How far is Fairhope, AL from Tuscaloosa, AL?
The driving distance from Fairhope, AL to Tuscaloosa, AL is about 244.9 miles (394.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 186.7 miles (300.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 04h 01m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in Alabama
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fairhope and Tuscaloosa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairhope and Tuscaloosa.
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1
Start on Fairhope Avenue
33 m · 11 sec · Fairhope Avenue
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2
Turn left onto North Section Street
1.6 mi · 4 min · North Section Street
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3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Homestead Avenue
9 m · 1 sec · Homestead Avenue
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4
Exit the roundabout onto Homestead Avenue
2221 ft · 56 sec · Homestead Avenue
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5
Turn left onto Old Spanish Trail
1183 ft · 29 sec · Old Spanish Trail
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6
Continue on US Highway 98
7.6 mi · 12 min · US Highway 98
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7
Continue on Old Spanish Trail
650 ft · 12 sec · Old Spanish Trail
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8
Take the ramp slight right
1317 ft · 32 sec
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9
Merge slight left
7.2 mi · 8 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward US 90, US 98: Government Street
2267 ft · 43 sec
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11
Keep slight left
56 m · 6 sec
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12
Continue on US 98
117 m · 12 sec · US 98
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13
Continue on Bankhead Tunnel
3117 ft · 1 min · Bankhead Tunnel
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14
Continue on Government Street
587 ft · 14 sec · Government Street
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15
Continue on Government Street
1139 ft · 39 sec · Government Street
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16
Turn left onto South Water Street
1.3 km · 2 min · South Water Street
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17
Continue on Telegraph Road
147 m · 12 sec · Telegraph Road
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18
Turn straight
4.5 mi · 5 min
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19
Keep slight right to continue on I 65: Montgomery
2562 ft · 34 sec
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20
Merge slight left
9.2 mi · 10 min
-
21
Take the exit slight right toward 430: Satsuma, Creola
560 ft · 14 sec
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22
Keep slight left to continue on 430: Creola
3231 ft · 1 min
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23
Keep slight left to continue on 430: Creola
38 m · 3 sec
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24
Merge slight left
82.4 mi · 1 hr 34 min
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25
Merge slight left
24 mi · 27 min
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26
Turn left
17.2 mi · 20 min
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27
Turn left
1.5 km · 1 min
-
28
Continue on South Cedar Avenue
1 mi · 1 min · South Cedar Avenue
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29
Turn left onto East Capitol Street
736 ft · 14 sec · East Capitol Street
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30
Turn right
24.3 mi · 34 min
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31
Turn right onto 1st Avenue
601 ft · 27 sec · 1st Avenue
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32
Turn right onto Tuscaloosa Street
4.6 mi · 6 min · Tuscaloosa Street
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33
Turn left onto M L King Highway
1.2 mi · 3 min · M L King Highway
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34
Take the ramp right
1148 ft · 28 sec
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35
Merge slight left
25.8 mi · 28 min
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36
Take the exit slight right toward I 359 North, I 69 North: Tuscaloosa
1062 ft · 36 sec
-
37
Merge slight left
2.1 mi · 2 min
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38
Continue straight
2011 ft · 33 sec
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39
Continue on Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
2540 ft · 1 min · Lurleen B Wallace Boulevard North
-
40
Turn right onto University Boulevard
87 m · 10 sec · University Boulevard
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41
Turn left
51 m · 12 sec
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42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fairhope and Tuscaloosa.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
430
Merge slight left
82.4 mi · 01h 35m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Fairhope and Sunny near Tuscaloosa.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fairhope to Tuscaloosa?
The road trip is about 244.9 miles (394.1 km) and usually takes 04h 01m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Fulton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 110.2 miles from Fairhope and 134.8 miles from Tuscaloosa.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 186.7 miles (300.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:56 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.72 one way or $65.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fairhope and Sunny near Tuscaloosa.
Stop Ideas Near Fulton
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fulton.
Grove Hill, AL
Thomasville, AL
Jackson, AL
Camden, AL
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fairhope and Tuscaloosa. Straight-line distance: 186.68 mi (300.43 km).
#1 Fairhope
City in Baldwin County, Alabama U.
| Population | 23,584 |
| Coordinates | 30.5229700, -87.9033300 |
| Altitude | 37 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Tuscaloosa
The most populous city in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
| Population | 102,819 |
| Coordinates | 33.2098400, -87.5691700 |
| Altitude | 68 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-87.569166, 33.209831)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 394 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 09m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 07m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 29m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $32.72 | $65.44 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $36.80 | $73.60 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $39.96 | $79.92 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $46.79 | $93.57 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Alabama · May 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.