dickson Street, South Woodmont Drive, East Lee Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.84 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.
Midpoint
59 miles from Tuscumbia, AL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 118.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 16m drive with frequent turns across 118.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Dickson Street 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. 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 Tuscumbia, AL to Gadsden, AL is easy. At 2h 16m 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 Tuscumbia, AL to Gadsden, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Dickson Street | — | — |
| South Woodmont Drive | — | — |
| East Lee Highway | — | — |
| University of North Alabama Highway | — | — |
| Section Line Road | — | — |
| US 278 | — | — |
| Thompson Bridge Road | — | — |
| 4th Street Northwest | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Dickson Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuscumbia, AL and Gadsden, AL.
1
Start on East 6th Street
108 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 6th Street
2
Turn right onto South Dickson Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Dickson Street
3
Continue on South Woodmont Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Woodmont Drive
4
Turn left onto East Lee Highway
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Lee Highway
5
Keep slight right to continue on University of North Alabama Highway
55 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
University of North Alabama Highway
6
Continue on Section Line Road
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Section Line Road
7
Continue straight
1.8 mi
·
2 min
8
Turn left
2.1 mi
·
2 min
9
Continue straight
16 mi
·
22 min
10
Continue straight
19 mi
·
27 min
11
Continue on US 278
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 278
12
Continue on Thompson Bridge Road
515 ft
·
8 sec
·
Thompson Bridge Road
13
Continue on US 278
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 278
14
Turn right
1.8 mi
·
2 min
15
Turn slight left onto 4th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
4th Street Northwest
16
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Northwest
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
5th Avenue Northwest
17
Continue on West Meighan Boulevard
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Meighan Boulevard
18
Turn right onto North 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
North 6th Street
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59 miles from Tuscumbia, AL, or about 1h 8m 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 26 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 8m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gadsden, AL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tuscumbia, 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 Tuscumbia, AL
This is one driving day of about 118.1 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Tuscumbia, AL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59 mi from Tuscumbia, AL · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59 miles from Tuscumbia, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gadsden, AL
The final approach into Gadsden, 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 Gadsden, 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
$17.84 one way
$35.67 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $19.58 | $39.16 |
| premium | $4.56 | $21.20 | $42.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.07 | $52.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.40 | $5.67 |
| Efficient EV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.2 | 0 | $16.53 | $7.56 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Gadsden, AL
Night in Gadsden on Thursday
Local time
11:32 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 16m 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 Tuscumbia, AL to Gadsden, AL covers 118.1 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Dickson Street, South Woodmont Drive, East Lee Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59 miles from Tuscumbia, AL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.84 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.
The drive from Tuscumbia, AL to Gadsden, AL is easy. At 2h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Tuscumbia, AL to Gadsden, AL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tuscumbia, AL to Gadsden, AL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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